Short Trips and Long Days: Safety and Health in Short-Haul Trucking

Ann Williamson, Department of Aviation, University of New South Wales
Philip Bohle, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney
Michael Quinlan, Australian School of Business, University of New South Wales
David Kennedy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney

Abstract

This paper looks at the role and influence of contingent employment among short-haul truckers, an occupational group that has been little studied to date. A 2003 survey of Australian short-haul drivers examined the predictors of health and safety outcomes for all drivers and provided comparative information on the working hours, occupational safety and health, and work-life conflict of permanent employees, temporary (casual) employees, and owner-drivers. The main predictor of both illness and injury for all drivers was work-life conflict. The results show that contingent work is characteristic of short-haul trucking in Australia, especially among owner-drivers and casual employees. Contingent-work drivers differ from other drivers on a range of organizational characteristics, but not on safety and health outcomes. Contingent employment can take different forms, each of which is associated with a somewhat different set of effects on workers.

Recommended Citation

Williamson, Ann; Bohle, Philip; Quinlan, Michael; and Kennedy, David (2009) "Short Trips and Long Days: Safety and Health in Short-Haul Trucking," Industrial & Labor Relations Review, Vol. 62, No. 3, article 9.
Available at: http://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/ilrreview/vol62/iss3/9