Comprehensive survey of the truck transportation process: The impact of team driving on health and safety conditions

Background: Given the limited research conducted on the role of a human co-driver in mitigating occupational health and safety risks, this study aims to investigate the impact of a co-driver on health and safety conditions in the truck transportation process.

Methods: The truck transportation process was divided into three main stages: truck loading, driving, and unloading. Using the job safety analysis (JSA) method, an analysis of the tasks within each stage was conducted, allowing for the identification of essential and safe tasks and conditions. A questionnaire, based on this information, was developed, validated, and used in this study.

Results: The findings of this study demonstrate that a human co-driver positively impacted the drowsiness and alertness levels of truck drivers. Furthermore, improvements were observed in driving and parking performance, alongside a reduction in strenuous tasks and subsequent fatigue. The results conclusively indicate that the presence of a human co-driver significantly enhances health and safety conditions, particularly during the driving stage in comparison to the other stages of the truck transportation process.