Ergonomic and design-related risks are a significant concern for drivers, with long-term consequences for health, safety and job sustainability. Women face particular risk because standard cabin ergonomics and safety equipment are designed for the average male physique. The ILO Guidelines highlight
Extreme weather events and rising temperatures driven by climate change are a growing human rights risk affecting drivers' rights, safety and dignity. Severe physical exhaustion, dehydration and cognitive impairment resulting from extreme heat can significantly increase the risk of road accidents
Fatigue is a cumulative risk arising from long hours, irregular schedules, disrupted circadian rhythms, interrupted breaks, poor road conditions and inadequate rest areas – and in road transport it is systematically built into the job. Cost-cutting passes from transport buyers to suppliers and
Complex subcontracting chains create significant human rights risks for truck drivers, generating a race to the bottom on costs and a lack of visibility in fragmented, multi-tier subcontracting chains. Multi-tiered contracting also often leads to ‘value leakage’, where each subcontractor in the
Isolation and lone working present significant safety, health and human rights risks for drivers. Truck drivers typically work alone for prolonged periods, often in remote or unfamiliar environments, with limited access to immediate assistance in the event of accidents, illness or violence. The ILO
High mobility defines road transport. Truck drivers operate across long distances, frequently crossing borders and jurisdictions, and work across highways, ports, warehouses and customer sites. The ILO Guidelines on the promotion of decent work and road safety in the transport sector recognise that
Addressing human rights risks in the road transport sector requires HREDD that meaningfully involves road transport workers and their trade unions in identifying, preventing and mitigating harm, and in delivering remedies.
Through its affiliated road transport unions, the ITF reaches drivers across
The sector's fragmented, mobile and cross-border nature undermines freedom of association and collective bargaining. The widespread misclassification and informalisation of drivers create a systemic barrier that legally prevents or inhibits workers from joining unions or engaging in collective
Modern trucking increasingly involves digital monitoring through telematics and in-cab cameras, introduced for safety. When these are used as tools to micro-manage drivers, they become a significant psychosocial risk and a source of chronic stress. It can also lead to data privacy violations, as
This infrastructure deficit is particularly acute along major transport corridors, in border regions and near
