Mental health and psychosocial risks are increasingly recognised as critical issues in road transport. The 2019 ILO Guidelines underline that the organisation of work in the sector—characterised by long hours, tight deadlines, high responsibility and economic pressure—can have significant impacts on
Ergonomic and design-related risks are a significant concern for road transport workers and are closely linked to long-term health, safety and job sustainability. The 2019 ILO Guidelines on the promotion of decent work and road safety highlight that poorly designed vehicles, equipment and work
Extreme weather and rising temperatures are a growing human rights risk for road transport, which directly affects drivers' rights to life, health and dignity. Severe physical exhaustion, dehydration and cognitive impairment resulting from extreme heat can significantly increase the risk of road
Cost-cutting and accelerated working practices are passed on from transport buyers to transport suppliers and ultimately to drivers, which can result in dangerous on-road behaviours that negatively impact the public at large.
Arranging and scheduling of work can have direct occupational safety and
The risk
Complex subcontracting chains in the sector can create significant human rights risks for truck drivers. These risks often stem from a 'race to the bottom' on costs and a lack of visibility in the fragmented and multi-tier subcontracting chains. As drivers are highly mobile and often work
Isolation and lone working are inherent in road transport and present significant safety, health and human rights risks for drivers. Truck drivers typically work alone for long periods, often in remote or unfamiliar environments, with limited access to immediate assistance in the event of accidents
High mobility is a defining feature of road transport and a core source of risk for truck drivers. Drivers operate across long distances, frequently crossing borders and jurisdictions, and working in constantly changing environments such as highways, ports, warehouses and customer sites. The 2019
Addressing human rights risks in the road transport sector requires a human rights due diligence approach that goes beyond document reviews and audits.
This approach should meaningfully involve road transport workers and their representative trade unions in identifying, preventing and mitigating
The sector's fragmented, mobile and cross-border nature is increasingly undermining freedom of association and collective bargaining. The widespread misclassification and informalisation of drivers create a structural barrier that legally prevents (or greatly complicates) workers from joining unions
The rapid integration of algorithmic management and digital surveillance in the sector is creating a new level of human rights risks. While modern trucking increasingly involves digital monitoring through telematics and in-cab cameras for safety purposes, when subcontractors use these tools to
