Affiliations: Department of Business Psychology, Department of Social and Cultural Sciences and Social Work, University of Applied Sciences, Darmstadt, Germany
Correspondence:
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Address for correspondence: Prof. Dr. Daniela Lohaus, Business Psychology, Department GS, University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt, Haardtring 100, D-64295 Darmstadt, Germany. Tel.: +49 6151 16773; Fax: +49 6151 167756; E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND:For several years, the transportation industry has been concerned about a severe shortage of professional truck drivers. Studies investigating the reasons found that poor working conditions and stresses and strains resulting from physiological and psychological job demands have had a negative impact on drivers’ health and ability to work. Nevertheless, until now, most employers have refrained from offering measures to support the work ability and well-being of drivers, mainly due to financial pressures in the industry. OBJECTIVE:The present study was aimed at designing adequate and affordable measures to support drivers’ health. METHOD:With reference to the Work Ability Index and the house of work ability (Ilmarinen & Tuomi, 2004), 56 truck drivers participated in guided interviews about their working conditions and health-related problems as well as their attitudes, experiences, and desires with respect to being offered supportive measures by their employers. RESULTS:The measures derived are specific and realizable and expected to be widely accepted by professional drivers. They are designed to elicit a positive attitude in the drivers toward exercising and to help them overcome related psychological barriers. CONCLUSION:The implementation of the recommended measures can be expected to support drivers’ work ability and help reduce the frictional costs of their employers.
Keywords: Staff turnover, corporate health promotion, occupational health, working conditions, work ability index
