Working Time Organization and Sleepiness in Uruguayan Road Transport Drivers: Preliminary Results

Introduction: Road transport is one of the sectors whose Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is most affected by working time organization. The industry is characterized by long and irregular working schedules, which significantly impact road transport drivers’ OHS. Furthermore, Uruguay lacks specific regulations governing working hours for road transport drivers. These working conditions contribute to frequent sleepiness while driving, posing a substantial risk to their health and safety and the general public safety. This research is being conducted in collaboration with the Road Transport Work Health and Safety Commission, which includes representatives of the Ministry of Labor, business chambers, and road transport unions. The primary objective was to identify risk factors associated with working time organization that are relevant to OHS in Uruguayan road transport drivers.

Methods: The Road Transport Work Health and Safety Commission received paper-based questionnaires designed for self-completion. The questionnaires addressed employment conditions, occupational hazards, sleep, and health and were distributed nationwide to road transport drivers.

Results: A total of 213 road transport drivers (98.0% male) voluntarily participated and completed the questionnaires. The majority were truck drivers (79.6%), with ages between 21 and 72 years old. On average, they reported working 12.0 ± 2.7 hour and driving 422.9 ± 252.7 km daily. Irregular working schedules were reported by 23.5% of participants, while 71.8% indicated working night shifts, either permanent or occasional. The average sleep duration on workdays was 6.2 ± 1.7 hour. Additionally, 72.8% of drivers reported experiencing sleepiness while driving, and 51.1% indicated that they had to stop driving at least once in the past year due to sleepiness. Sleepiness was more prevalent in those exposed to irregular working schedules (90.0% vs 68.8%, p < 0.01), and also between those working night shifts (80.8% vs 45.7%, p < 0.001). It was found that drivers who reported being sleepy while driving worked 0.9 more hours per day, drove 86.9 more kilometers, and slept 0.7 fewer hours between workdays. Furthermore, work- related accidents were more prevalent among sleepy workers (p < 0.001). No statistical association was found between drivers who reported stopping driving because of sleepiness and sleep duration between workdays or kilometers driven per day.

Conclusion: The organization of road transport activities in Uruguay requires drivers to drive while drowsy, often without the opportunity to stop and rest. Generating evidence-based knowledge is crucial for informing OHS regulations in this sector. Support: This research was funded by the Comisión Sectorial de Investigación Científica de la Universidad de la República.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
08. Oktober 2025