Factors Related to Work Tension in Long-Haul Truck Drivers of Different Ages

Introduction: Work tension is the leading adverse factor in the working conditions of long-haul truck drivers. At the age of over 40 years, work tension is evaluated to be higher than at the age of under 40 years. The purpose is to reveal the characteristics of the work process and the functional body state that affect the development of work tension in truck drivers under and after 40 years- old.

Methods: 77 long-haul truck drivers were examined: 18 men aged 28–41 (young group), 59 men aged 42–67 (old group). Felt work tension over the performed round-trip was evaluated using 5-ancor Likert scale. There were registered: number of trip-days per year, maximum trip duration, number of night working hours per round-trip, quality of night sleep – over the last year, 5 and 10 years ago; age-experience parameters; blood pressure, heart rate, Stange's and Uemura's tests performance, health deterioration index (HDI) by Voytenko; felt fatigue, stress, workability by 5-ancor Likert scale; personal anxiety by Spielberger-Khanin. Data were processed at p < 0.05.

Results: Felt work tension in the young group was lower than in the old group (M±m: 2.06 ± 0.22 vs 2.82 ± 0.12, p < 0.006). Both felt stress and fatigue - positively correlated to the felt work tension within each group (p < 0.0001). In the young group, felt work tension positively correlated to Kerdo's vegetative index (p < 0.04), cardiac output (p < 0.05); number of round-trip days per year 10 years ago (p < 0.01), maximum round-trip duration - 5 (p < 0.04) and 10 (p < 0.05) years ago; driver experience, away from home work experience and night work experience (p < 0.02); negatively correlated to sleep quality (p < 0.01 0.05) and feeling of pleasure (p < 0.05). In the old group, felt work tension positively correlated to number of night working hours per trip - currently (p < 0.01), 5 (p < 0.001) and 10 (p < 0.001) years ago; HDI (p < 0.03) and anxiety (p < 0.05), proneness to disappointment (p < 0.04); negatively correlated to Stange's test performance parameters (p < 0.007).

Conclusion: The work tension of long-haul truck drivers is being developed on a cumulative basis over many years. At the age of ~40, the increase in the work tension of drivers does not occur linearly, but through the transition to a new level of body functioning and the inclusion of new mechanisms to ensure its functioning. Under 40 years-old the antidote to the increase in the work tension of drivers can be qualitative sleep and pleasant moments of life, beyond 40 years-old - maintaining the respiratory system in a good state. Support: We are infinitely grateful to our defenders for the opportunity to work. We are grateful to the drivers and their management for cooperation, to the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine for financial support (State Registration: 0122U000648).

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
08. Oktober 2025