How different is the life of truck drivers in India compared to the Us or Canada?

Life on the open road provides a lot of freedom, but what does a typical day in the life of a truck driver like? The life of a truck driver has a certain mystical element to it, with no boss over your shoulder, 40 tons of heavy machinery under you, and an amazing view on all sides. That may sound attractive to the average office worker.

The trucking industry serves as the backbone of the Indian economy. Regardless of its economic importance, this industry is managed in a disorganized manner. The industry is experiencing truck driver scarcity. Do you know what's creating the lack of supply? Why are even current truck drivers quitting their jobs? The answers to these questions are straightforward: a truck driver's life is hampered by hassles, inadequate facilities, and a lack of rules and regulations. The stressful and demanding nature of the drivers' jobs impacts their physical and emotional well-being.

A truck driver's life in India is not easy, and it ranks among the country's worst employment. Long hours, harsh working conditions, a lack of sleep, and frequent harassment on the road all contribute to a truck driver's life expectancy being at least ten years lower than the national average. Driving a truck is also dangerous.

Let us take a short look at some of the most serious issues faced by truck drivers in India

Work pressure: Truck drivers are constantly under pressure to meet their deadlines. They have a time constraint to deliver each shipment. To deliver the cargo on schedule, they must travel continuously for hours, with little time to rest or eat. This factor is common in all countries.

Salary: According to a survey, truck drivers in India receive a monthly salary between Rs.10,000 and Rs 15,000. This demonstrates that drivers do not make much on a fixed salary. As a result, most young people are disinclined to work as drivers.

A Truck Driver in Canada expects to make roughly 39,000 CAD per year. Salaries range from 21,100 CAD (the lowest) to 58,900 CAD (the highest). This is the average annual pay, which includes housing, transportation, and other amenities. Truck driver pay varies greatly depending on experience, skills, gender, and area.

Inadequate sleep: Due to scheduling constraints, truckers must drive vast distances constantly. They don't get enough sleep and travel without stopping to reach the deadline. Due to time constraints, they must labour 15 hours per day. This is a big contributor to their poor health and is one of the leading causes of traffic accidents. Sleep is a luxury that they do not have. A truck driver often makes two to three long-distance journeys every month.

Furthermore, it becomes the primary cause of traffic accidents. According to a recent survey, more than 50% of drivers have health concerns as a result of continuous driving; nonetheless, 63% of drivers claim that their health is not one of their top three priorities in life.

Inadequate food facilities: Due to the nature of the profession, drivers are frequently separated from their families. They do not have time to eat food on time, and roadside eateries or restaurants do not serve hygienic and high-quality food, which has a detrimental impact on their health. The majority of drivers in Chennai, according to logistics organizations, have this type of lifestyle.

Highway conditions: India has one of the world's greatest road networks, however, the unfortunate fact is that many of them are not properly maintained. According to the data, overloaded trucks caused 77,116 accidents and 25,199 deaths in registered accidents.

Drivers sit for long periods due to the nature of their employment. They don't have time to work out. Obesity and other ailments are caused by hours spent seated on a truck and poor food selections. Only 14% of the 3 million truck drivers in the United States are not fat, according to the poll. These truck drivers' nonstop driving makes it difficult for them to visit doctors and receive vital treatments. When they have a health condition, they ignore the symptoms and continue to provide logistics services.

Road accidents: The majority of highway accidents involved trucks colliding with other vehicles. However, in every case, the truck drivers are accused, even if the other party is to blame. Some begin hitting and abusing truck drivers without even giving them a chance to defend themselves. People don't investigate the situation before blaming drivers. It has been reported that drivers have been beaten to death in several situations. They receive no assistance because they are away from their house. This makes their lives extremely difficult.

Unstable relationships: Because of their occupation, many truck drivers have terrible relationships. When one takes on a career as a truck driver, it is nearly difficult for him to return home regularly. It means that a driver will be separated from his house and family for several days. We've heard of truck drivers having difficulty finding marriages since no one wants to give their girls to them. Because they become drinkers and drug addicts. Staying away from family is difficult, especially for married people with children. This is also one of the primary reasons why many people choose to leave this profession. Only a few couples can make such a sacrifice and live their lives apart from each other.

Education: In India, almost all truck drivers are illiterate, although this is not the case in Canada. In Canada, real truck drivers must be educated enough to pass the licensing exam. Truck drivers in India are trained by elder truck drivers and will be driving in the future without knowing the ABCs of the machine.

Training: Drivers in Canada must receive training not only in driving but also in first aid, safety, and troubleshooting. Indian truck drivers rely on luck and do not know about safety or first aid. The life of an Indian truck driver is more difficult than that of a Canadian truck driver. The same cabin for all types of weather, as well as unsanitary circumstances for truck drivers in India. Drivers in India do not have set driving hours. Overall, I believe that the lifestyles of drivers in various countries are very different.

The biggest difference in vehicle quality and maintenance between Canada, the United States, and India. The driver's cabin in Canadian and American trucks is highly pleasant, whereas it is not in India. Without a doubt, the new trucks have a better design. Traffic in India does not follow rules, however, in Canada, each driver observes driving rules. India's traffic is a jumble of slow and fast vehicles, as well as drivers that do not respect the regulations.

The police are another bottleneck in India since, rather than assisting and directing traffic, they aim to make money at every level. Last but not least, Canadian and US drivers enjoy greater human dignity than Indian drivers. There are no designated parking areas for trucks with attendant basic services, as seen in Canada.

Being a truck driver in India is not an easy job. In India, there is a lack of significant government policies in the transportation industry. All of these reasons discourage young people from becoming truck drivers. Truck drivers, who are always behind the wheel and on the road, relax in roadside dhabas when they have no other options. There is no regulatory authority to deal with this problem. Highway robbery is on the rise in India. According to a Times of India article, there are more than 82,000 incidences of highway theft across the country, with 64,000 (almost 80%) occurring in Uttar Pradesh.

Truck drivers were asked to rank their working conditions on a three-point scale: Good, Average, and Poor. Overall, 48% of responding truck drivers regarded their working circumstances as "poor," while only 15% said their working conditions were "excellent."