The Human Factor in Logistics: Physiological and Psychological Insights Regarding Truck Drivers

The logistics industry, as well as various trade and industrial sectors, are facing the challenge of dealing with an economically significant shortage of truck drivers. Currently, approximately 7% of truck driver positions in Germany and Europe are vacant (IRU 2024). At the same time, statistics show an increase in transport performance in ton-kilometers and a shift towards vehicles in higher weight classes (DLR 2023). The age structure is a key aspect that could contribute to this shortage of truck drivers, particularly in a long-term perspective. In Germany, the proportion of truck drivers aged 55 or older is 36%, while at the European level this is 33%. In contrast, the proportion of truck drivers aged 25 or younger in Germany and Europe is only 3% and 5%, respectively (IRU 2024). This difference points to future challenges in human resources management for logistics: A significant proportion of truck drivers will retire due to age, but a corresponding increase in the number of younger truck drivers cannot be expected. Furthermore, truck drivers are exposed to a high daily workload. Hege et al. 2019 as well as Hill and Boyle 2007 demonstrate that an analysis is necessary to promote the occupational health and safety of this specific group, strengthen their intrinsic motivation, and enhance their performance. Truck drivers are exposed to various hazards. An empirical study showed that insomnia, a stress-induced reduction in attention, and the resulting irritability are significant risk factors for traffic accidents (Shams et al. 2021). Therefore, a promising area of research is dedicated to the well-being of truck drivers and employees. According to relevant research, employee well-being has a significant impact on work efficiency in general (Corbett 2024) and road safety specifically. To gain deeper scientific insights into this area, an interdisciplinary approach is necessary. Interdisciplinary research challenges disciplinary boundaries and exclusive focuses and offers new perspectives for understanding complex phenomena that cannot be fully grasped by a single discipline alone. Expanding disciplinary perspectives to include complex empirical questions is necessary to investigate real-world situations, gain new insights, and develop problem-oriented solutions. Challenges such as cross-disciplinary motivation, the development of a common language, the formulation of shared theories, and the creation of practical applications must be overcome. If these hurdles are overcome, interdisciplinary research can significantly contribute to a better understanding of complex management phenomena. Not only does it support a holistic perspective on theoretical questions, it also enables the development of novel methodological approaches. Collaboration between different disciplines is crucial for expanding scientific knowledge and developing practice-relevant solutions to current management challenges (Reinecke et al. 2024). This dissertation highlights the need for research in this field and addresses complex issues related to it. Due to this complexity, interdisciplinary approaches were chosen. The study addresses the relevance of personnel heterogeneity and individual resources for job performance, as well as the previously under-researched relationships between truck driver characteristics and their performance and safety. A synchronized data collection approach for truck drivers, which considers individual characteristics and their impact on health, performance, and safety, is presented below. Practical applications in human resource management and distribution are outlined. Finally, the underlying theories and methodological approaches are explained. The human factor is the central research topic in each of the individual complexes of this dissertation. This provides the relevant framework and highlights the shift from the Industry 4.0 concept with a technological focus to the "Industry 5.0" paradigm with a complementary human-centric approach. The aim is to analyze the effects of human factors and utilize them in operational areas for the productive design of work processes, thereby jointly improving work quality in terms of health and productivity. In this sense, this dissertation offers insights into future human-centric logistics management concepts.