Trucking Into The Unknown: A Case Study Investigating the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Wellbeing of Long Haul Truck Drivers

Truck drivers serve as the backbone of supply chains, yet little scholarly research exists to understand the impact of crises on their wellbeing. Given the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic, we adopt a qualitative case study methodology to explore the effects of the pandemic on the wellbeing of long-haul truck drivers. Additionally, we uncover personal and organizational resources that have been effective in combatting stressors present in the pandemic environment. Our findings reveal the exacerbation of endemic occupational stressors and the creation of additional pandemic-related stressors, negatively impacting physical, psychological and social dimensions of wellbeing. Furthermore, we present an emerging model of truck driver wellbeing in times of crisis, showcasing the relationships between stressors and available resources. From a practical perspective, our study emphasizes the importance of developing resources to support truck drivers in times of crisis and proposes suggestions for the management of trucking firms to implement.