Short Trips and Long Days: Safety and Health in Short-Haul Trucking

Posted: 15 Feb 2011

See all articles by Ann Williamson

Ann Williamson

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Philip Bohle

University of New South Wales (UNSW)

Michael G. Quinlan

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Organisation and Management

David Kennedy

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: April 1, 2009

Abstract

This paper looks at the role and influence of contingent employment among short-haul truckers, an occupational group that has been little studied to date. A 2003 survey of Australian short-haul drivers examined the predictors of health and safety outcomes for all drivers and provided comparative information on the working hours, occupational safety and health, and work-life conflict of permanent employees, temporary (casual) employees, and owner-drivers. The main predictor of both illness and injury for all drivers was work-life conflict. The results show that contingent work is characteristic of short-haul trucking in Australia, especially among owner-drivers and casual employees. Contingent-work drivers differ from other drivers on a range of organizational characteristics, but not on safety and health outcomes. Contingent employment can take different forms, each of which is associated with a somewhat different set of effects on workers.

Keywords: contingent employment, trucking, Australia, work-life conflict

JEL Classification: J40, J60

Suggested Citation

Williamson, Ann and Bohle, Philip and Quinlan, Michael G. and Kennedy, David, Short Trips and Long Days: Safety and Health in Short-Haul Trucking (April 1, 2009). Industrial and Labor Relations Review, Vol. 62, No. 3, 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1761339

Ann Williamson (Contact Author)

University of New South Wales (UNSW) ( email )

Kensington
High St
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

Philip Bohle

University of New South Wales (UNSW) ( email )

Level 5, Australian School of Business
School of Organisation and Management
Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia

Michael G. Quinlan

University of New South Wales (UNSW) - School of Organisation and Management ( email )

Sydney, NSW 2052
Australia
61 2 93857149 (Phone)

David Kennedy

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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