Steering towards happiness: An experience sampling study on the determinants of happiness of truck drivers

The relatively low levels of employee well-being reported among truck drivers directly relate to some of the key challenges faced in the transportation industry, including high turnover of staff and difficulties attracting people to the profession. Drawing on the job demands-resources model, this study addresses this problem by examining how various state-like and trait-like job demands and resources relate to truck drivers’ momentary happiness at work. Using an experience sampling study comprising 82 Dutch truck drivers, truck drivers were found to be happier during off-job activities and non-work-related job activities, such as breaks, than during work-related job activities. Furthermore, this study shows that road congestion aggravates the inverse relationship between work-related job activities and momentary happiness. Social support of colleagues and flexible work hours alleviate this relationship. These findings provide valuable information to the industry about the road to happiness for truck drivers.