PhD scholarship offered to study truck driver health

CONCERN for the long-term health and safety of Australia’s truck drivers is prompting new research exploring new and emerging health risks facing professional drivers.

Monash University’s Accident Research Centre (MUARC), supported by Australia’s biggest transport and logistics insurance specialist NTI, and delivered through the National Truck Accident Research Centre (NTARC), are funding a PhD scholarship to carry out the research.

The scholarship will be to continue the work started by Monash’s Driving Health Initiative which examined the physical and mental health of professional drivers across the country.

NTI’s Chief Executive Officer Janelle Greene said the project will build on the principles of the Driving Health work to date, by exploring new and emerging health risks facing professional drivers.

“This scholarship underscores a commitment to the long-term wellbeing of the people who keep Australia moving,” Ms Greene said.

"Driver health contributes to safety on our roads and the future of the industry. By funding this research, we’re aiming to deliver actionable insights that improve policy, workplace practices, and ultimately lead to safer, healthier outcomes for drivers.”

This initiative continues the NTARC partnership between NTI, MUARC, and the National Road Safety Partnership Program (NRSPP). The partnership already delivers the annual Major Accident Investigation Report into the trends and causes of serious truck accidents in Australia.

Dr Ross Iles who pioneered the Driving Health initiative while at Monash University said he was thrilled to see the NTARC partnership taking ownership and driving it forward.

“The Driving Health Study gathered critical information about the health and wellbeing of the truck driving workforce. I'm excited to see this program build on the foundations of the Driving Health project so we can help drivers to be healthy and stay healthy at work,” he said.

The scholarship includes a 3.5-year fixed-term appointment with a stipend of up to $40,000 per annum.

The successful PhD candidate will be based at Monash University’s Clayton campus and supervised by Associate Professor Sjaan Koppel, a leading expert in driver health, road safety, and injury prevention.