Is the freedom of truck drivers a thing of the past?

The profession of truck driver has undergone profound upheavals since the 1990s. It continues to attract (mostly working-class men) for the income and a form of tranquility.

Driving a freight truck is nothing compared to 30 years ago, says the Center for Employment and Labor Studies. The image of the international, ultra-autonomous truck driver, who leaves to deliver to customers abroad for several weeks in a row, partly belongs to the past.

Among the reasons, the opening to competition of goods transport since 1989, which has gradually reduced the playing field for French truckers. But also tachographs, these on-board devices which strictly control driving time. Result: truckers make journeys significantly shorter than before (75% do not exceed 500 kilometers, the equivalent of a Dijon-Lille trip).

Only a third of drivers say they sleep away from home at least once a week, and a good portion of them make day trips.

If truckers have to take a break every 4.5 hours, they can drive up to 9 hours a day, sometimes 10. Their weekly working time is high: 44 hours on average per week and they have less control than before, when they decided when to drive, when to stop and where to go.

Employers have regained control thanks to the arrival of mobile phones, geolocation tools and real-time tracking of goods. Tours are established in advance and adapted as needed.

According to sociologist Anatole Lamy, who interviewed 31 truck drivers, this rigidity of driving times generates frustration among some, and sometimes a fear of not meeting the deadlines set by the boss. But we are far from permanent control and the truck drivers, he says, still retain a form of autonomy.

Despite the arduousness and the great unpredictability of the schedules, it is not a precarious job: more than 90% of truck drivers are on permanent contracts.

The salary levels also allow you to earn more than a specialized worker. Between 2,000 and 3,000 euros, sometimes beyond, depending on the time spent on the road and the distance traveled. A driver can accumulate several hundred euros per week when he leaves for the week. This is significant, explains the sociologist, as 98% of drivers have a baccalaureate level or lower.

Finally, failing to decide on the transport process, and despite being more controlled, truck drivers appreciate being alone in their cabin, enjoying a certain tranquility. Some highlight the pleasure of driving or dreaming while admiring the landscapes.