The harsh realities of being a trucker in Bangladesh

Abul Kashem took one last drag on from his cigarette under the dull light of a roadside tea stall on the outskirts of Bogura. His truck was parked under a tree, cooling down from a more than 16-hour ride hauling goods from Chattogram to Rangpur. His eyes, bloodshot and heavy, showed exhaustion that no amount of nicotine or caffeine could stave off. 

''Sleep?'' he chuckles bitterly. ''Truck drivers don't sleep. We just rest our eyes.'' Kashem, hardly in his 30s but seeming much older, slumped down on a wooden seat close by while he talked, his head resting on his folded arms. He then went into a shallow, unpleasant sleep. It offered a short break from the unrelenting grind of the road.

Just like Kashem, thousands of truck drivers, who transport everything from fresh vegetables to clothing throughout the country, are crucial to Bangladesh's economic life. Without them, supply networks would fall apart, factories would stop running and marketplaces would run empty. 

So, these men have to endure long hours, low pay, poor health, risk of road crashes, and extreme psychological stress to keep the economy running. Their struggles go essentially unnoticed until a deadly accident hits the news.

The brutal reality of life on road 

Bangladesh's truck drivers navigate dangerous roads with potholes, careless driving, and road lights that seldom work. Many roads, especially in rural regions, are in constant ruin, which makes long-distance travel physically and mentally draining. Sometimes, it takes 12-14 hours to complete a six-hour journey just because of the dire condition of the roads. 

"We sleep and rest inside trucks… My son hardly remembers me when I return home; thinking I am a stranger, he hides behind his mother. That hurts more than anything else."

Abdul Karim, Truck driver

Driving late at night has become even riskier in recent times, especially with muggers and robbers lurking in the shadows. 

Tipu, another truck driver, has been a victim of crime before. ''Once, I was forced to stop my vehicle at a quiet place around 2am. Some men approached and, at knifepoint, took our mobile phones and money,'' he recalled.

''No matter how valuable the goods we transport, if they are damaged, the liability falls on us. The companies do not bear any responsibility. Yet, there is insufficient security on the roads, and we have to manage with just a driver and a helper,'' he added.

Then there is the sleep deprivation, a nuisance not only for truck drivers but also a risk for others on the roads. Drivers are pushed to the brink of fatigue by long hours, strict deadlines, and persistent schedules; often this means they must operate heavy vehicles while hardly able to keep their eyes open. 

Shahid, who has been a truck driver for over 10 years, remembers a horrific event where exhaustion almost claimed his life.

''It was past midnight when I was headed from Sylhet to Khulna. Though I had heavy eyes, I had to press on to meet the deadline. I dozed off for a few seconds at one point and by the time I opened my eyes, my truck had swung off the road. I wouldn't be here today if another vehicle had been approaching,'' he remarked, shaking his head.

Many drivers find themselves in similar circumstances. Some try chewing betel leaves or smoking cigarettes to combat tiredness, while others load up on tea or energy drinks. These are only band-aid solutions, though, that hardly help to stop the inevitable.

Drug abuse is commonly mentioned as a contributing factor in fatal road accidents. But many in the field reject this claim, saying that fatigue, rather than intoxication, is the primary contributory factor.

''The majority of accidents occur due to sleep deprivation, not drug use,'' Kamal, a long-haul truck driver, stated. ''Your body gives out after 18 to 20 hours of continuous driving. You don't even realise that your eyes are closing."

However, several drivers acknowledge that drug usage is a reality in this sector. 

A trucker, who preferred to stay anonymous, stated, ''Some people use Yaba or other stimulants to keep themselves awake during lengthy journeys. 'They think it helps, but in the end, it only makes them more reckless.''

Photo: Noor-A-Alam

The toll on body and mind 

Spending hours clutching a steering wheel wears one out. Most truck drivers suffer from either chronic back pain, arthritis or heart problems. Their health issues are worsened by poor diet, restricted access to healthcare, and erratic sleep schedules. 

The truckers' diets are also poor. They do not get the time to eat properly, and when they do, they have to make do with whatever they can grab from roadside stalls. 

There are no specific eateries along truck routes that cater to drivers. They might manage to have a proper meal with rice once every two to three days. 

''We consume a lot of fried and oily food because it keeps us full for longer. This helps us focus on driving by suppressing hunger. However, the lack of nutritious food leads to various health complications later on in life,'' Reza, a driver for Shatabdi transports, said.

'The trucks become our home'

Home is a distant memory for long-distance truckers. 

Days, even weeks, pass without seeing their wives or children. Often, the emotional distance results in troubled relationships, divorces, and children growing up without their fathers. 

''Once you are in this business, you do not have any particular home anymore. The trucks become our home. We sleep and rest inside of it,'' Abdul Karim, a driver who spent nearly 30 years of his life in trucking, expressed his despair.  

''My son hardly remembers me when I return home; thinking I am a stranger, he hides behind his mother. That hurts more than anything else,'' he added. 

Shockingly low pay 

Though they are vitally important for the nation's economy, truckers are paid poorly. Most are paid per trip instead of per hour, and their income hardly covers their living expenses. Many drivers rely on truck owners, who split a portion of the profits, as most do not own the vehicles they drive.

According to Kashem, a three-day round trip from Dhaka to Chattogram and back costs around Tk7,000. ''However, after food, fuel, and bribes at checkpoints, I take home barely Tk2,500.''

Transport companies pay drivers and their helpers a combined monthly salary of Tk6,000–7,000. The companies provide the fuel and other essentials. If the drivers complete eight trips a month, they can earn over Tk20,000 on top of their salary.

However, amid all the hassle, truckers have found some relief in not having to bribe the highway police. Several drivers have remarked that this has been the situation on the roads since the fall of the previous government.

One driver, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "Previously, on every trip, we had to pay between Tk1,000 and Tk1,500 at various points under different pretexts. Now the police are a bit cautious, but we are uncertain about what lies ahead. Regardless of which government comes to power, if we don't have to pay this extra money, it will make a significant difference."

Calls for change 

Although actual progress is next to nothing, labour rights organisations and activists have long asked for decent wages, appropriate rest facilities, and better roadways. There have been occasional strikes and protests over the years, but there has been little change so far.  

Razekuzzaman Ratan, a social activist and the assistant general secretary of the Socialist Party of Bangladesh, said, "According to international regulations, no one should drive for more than five consecutive hours. However, in Bangladesh, truck drivers often drive for 14 to 16 hours straight. They do not get adequate rest. While passenger buses have arrangements for breaks at various hotels and resorts, truck drivers have no such facilities.

"There is no service book system for truck drivers, which is essential. If they work overtime, they must be paid accordingly. Each truck should have at least two skilled drivers so that no one has to drive continuously for extended periods. If drivers are harmed due to an accident, their employers must take responsibility," he further said.