From taint to turnover: exploring driver disengagement in the Indian trucking industry

Purpose Despite the rapid growth of India's logistics sector, the trucking sector has witnessed persistent driver shortages. This study examines the intrinsic factors that contribute to job disengagement among truck drivers. The study employs the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) framework and the dirty work theory to investigate how these factors influence retention and driver sustainability in the freight logistics industry. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a sequential qualitative analysis approach. In Phase 1, thematic analysis of 24 YouTube videos and vlogs was conducted to identify key occupational challenges. These insights informed Phase 2, which involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 25 truck drivers to ensure a deeper thematic understanding. Finally, field notes from fleet managers were used to incorporate an organizational perspective. NVivo software was used to facilitate coding and theme development. Findings The analysis sheds light on multiple factors contributing to disengagement and high turnover in the Indian trucking industry. This study uncovers a parallel causal process rooted in the “dirty work” concept, which serves as a psychosocial job demand, aggravating the turnover problem. Research limitations/implications This study extends the JD-R framework by incorporating occupational stigma within the context of freight transportation. While the findings offer valuable insights into informal logistics sectors, caution must be exercised when generalizing these findings to other geographical or cultural contexts without considering the contextual uniqueness of India as a country. Practical implications Our study highlights the need for redesigning human-centric policies and practices to strengthen driver retention and operational continuity. Originality/value This study examines how the latent perception of dirty work, in conjunction with the JD-R framework, significantly contributes to job disengagement among Indian truckers. The study offers novel insights into workforce challenges in India's informal logistics industry.