Delivery Driver Stress in North America: Why It’s Time to Pay Attention 

Across the U.S. and Canada, trucking and delivery fleets are facing a growing challenge: finding and keeping drivers. A major part of the problem? Stress on the job. 

A recent survey by Geotab, “The Unseen Toll: Driver Stress and Road Safety,” highlights just how serious this issue has become in Europe: 

• 91% of commercial drivers say job-related stress affects how they drive 

• Nearly half have thought about quitting in the past year due to stress 

• 95% feel roads are more dangerous than five years ago, with 61% saying it’s gotten much worse 

These findings paint a clear picture. Stress goes beyond mental health, affecting safety, retention, and overall performance on the road. 

Drivers pointed to three key pressure points: 

• Tight schedules: Many feel forced to speed just to stay on time 
• Traffic: Gridlock and construction delays make it harder to do the job 
• Lack of support: Over half say they don’t feel comfortable talking to their employer about stress, and more than a third say no real help is offered 

The good news? Tools already exist to help solve these issues. Delivery and routing solutions, like those offered by Descartes, help reduce stress by making the day more predictable and manageable. 

Here’s how: 

• Smarter routing: Real-time traffic data helps avoid delays 
• More realistic schedules: Drivers aren’t forced to rush 
• Better communication: Apps keep dispatchers and drivers on the same page 
• Customer updates: ETAs and delays are communicated without intervention from the driver 

Along with reducing stress for drivers, these features improve the customer experience and make deliveries more cost effective. 

Drivers are the backbone of every fleet. When they’re overworked and overwhelmed, everyone pays the price in missed deliveries, safety risks, and high turnover. 

Investing in driver-friendly technology isn’t just about logistics. It’s about respect. It’s about safety. And it’s about building a workplace that people want to stay in. 

Ready to help drivers perform at their best? Get in touch today.