Introductary Video (produced by Hua Wang)
Role: Sole UX Designer, Visual Designer, Prototyper
Duration: Jan 2024 - Apr 2024
Team: 1 Business Strategist (Hua Wang), 1 Development Specialist (Joachim Asare), 1 UX Designer
Project Type: Studio Project
Duration: Jan 2024 - Apr 2024
Team: 1 Business Strategist (Hua Wang), 1 Development Specialist (Joachim Asare), 1 UX Designer
Project Type: Studio Project
Long-Haul Truck Drivers Are Lonely
Problem
After conducting interviews with stakeholders and beneficiaries, research, and chats with the communities we further confirmed the severity of this problem and learned more about the causes behind it:
Long-haul truck drivers often experience extensively long periods of solitude due to the lengthy hours spent driving and waiting on the road, which leads to significant loneliness and boredom. This phenomenon can exacerbate mental health illnesses, such as depression [3][6][8], and heighten the risk of physical ailments, including heart disease [4][5][11]. Addressing these challenges is crucial for maintaining the drivers' health and improving their overall quality of life.
Mental Health Decline
Solitude during long-haul driving can precipitate conditions such as depression and anxiety [3][6][8][11], detrimentally impacting the mental well-being of truck drivers.
Solitude during long-haul driving can precipitate conditions such as depression and anxiety [3][6][8][11], detrimentally impacting the mental well-being of truck drivers.
Physical Health Risks
The persistent isolation inherent in trucking is linked to a greater likelihood of developing health complications, particularly those related to the cardiovascular system [4][5][11].
The persistent isolation inherent in trucking is linked to a greater likelihood of developing health complications, particularly those related to the cardiovascular system [4][5][11].
Physical Health Risks
Feelings of disconnection from family, friends, and the community, and the perception of lacking appreciation lead to low job satisfaction and attraction [2][7][9][10].
Feelings of disconnection from family, friends, and the community, and the perception of lacking appreciation lead to low job satisfaction and attraction [2][7][9][10].
But How Do Truck Drivers Fight This Loneliness?
Listening and singing to podcasts and music to stay engaged and entertained.
“My favorite driving pastime is listening to podcasts while driving … Audiobooks and music are a close second.”
“...literally always have something playing, a podcast, a YouTube documentary, a YouTube show...I am literally always listening to something.” “Audiobooks are my go-to, just get lost in endless stories..”
“Been listening to a lot of standups this week. I do lots of podcasts and some music depending on my mood.”
“My favorite driving pastime is listening to podcasts while driving … Audiobooks and music are a close second.”
“...literally always have something playing, a podcast, a YouTube documentary, a YouTube show...I am literally always listening to something.” “Audiobooks are my go-to, just get lost in endless stories..”
“Been listening to a lot of standups this week. I do lots of podcasts and some music depending on my mood.”
Engaging in learning activities to keep the mind active and distracted.
“Use the time … I’m learning French ...Rosetta sone...Hallow app for prayer in meditation...music, podcast, audiobooks, and audio comic books.”
“Get Rosetta Stone and learn a language.”
“I'm usually driving about 60-70 hours per week and spend at least a chunk of that time beginning to learn a new language. ”
“...have a nice portable setup to practice bass guitar. Pick a song, start learning.”
“Use the time … I’m learning French ...Rosetta sone...Hallow app for prayer in meditation...music, podcast, audiobooks, and audio comic books.”
“Get Rosetta Stone and learn a language.”
“I'm usually driving about 60-70 hours per week and spend at least a chunk of that time beginning to learn a new language. ”
“...have a nice portable setup to practice bass guitar. Pick a song, start learning.”
Talking to friends, family, and the community to maintain social and emotional linkages.
“I once drove across Texas … it was like 16 hours … But it felt like only 8 hours because I was on the phone the entire time.”
“We all hang out on voice chat while driving.”
“As for fighting boredom, it’s a lot easier today with cell phones, audiobooks, and satellite radio. ”
“I once drove across Texas … it was like 16 hours … But it felt like only 8 hours because I was on the phone the entire time.”
“We all hang out on voice chat while driving.”
“As for fighting boredom, it’s a lot easier today with cell phones, audiobooks, and satellite radio. ”
– @Reddit Users, @Truckers' Interviews
In 2040, we speculate a shift in the trucking industry towards a level-3 autonomous driving norm, in which the system can perform certain degrees of driving tasks with occasional necessary human overrides [13][14][15]. This evolution will lead to more non-working hours, potentially exacerbating the current challenge of boredom and loneliness [16] on long hauls.
Therefore, we build...
Ideation and Sketches
First Prototype
User Feedback (2 in-person screen-watching interviews)
“There is too much information on the screens. I have no idea where to find my itineraries, music, engine light, and stuff.”
"I think some of the information is not necessary to see."
"The texts are too small. I am too old to read them."
"If this system can offer a more intelligent helper like chatbots with voice controls, then I think it would be better to control and switch between different interfaces."
"How big is this? I can't understand the size."
"What do you change? Can the drivers do other things than what they are doing right now, like peaking phones?"
“There is too much information on the screens. I have no idea where to find my itineraries, music, engine light, and stuff.”
"I think some of the information is not necessary to see."
"The texts are too small. I am too old to read them."
"If this system can offer a more intelligent helper like chatbots with voice controls, then I think it would be better to control and switch between different interfaces."
"How big is this? I can't understand the size."
"What do you change? Can the drivers do other things than what they are doing right now, like peaking phones?"
Second Prototype
User Feedback (2 in-person screen-watching interviews)
“I think the screen is a bit too small, especially for drivers of some ages. The space underneath it is not utilized. The double-screen system might have issues like high maintenance efforts and glazes."
“If you are transforming also the seat, how can you guarantee that they will arise soon enough if there's any emergency on the road that requires their attention?"
“I think the screen is a bit too small, especially for drivers of some ages. The space underneath it is not utilized. The double-screen system might have issues like high maintenance efforts and glazes."
“If you are transforming also the seat, how can you guarantee that they will arise soon enough if there's any emergency on the road that requires their attention?"
Design
OS Homepage
Customizable Music Prodcast with optional auto-recommendation system
Learning Module against long-haul boredness
Immersive video chatting to connect the loved ones
Design System
AI Integration | Voice Control
AI Integration | Hand Gesture and Fatigue Detection
Design System
Evaluation & Iterations
User Testing Process
We prototyped a minimal truck cabin and implemented the projection on the windshield to conduct user tests.
Latest Prototype
Prototype Visualization
01. Bopp, N., Kollatschny, R., Rothfuß, D., & Trendli, C. (n.d.). TruckTett—A social multiplayer network game to connect truck drivers.
02. Flowers, V. S., & Hughes, C. L. (1973). Why Employees Stay.
03. Garbarino, S., Guglielmi, O., Sannita, W., Magnavita, N., & Lanteri, P. (2018). Sleep and Mental Health in Truck Drivers: Descriptive Review of the Current Evidence and Proposal of Strategies for Primary Prevention. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(9), 1852. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15091852
04. Hawkley, L. C., Thisted, R. A., Masi, C. M., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 25(1), 132–141.
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017805
05. Hege, A., Lemke, M. K., Apostolopoulos, Y., & Sönmez, S. (2018). Occupational health disparities among U.S. long-haul truck drivers: The influence of work organization and sleep on cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. PLOS ONE, 13(11),
e0207322. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207322
06. Makuto, N., Kristman, V., Bigelow, P., & Bédard, M. (2023). Factors associated with depressive symptoms in long-haul truck drivers. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 21, 100851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2023.100851
07. Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
08. Pritchard, E., Van Vreden, C., Xia, T., Newnam, S., Collie, A., Lubman, D. I., De Almeida Neto, A., & Iles, R. (2023). Impact of work and coping factors on mental health: Australian truck drivers’ perspective. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1090.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15877-4
09. Smet, A. D., Dowling, B., Mugayar-Baldocchi, M., & Schaninger, B. (n.d.). ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours.
10. Srinivasan, S., O’Fallon, L. R., & Dearry, A. (2003). Creating Healthy Communities, Healthy Homes, Healthy People: Initiating a Research Agenda on the Built Environment and Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 93(9), 1446–1450.
https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.9.1446
11. Van Vreden, C., Xia, T., Collie, A., Pritchard, E., Newnam, S., Lubman, D. I., De Almeida Neto, A., & Iles, R. (2022). The physical and mental health of Australian truck drivers: A national cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 464.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12850-5
12. Wijngaards, I., Hendriks, M., & Burger, M. J. (2019). Steering towards happiness: An experience sampling study on the determinants of happiness of truck drivers. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 128, 131–148.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2019.07.017
13. Davidson, P., & Spinoulas, A. (2015). Autonomous Vehicles—What Could This Mean For The Future Of Transport?
14. Kamata, M. (2021). Current status and Future Outlook of Automated Driving. ClassNK Texhnical Journal, 4.
15. Leonard, J. J., Mindell, D. A., & Stayton, E. L. (2020). Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility, and Employment Policy: The Roads Ahead.
16. Taylor, H. O., Cudjoe, T. K. M., Bu, F., & Lim, M. H. (2023). The state of loneliness and social isolation research: Current knowledge and future directions. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1049, s12889-023-15967–3.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15967-3
02. Flowers, V. S., & Hughes, C. L. (1973). Why Employees Stay.
03. Garbarino, S., Guglielmi, O., Sannita, W., Magnavita, N., & Lanteri, P. (2018). Sleep and Mental Health in Truck Drivers: Descriptive Review of the Current Evidence and Proposal of Strategies for Primary Prevention. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, 15(9), 1852. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15091852
04. Hawkley, L. C., Thisted, R. A., Masi, C. M., & Cacioppo, J. T. (2010). Loneliness predicts increased blood pressure: 5-year cross-lagged analyses in middle-aged and older adults. Psychology and Aging, 25(1), 132–141.
https://doi.org/10.1037/a0017805
05. Hege, A., Lemke, M. K., Apostolopoulos, Y., & Sönmez, S. (2018). Occupational health disparities among U.S. long-haul truck drivers: The influence of work organization and sleep on cardiovascular and metabolic disease risk. PLOS ONE, 13(11),
e0207322. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207322
06. Makuto, N., Kristman, V., Bigelow, P., & Bédard, M. (2023). Factors associated with depressive symptoms in long-haul truck drivers. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 21, 100851. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2023.100851
07. Maslach, C., & Leiter, M. P. (2016). Understanding the burnout experience: Recent research and its implications for psychiatry. World Psychiatry, 15(2), 103–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20311
08. Pritchard, E., Van Vreden, C., Xia, T., Newnam, S., Collie, A., Lubman, D. I., De Almeida Neto, A., & Iles, R. (2023). Impact of work and coping factors on mental health: Australian truck drivers’ perspective. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1090.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15877-4
09. Smet, A. D., Dowling, B., Mugayar-Baldocchi, M., & Schaninger, B. (n.d.). ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours.
10. Srinivasan, S., O’Fallon, L. R., & Dearry, A. (2003). Creating Healthy Communities, Healthy Homes, Healthy People: Initiating a Research Agenda on the Built Environment and Public Health. American Journal of Public Health, 93(9), 1446–1450.
https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.93.9.1446
11. Van Vreden, C., Xia, T., Collie, A., Pritchard, E., Newnam, S., Lubman, D. I., De Almeida Neto, A., & Iles, R. (2022). The physical and mental health of Australian truck drivers: A national cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 22(1), 464.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-022-12850-5
12. Wijngaards, I., Hendriks, M., & Burger, M. J. (2019). Steering towards happiness: An experience sampling study on the determinants of happiness of truck drivers. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 128, 131–148.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2019.07.017
13. Davidson, P., & Spinoulas, A. (2015). Autonomous Vehicles—What Could This Mean For The Future Of Transport?
14. Kamata, M. (2021). Current status and Future Outlook of Automated Driving. ClassNK Texhnical Journal, 4.
15. Leonard, J. J., Mindell, D. A., & Stayton, E. L. (2020). Autonomous Vehicles, Mobility, and Employment Policy: The Roads Ahead.
16. Taylor, H. O., Cudjoe, T. K. M., Bu, F., & Lim, M. H. (2023). The state of loneliness and social isolation research: Current knowledge and future directions. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1049, s12889-023-15967–3.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15967-3
Hitchhiker delivers joys to the road’s unsung heroes,
fostering connection, activeness, and enjoyment.
fostering connection, activeness, and enjoyment.
Future Improvement
Invite more long-haul truck drivers to test the MVP version and be involved in future Iterations. Further iterations on usability to conduct live voice control and gesture interaction more smoothly. Transform a truck for a more immersive testing environment.
Invite more long-haul truck drivers to test the MVP version and be involved in future Iterations. Further iterations on usability to conduct live voice control and gesture interaction more smoothly. Transform a truck for a more immersive testing environment.
Impact
Leverage on increasing leisure time and improve wellness. Facilitate self-development through learning. Increase job satisfaction and attractiveness to the younger working force.
Leverage on increasing leisure time and improve wellness. Facilitate self-development through learning. Increase job satisfaction and attractiveness to the younger working force.