The Impact of Economic Factors on Job Satisfaction Levels of Self-Employed Container Truck Drivers in Shanghai, China

摘要

The dilemma between the prosperity of Shanghai Port and the realistic hardships of truck drivers’ survival conditions is one of the original motivations of the researchers for conducting this study. The job satisfaction level (JSL) of a self-employed container truck driver (SCTD) is vital to the stability of the container trucking industry (CTI) in Shanghai. In contrast to most of the existing truck-related literatures involving crashes and drivers’ fatigue, this study places an emphasis on the impact of economic factors on SCTDs’ JSLs. An anonymous field survey of 645 SCTDs was conducted at Waigaoqiao Port and Yangshan Port, Shanghai. Three ordered probit models were developed for the analysis of variables including the drivers’ demographic characteristics, economic factors, fatigue conditions, and their attitude and reactions to a depression of the CTI. The results show that, the demographics variables are not statistically significant to the driver’s current job satisfaction. SCTDs with higher income and less expenditures are expected to have higher JSLs. High diesel price, high Consumer Price Index (CPI) and low freight-to-distance ratio (FDR) have a negative effect on the SCTDs’ JSLs in the industry depression. Drivers who drive overtime tend to adopt aggressive reactions. The increase of diesel price and CPI, the decline of FDR expose the industry in risks and instability. Credible evidence is provided that as the dissatisfaction levels of SCTDs rise, they tend to take more practical measures which may bring about negative influences on the stability of the whole industry and even the society.