Industry Fatigue Management Survey

A National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Initiative

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

This survey is part of DRIVE S(AI)FE, a national initiative funded by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to develop a human-centred AI system for fatigue prevention in the heavy vehicle industry. Your firsthand experience is essential to understanding how fatigue is managed today, what's working, what isn't, and how technology — including AI — can be designed to genuinely support drivers and operators.

Estimated time: 8–12 minutes

                        Confidentiality

                        Your responses are confidential and will be used to inform the design of safer, more supportive fatigue management tools. No individual responses will be identifiable.

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 2 of 10

Why This Survey Matters

Understanding Reality

We need to hear directly from the people who live with fatigue risk every day — drivers, managers, schedulers, and operators.

Shaping AI That Works

Your input will directly influence how AI-based fatigue tools are designed — so they support you, not surveil you.

Building Trust

We believe technology should be a safety partner, not a punishment tool. This survey helps us understand what trust looks like in practice.

Industry-Wide Impact

Findings will inform recommendations to the NHVR and contribute to national guidelines for AI in fatigue management.

Privacy: All responses are confidential. Individual responses will not be shared with employers, regulators, or any third party. Data will be reported in aggregate form only.

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 3 of 10 – About You

Participant Information

Help us understand who we're hearing from. This information is confidential.

Do you or have you worked in the heavy vehicle industry? *

Examples: Freight logistics, mining, construction, manufacturing

Yes

No

Please select an option

What best describes your primary role? *

Driver (company employed)

Driver (owner-operator)

Fleet Manager

Transport Operator/Owner

Scheduler/Dispatcher

Safety/Compliance Officer

Other

Please select your primary role

What industry segment do you primarily work in? *

Long-haul interstate

Regional/rural

Metropolitan/urban

Construction/civil

Mining/resources

Mixed operations

Other

Please select your industry segment

How many heavy vehicles does your organisation operate? *

1-5

6-20

21-50

51-200

200+

Not sure

Please select an organisation size

How many years have you been in the heavy vehicle industry? *

Less than 2

2-5

6-10

11-20

More than 20

Please select your experience level

Which state or territory are you primarily based in? *

NSW

VIC

QLD

WA

SA

TAS

NT

ACT

National/multi-state

Please select your state or territory

What type of driving/operations are you most involved with? *

Please select at least one work type

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 4 of 10 – Current Fatigue Management

Current State of Fatigue Management

Tell us about fatigue management practices in your workplace or operation.

How would you describe how fatigue is currently managed in your workplace? *

Well managed with clear systems

Somewhat managed but inconsistent

Not well managed — mostly left to individual drivers

Not sure

Please select an option

What fatigue management tools or systems are currently used? *

Work diaries (paper)

Electronic Work Diary (EWD)

In-cab fatigue camera

Scheduling/rostering software

Fatigue risk management plan

Pre-trip fitness for duty checks

Wearable devices

None that I'm aware of

Other

Please select at least one option

How confident are you that current fatigue management practices actually keep drivers safe? *

Very confident

Somewhat confident

Neutral

Not very confident

Not at all confident

Please select an option

In your experience, how big is the gap between fatigue policies and what actually happens on the road? *

No gap

Small gap

Moderate gap

Large gap

Very large gap

Please select an option

Have you ever felt pressure to continue driving when you believed you were too fatigued? *

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Prefer not to say

Please select an option

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 5 of 10 – Risk Factors

Fatigue Risk Factors

The following questions ask about factors that may contribute to fatigue in your work. There are no right or wrong answers — we're trying to understand the real pressures people face.

How often do scheduling pressures contribute to fatigue in your work? *

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Please select an option

How often do you work shifts that feel too long to maintain safe alertness? *

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Please select an option

How often do waiting times (loading, unloading, depot) eat into your rest time? *

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Please select an option

How would you rate the quality of sleep you typically get between shifts? *

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Very poor

Please select an option

How easy is it for you to take a meaningful rest break when you need one? *

Very easy

Somewhat easy

Neutral

Somewhat difficult

Very difficult

Please select an option

In your workplace, how comfortable do people feel raising concerns about fatigue? *

Very comfortable

Somewhat comfortable

Neutral

Somewhat uncomfortable

Very uncomfortable

Please select an option

What are the THREE biggest contributors to fatigue risk in your experience? *

Select up to 3 options

Please select 1-3 options

Please select at least one option

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 6 of 10 – Technology & Monitoring

Technology and Monitoring

What fatigue-related technology do you currently use or have in your vehicle/workplace? *

In-cab fatigue/distraction camera

Electronic Work Diary (EWD)

GPS/telematics tracking

Wearable device (smartwatch/fitness band)

Scheduling software

None

Other

Please select at least one option

Overall, how useful do you find current fatigue-related technology? *

Very useful

Somewhat useful

Neutral

Not very useful

Not at all useful

N/A - don't use any

Please select an option

How much do you trust that fatigue monitoring technology is used to support safety rather than to punish or surveil? *

Fully trust

Mostly trust

Neutral

Mostly distrust

Fully distrust

Please select an option

What are your biggest concerns about fatigue monitoring technology?

Privacy/surveillance

Data being used against me

False alerts/inaccurate readings

Too many alerts (alert fatigue)

Technology replacing human judgment

Cost of technology

Don't understand how it works

No concerns

Other

What would make fatigue monitoring technology more useful or trustworthy for you?

0/300 characters

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 7 of 10 – AI & The Future

AI Readiness and Future Opportunities

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being explored as a tool for fatigue management. We want to understand your views on where it could help — and what concerns you have.

How would you describe your overall attitude toward AI being used in fatigue management? *

Very positive

Somewhat positive

Neutral

Somewhat negative

Very negative

Please select an option

Where do you think AI could be helpful in managing fatigue?

Predicting when a driver is becoming fatigued before it's obvious

Identifying patterns in scheduling that increase fatigue risk

Providing personalised alerts and suggestions

Helping fleet managers make better scheduling decisions

Monitoring sleep quality and readiness for duty

Reducing paperwork and compliance burden

I don't think AI would be helpful

Other

What is your BIGGEST concern about AI in fatigue management? *

It will be used for surveillance, not safety

It won't understand real driving conditions

It will lead to job losses or changes

I don't trust the technology to be accurate

Data privacy and who has access

It will be too expensive for smaller operators

I don't have concerns

Other

Please select an option

What would need to be true for you to feel comfortable with an AI-based fatigue management system?

I understand exactly what data is collected

I can see what the system sees about me

It's optional or I can opt out

Drivers were involved in designing it

It reduces my workload rather than adding to it

It works reliably without too many false alarms

My employer can't access individual data

Other

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 8 of 10 – Industry Needs

Industry Needs and Gaps

What does the heavy vehicle industry need MOST to improve fatigue management? *

Select up to 3 options

Please select 1-3 options

Please select at least one option

Where is the gap in how fatigue is currently managed? *

Select all that apply

The tools/technology

The workplace culture

Management understanding of fatigue

Regulatory frameworks

Financial investment

Training and education

All of the above

Please select at least one option

In your view, do smaller fleet operators face greater challenges managing fatigue compared with larger companies? *

Yes — significantly greater challenges

Yes — somewhat greater challenges

No — challenges are about the same

No — smaller operators manage fatigue better

Not sure

Please select an option

If you could change ONE thing to reduce fatigue risk in the heavy vehicle industry, what would it be?

0/300 characters

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

Step 9 of 10 – Final Reflections

Final Reflections

Is there anything else you'd like to share about fatigue management, technology, or your experience in the industry?

0/500 characters

Would you be willing to participate in a follow-up interview to share more about your experience?

Yes

No

Maybe — tell me more

What a follow-up would involve: a confidential 20–30 minute interview (phone, video, or in person) with a member of the DRIVE S(AI)FE research team to explore your experiences in more depth. Participation is voluntary and you can withdraw at any time. Leaving your email below lets us share more details so you can decide whether to take part — it is not a commitment to participate.

If yes, please provide your email address (optional):

Do you know anyone else who may also be interested in participating in this survey and who works in/with heavy fleet operations? If so, please pass on their details and we will send them the survey to complete.

✓

Thank You

Your contribution to DRIVE S(AI)FE is valued. The insights you've shared will directly inform how AI-based fatigue management tools are designed — with the goal of making them genuinely useful, trustworthy, and supportive for everyone in the heavy vehicle industry.

What Happens Next?

Your responses will be combined with those of other industry participants and analysed as part of the DRIVE S(AI)FE Current State Report. No individual responses will be identifiable.

Understanding Fatigue in the Heavy Vehicle Industry

End of the Survey

Thank you for taking the time to respond.

This survey is specifically designed for people who work directly in or with the heavy vehicle industry — including drivers, fleet managers, operators, schedulers, and safety officers.

If you're unsure whether your experience qualifies, please contact us at info@drivesaife.com.au for clarification.

If you believe you reached this page by mistake and would like to return to the survey, please click the original link we sent you.

Otherwise, we'd still value your perspective. If you have a moment, please answer the two questions below — your input may help inform the broader research.

Have you had any experience with fatigue management, road safety, or heavy vehicle operations — either directly or in an adjacent role? If so, please share any challenges or observations you've encountered.

Do you know someone who works in or with the heavy vehicle industry who might be willing to participate in this survey? If so, please share their details and we'll reach out to them directly.