Surf the roads? : An interview study aiming to investigate truck driver’s needs for a web browser in the truck cab

Abstract: Long haul drivers spend a lot of time in their trucks which consequently serves as both a work place and a second home. The Internet, and communication and information technology can be used for both personal uses by the drivers, and lead to major savings for the haulage firms and provide high level service to the customers. This study investigates what needs long haul drivers have for using the Internet in their trucks, and which devise that best would suit their needs. A questionnaire study was held including 35 drivers, and an interview study including 30 drivers. The results show that almost all drivers want to perform work related tasks through the Internet, and several of them also want to use personal applications online. Work tasks online needs to be performed during the day, whereas private use of the Internet mostly would take place at nights. Several drivers are positive to an integrated system for using the Internet in the truck, and the study presents a possible concept for such a system, and discusses the results related to present research and applicable theories.