A glimpse into the life of a truck driver
- By Wu Jin
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 14, 2016
China has more than 30 million truck drivers, who are responsible for 76 percent of the freight transport missions across the entire country. Fighting against the dull and tedious trips – which can last up to ten or more hours a day – the long-distance drivers force themselves to stay awake by taking nicotine or even prohibited substances, such as alcohol or drugs.
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| China has more than 30 million truck drivers, who are responsible for 76 percent of the freight transport missions across the entire country. |
Passing by forests of palm trees, a truck zigzagged along a rugged mountain. It was headed from Shenzhen in Guangdong Province to Chongqing municipality—a journey that requires dexterous driving skills along a winding path.
After more than two hours, the truck came out of the mountainous area onto a four-lane highway, which is much broader and straighter.
The truck's clock showed that it was 12:00 a.m., a moment signaling the start of a new day. However, the less challenging driving conditions made Zhang Yaofeng, the truck driver, begin to feel sleepy. Had it not been for the help of a cigarette, the driver would have probably smashed his head onto the steering wheel when he yawned, closed his eyes and inclined forward.
"[The job of a truck driver] is both tedious and dangerous, but without it what else can I do?" Zhang said in an interview with Southern People Weekly Magazine.
Transporting raw materials and parts for Foxconn, a manufacturer of cell phone parts, Zhang is one of 30 million truck drivers who are responsible for 76 percent of the freight transport missions across the country.
Zhang's latest long-distance journey started from Shekou Port, Shenzhen. He was lying down in the driving cabin tangling his feet on the driving wheel and watching TV series on his mobile phone, waiting for the order to set out.
After Zhang received the signal for departure, the truck rumbled towards the highway known for its narrow paths, with turns and twists along the ravines and ridges among mountains. The difficult road caused 2,553 traffic accidents and claimed more than 170 lives from October 2008 to March 2010.
Even though he's a veteran driver who has passed through the highway time and time again, Zhang still slowed down out of safety concerns. And when he finished his nocturnal trip through the mountains, he was half an hour further behind schedule than usual.
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