Professional driver considered self-harm due to industry stress – union warns of widespread burnout

Many professional drivers in Finland’s transport sector are suffering from severe burnout due to excessive working hours and systemic industry problems, according to the Auto and Transport Workers’ Union (AKT).

A truck driver identified only as Leena told public broadcaster Yle she had repeatedly considered self-harm to avoid going to work, citing relentless pressure from tight deadlines and illegal overtime. “Many times I thought about which limb I could cut off so I wouldn’t have to go to work,” she said.

Pasi Ritokoski, AKT’s occupational safety officer, confirmed that long shifts and ignored rest periods are common issues. “Goods must be delivered within strict time windows, and missing them can cost companies hundreds of euros in penalties,” he explained. “Drivers feel they have to keep going, even when they should stop and rest.”

Ritokoski acknowledged that while some transport firms comply with regulations, others fail to maintain vehicles or pay wages properly. “Overtime and bonuses often go unpaid,” he said, adding that many drivers hide health problems—such as sleep apnea—fearing they’ll lose their commercial licenses.

Industry group disputes systemic failures Ari Herrala, advocacy director for SKAL (the Finnish Transport and Logistics association), rejected claims of widespread structural problems. “There will always be individual companies breaking rules, but continuous violations are impossible under current enforcement,” he said, noting that police checks in February 2026 found 150 rest-time violations among 1,302 inspected heavy vehicles.

Herrala also dismissed concerns about unsafe equipment, arguing that road conditions pose greater risks. However, he called it “deeply worrying” that Finland’s Social Insurance Institution (Kela) had deemed a driver with suicidal thoughts fit for work. “Someone in that state should absolutely not be operating heavy vehicles,” he said.

Health issues ignored until crises emerge Ritokoski warned that many transport workers lack access to preventive healthcare, with problems often detected only after they become severe. Leena’s case—where multiple doctors declared her unfit for work due to depression and suicidal ideation, yet Kela denied her sick leave—illustrates the gap between medical assessments and bureaucratic decisions.

The union reports rising numbers of disability pension and rehabilitation applications among drivers, signaling a broader crisis in the industry.