The Experiences and Challenges Encountered by Tow Truck Driver's Attending Roadside Events: A PRISMA Scoping Review

Tow truck drivers (TTD) are often the first to present at vehicle crashes, in addition to police, ambulance and at times fire services. Existing research suggests that TTD do not always receive similar supports as other first responders. A gap highlighted the need to understand the physical and psychological experiences of TTD, how they manage challenges and what supports they receive. The aim of the study is to understand why TTD should be considered first responders and to explore experiences related to the challenges encountered in their work.

A scoping review was conducted to address the aims of the study using the PRISMA for scoping reviews guidelines to ensure accurate and rigorous reporting of findings. A broad literature search was conducted between February and April 2024, using the databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and EBSCO (Newspaper Source Plus), while also searching Google Scholar search engine to identify sources related to TTD. Studies of TTD were included if they were original research, written in English, peer-reviewed or news reports. Studies were excluded if truck drivers were not related to the tow truck industry.

A total of 14 studies were included in the review. No specific key attributes for TTD were reported; however, they were found to be the first on the scene following an accident due to their well-developed network. TTD experience physical and psychological trauma. Support services are limited, and poor coping strategies, such as excessive alcohol intake, are reported. Lack of safety training was considered a contributor of occupational hazards in the industry.

There is a palpable inequity of supports available to this group of first responders when compared to other common disciplines. The findings support a deeper exploration of TTD's lived experiences on the job, including how best to address their physical and psychological well-being.