The recent brawl involving truck drivers and assistants in Ho Chi Minh City has raised concerns about the pressures and hidden challenges within the transportation industry, especially for truck driver assistants. While the incident occurred in Ho Chi Minh City, it reflects the reality of the truck assistant profession nationwide, including key transportation hubs like Quy Nhon.
On December 24th, the Investigation Agency of Binh Chanh District Police (Ho Chi Minh City) initiated legal proceedings, temporarily detaining Le Ngoc Quy (40 years old, from Dong Nai), Nguyen Van Don (18 years old, from An Giang), Lam Van Be (39 years old, from Ca Mau), and Duong Thanh Tuan (32 years old, from Tien Giang) for “Disturbing public order.”
According to the investigation, on the afternoon of November 18th, Quy was driving a truck with Don as his assistant on Dinh Duc Thien Street, Binh Chanh District. At the same time, driver Tran Tuong Vi (37 years old, from Tien Giang) was driving a truck with Be and Tuan as assistants, traveling in the same direction, when a collision occurred, scraping the rearview mirror of Quy’s truck.
The minor collision led to a heated argument, culminating in a brawl. Both sides used roadside concrete rocks and iron pipes to smash vehicles and attack each other.
Quy then drove the truck with Don away, but Vi’s group chased after them. Local police on patrol discovered the incident, stopped them, and took everyone to the station for processing. The suspects confessed to their actions.
The Binh Chanh District Police determined that the suspects’ actions were dangerous, hooliganistic, and disregarded the law, affecting public order and security, requiring strict handling for deterrence and general prevention.
Relating to the Truck Assistant Profession and the Reality in Quy Nhon
The above brawl, although stemming from personal traffic disputes, partly demonstrates the tension and pressure that drivers and assistants face daily. The job of a truck driver assistant, especially on long routes or at major transportation centers like Quy Nhon, inherently poses many difficulties and challenges:
- Time pressure: To ensure delivery schedules, drivers and assistants often have to drive continuously, with little time for rest and irregular meals.
- Strenuous working conditions: Assistants have to load and unload goods, assist drivers in operating and maintaining the vehicle, working in dusty, noisy, and dangerous environments.
- Unstable income: The salary of a truck assistant is often not high, depending on the number of trips and the stability of the job.
- Psychological stress: The pressure of traffic, time, responsibility for goods, and safety on the road constantly puts both drivers and assistants in a state of tension, easily leading to uncontrolled behavior.
In Quy Nhon, one of the key economic and transportation centers of the Central region, the demand for goods transportation is very high. This means that many truck driver assistants are working here, contributing to the province’s economic development. However, the difficulties and pressures they face are similar to those of truck assistants across the country.
Lessons from the Incident and Recommendations
The brawl in Ho Chi Minh City is a valuable lesson in restraint and adherence to the law. At the same time, it raises the issue of needing more attention to the working conditions and lives of those working in the transportation industry, especially truck driver assistants.
To limit similar incidents and improve the quality of life for truck driver assistants, comprehensive solutions are needed from many sides:
- Raising awareness of compliance with the law: Drivers and assistants need to be educated about traffic laws, safe driving skills, and courteous behavior when participating in traffic.
- Improving working conditions: Transportation businesses need to pay more attention to working hours, rest, meals, and insurance for assistants.
- Strengthening inspection and supervision: Functional agencies need to strengthen inspection and supervision of transportation activities, strictly handle violations, and ensure security, order, and traffic safety.
- Supporting the truck assistant community: There is a need for programs to support the truck driver assistant community mentally, legally, and financially, helping them overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives.
The brawl involving the truck driver assistants and drivers in Ho Chi Minh City is a reminder of the issues that need to be addressed in the transportation industry. Hopefully, through efforts from many sides, the lives and working conditions of truck driver assistants, including those in Quy Nhon, will continue to improve, contributing to building a more civilized and safer society.
