Welcome to this summary page of our workplace ergonomics training for professional drivers. Whether you operate a truck, bus, taxi, train, tram, or metro, this resource helps you reduce physical discomfort and prevent musculoskeletal disorders on the road.
These principles are part of the ErgOHListic Method, which applies posture science to real driving conditions
Long hours behind the wheel expose professional drivers to high rates of musculoskeletal disorders. Whether you’re driving a truck, bus, taxi, or tram, the challenge is the same: maintaining posture, mobility, and comfort while sitting still for hours.
In the first video, discover how to adjust the driver seat of a sedan car. In the second one, Olivier demonstrates how to adjust a bus or lorry seat.
Driving for long periods creates physical strain, especially in the back, and often leads to joint or muscle pain (sometimes known as RSI – Repetitive Strain Injury).
It is therefore essential to adjust your seat and steering wheel ergonomically, so that your body remains as relaxed as possible. To make sure you don’t miss anything, follow the steps below in order:
1. seat height: in a truck, your knees should form a 90° angle when the heels are below the knees. Adjust the hydraulic damping to your weight: the seat should absorb vibrations without varying too much in height.
In the car, adjust the seat to the height of the ceiling and the door frame. If you feel yourself slipping in the seat while driving, lower the seat gradually until you find your balance point.
2. seat position: pull the seat backwards and press both your feet hard on the break. Bring your seat forward until you start feeling painful pressure in your hip joint. Then, just move back a little to relieve the pressure.
If the pedal is inverted, the heel rests at the base of the pedal.
3. seat angle: start with a downward seat pan and bring it towards the horizontal until the thigh is supported, without being pushed upwards or backwards.
If you can adjust the seat depth, make sure that there is about 5 cm between the bend of the knee and the front of the seat when you are against the backrest.
4. backrest angle: Tilt the backrest backwards and slouch. With one hand, feel the tips of the vertebrae in your lower back. Roll forward on your pelvis until they just disappear: you are now sitting on the sitting bones. Without moving the pelvis or the torso, bring the backrest forward so that it supports you behind the belt: when you relax the muscles, the pelvis should remain in its place. The shoulder blades should not press against the backrest.
Then, adjust the lumbar support in height so that it is at the height of your belt, and in depth so that you feel supported without hollowing your back.
Finally, adjust the height and depth of the steering wheel so that it falls under your hands (9.15 in the bus and truck, 10.10 in the car), with your elbows at your side and bent at about 90°.
Each adjustment follows the ErgOHListic Method’s emphasis on reducing unnecessary muscle tension and aligning with the body’s natural support structures.
Daily stretches are essential for drivers due to prolonged sitting and limited mobility. The first video explains how to stretch the iliopsoas—a deep muscle linked to lower back and front-thigh pain. The second video presents the “upper body reset,” a muscle decompression routine that supports recovery and should be practiced multiple times a day.
Driving doesn’t have to mean discomfort. With a few ergonomic habits, professional drivers can stay mobile and pain-free longer. To explore how the ErgOHListic Method supports posture and well-being on the road, fill out the short form below.
Welcome to this summary page of our workplace ergonomics training for professional drivers. Whether you operate a truck, bus, taxi, train, tram, or metro, this resource helps you reduce physical discomfort and prevent musculoskeletal disorders on the road. These principles are part of the ErgOHListic Method, which applies posture science to real driving conditions …
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