Objetivos. Comparar los niveles de cansancio, somnolencia y sus repercusiones entre conductores formales e informales de ómnibus interprovinciales. Evaluar las condiciones laborales en ambos grupos de estudio. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal comparativo con muestreo no probabilístico. Se incluyó 100 empresas de transporte terrestre, de las cuales 17 fueron formales según registros oficiales del Ministerio de Transportes y Comunicaciones (MTC), asimismo, los conductores se catalogaron como formales o informales. La encuesta incluía un cuestionario y la versión peruana validada de la escala de somnolencia de Epworth. Resultados. Participaron 71 conductores formales y 274 informales, todos fueron varones. De 134 conductores que pertenecían a las empresas formales de acuerdo al MTC, sólo 43 (32%) pertenecen al grupo formal en base a los criterios propuestos. El 48% (34) de los conductores formales y el 43% (118) de los informales duermen menos de siete horas al día. Admitieron haberse accidentado o "casi accidentado" el 48% (34) de los formales y 135 (49%) informales; el horario más frecuente fue entre la 01.00 y 04.00 horas. La madrugada es el período en que ambos grupos sienten más cansancio. El 44% (30) de los conductores formales y el 54% (144) de informales realizan cinco o más turnos nocturnos por semana. Del total de los entrevistados, el 16% (56) presentaron somnolencia. La asociación con accidentes de tránsito fue similar. Conclusiones. Los niveles de cansancio y somnolencia fueron similares entre conductores formales e informales. Aquellas empresas catalogadas como formales, presentan alto porcentaje de informalidad entre sus conductores.

Objectives. To compare the levels of fatigue, sleepiness and their consequences between formal and informal drivers of interprovincial buses. To evaluate labor conditions between both study groups. Materials and methods. A comparative cross-sectional study was performed with non-probabilistic sampling. 100 companies of land transport were included, out of which 17 were formal according to the official registries of the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MTC), the drivers were also classified as formal or informal. The survey included one questionnaire and a Peruvian validated version of the Epworth sleepiness scale. Results. 71 formal drivers and 274 informal drivers participated, all were males. Out of the 134 drivers that worked for the formal companies according to the MTC, only 43 (32%) belong to the formal group based on the proposed criteria. 48% (34) of the formal drivers and 43% (118) of the informal sleep less than 7 hours a day. 48% (34) of the formal and 49% (135) of the informal admitted having had an accident or "almost" having had it, the most frequent time of the day was between 01.00 and 04.00 in the morning. The dawn is the period in which both groups feel most tired. 44% (30) of the formal drivers and 54% (144) of the informal ones perform 5 or more night shifts per week. Out of the total of interviewed, 16% (56) had sleepiness. The association with road traffic accidents was similar. Conclusions. The fatigue and sleepiness levels were similar between formal and informal drivers. Companies classified as formal, have a high percentage of informality amongst their drivers.