“It also sucks driving a truck is slowly killing me physically,” one driver commented on Commercial Carrier Journal’s What Drivers Want survey.
Bob Perry, a health advocate specializing in truckers’ well-being, emphasized that just as many carriers proactively maintain their equipment to ensure health, they should adopt a similar approach toward the well-being of truck drivers. In other words, a comprehensive wellness strategy.
The Truckers Health Network recently organized the Truckers Health Con Conference in Arizona, aiming to enlighten the trucking industry on how proactive measures can significantly reduce sick days, accidents caused by unhealthy drivers, expenses tied to new hires, and employee turnover, resulting in substantial savings. Recent studies indicate that investing $1 in a comprehensive wellness program can save $6 in overall healthcare costs.
As outlined in a whitepaper from Luma Brighter Learning, a company specializing in instructional design and learning for the trucking industry, there exist eight dimensions of wellness: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, spiritual, vocational, financial, and environmental. These form the foundational pillars of a comprehensive wellness program.
The whitepaper recommends that trucking companies assist their drivers in setting goals and provide guidance, tips, and resources to help them achieve those goals. Additionally, it advises companies to analyze known organizational injuries and lost-time health events to identify crucial target areas when establishing the program’s goals.
Long Haul Trucking took the initial step by identifying specific muscle groups to target for injury prevention related to job-related injuries. Weak core muscles and a lack of spatial awareness were identified as key factors leading to workers’ compensation injuries among Long Haul drivers. This discovery led to the creation of short, one-minute video clips demonstrating stretches focused on building core strength and enhancing spatial awareness. The company also introduced a wellness incentive, rewarding drivers with a weekly reduction in health insurance premiums for completing a yearly preventative exam.
In its wellness program, Paschall Truck Lines provides free gym memberships, Motivational Mondays, and opportunities for social connections. The company consistently communicates reminders related to mental health awareness and physical activities, such as mobility exercises and the benefits of walking.
Andy Vanzant, the COO at Gulf Relay in Mississippi, emphasized that drivers appreciate having a health program in place.
“It just changes the mindset that the employee now comes to us saying, ‘Y’all really do care about your people,’” he said. “We want you to be here. We want you to work for us for as many years as you possibly can.”
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
