Truck drivers and industry leaders know the demands of long hours behind the wheel can take a toll on physical and mental health. The Women In Trucking Association (WIT) has stepped up by signing the Pledge for Physical Activity through the Physical Activity Alliance, a nationwide initiative encouraging organizations to adopt movement-friendly practices that improve employee health and productivity.
The effort, supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), signals a commitment to keeping drivers and industry staff active during the workday.
WIT’s Commitment
WIT President and CEO Jennifer Hedrick, CAE, signed on behalf of the organization, committing to:
- Adopt at least two strategies to provide employees with opportunities for movement and physical activity. WIT will continue to educate and encourage all trucking industry workers on the importance of staying active.
- Lead by example by prioritizing physical activity in her own daily routine.
Hedrick also encourages leaders across the trucking sector, including CEOs, Executive Directors, Presidents, and Managing Directors, to join the pledge. Organizations can sign up here.
Industry Ambassador Brings Driver Health into Focus
Bob Perry, founder of FitDrivers.com, has been named the first Industry Ambassador for Transportation & Trucking in the CEO Pledge program. Perry, known in the industry as The Trucker Trainer®, brings decades of experience advocating for driver health, including hosting the FIT DRIVERS® podcast sponsored by Tenstreet.
In this role, Perry will:
- Promote the CEO Pledge for Physical Activity to trucking executives and employers.
- Highlight practical strategies and success stories specific to drivers and trucking staff.
- Introduce potential pledge signatories, industry organizations, and events focused on physical activity.
Michael Stack, President of the Physical Activity Alliance, said, “We are honored to have Bob Perry as our first Industry Ambassador. His passion for driver health and his credibility in the trucking community will help us reach employers and leaders who can make physical activity a visible, everyday part of work life.”
Perry added, “Encouraging CEOs to develop and promote health and fitness initiatives within the transportation sector aligns perfectly with my mission in Busing and Trucking over the past several decades. As we initiate the pilot phase of the Industry Ambassador Program in Transportation and Trucking, I take pride in inspiring the identification of more ambassadors across various sectors.”
The Bigger Goal
The CEO Pledge for Physical Activity calls on leaders to prioritize movement, model active lifestyles, and support the CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation initiative, which aims to get 27 million more Americans active by 2027.
Trucking industry companies already taking part include:
- Pemberton Truck Lines
- National Motor Freight Traffic Association
- Old Dominion Freight Lines
- CHEEMA Freightlines
- Rolling Strong
