Driver Wellness Programs: The Right Thing to Do

Driver wellness has become a key issue in the trucking industry. Legislators have attempted to address some driver health and safety issues by implementing strict Hours-of-Service (HoS) regulations that keep drivers from staying on the road too long. HoS compliance is carefully tracked using required on-board electronic logging devices that make it nearly impossible for drivers to put in extra time behind the wheel.

Drivers are at high risk for a range of health problems—heart disease, obesity, sleep apnea, and stress—that can result from a sedentary job. On the flip side, carriers need drivers to stay healthy and work longer to provide much-needed capacity. Drivers themselves have near-limitless employment alternatives if their current carrier doesn't treat them right. All these factors drive many carriers to protect the health of their valued workers.

THE ROI OF DRIVER WELLNESS

More than 70 percent of freight that moves within the United States annually does so on the highway, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA). The ATA estimates 3.5 million truck drivers are needed to maintain this level of service, yet the industry faces a shortage of more than 50,000 drivers. This number is expected to continue increasing as baby boomers, who make up a majority of current truck drivers, reach retirement age.

Drivers retire and can't be replaced. Now consider rising health problems among truckers, who alternate long periods of sitting with intense physical labor. While many sectors can count on workers to extend careers into their 70s and beyond, a driver's late-stage career is less predictable.

Driver wellness programs help to offset many risks associated with a long-term truck driving career, and have proven a valuable tool in the battle against the driver shortage. These programs encourage healthy behavior that keeps drivers fit and on the highway much longer than they might otherwise be capable of. Yet, only 48 percent of carriers have a driver wellness program in place, according to a recent survey of carriers conducted by Inbound Logistics. While 15 percent say they plan to start a wellness program in 2018, that still leaves 37 percent of carriers that have no program and no intentions to start one.

"Return on investment (ROI) in wellness programs can be seen in reduced healthcare and workers' compensation costs, a decrease in absenteeism, and higher recruitment and retention rates," says Melissa Morrett, an independent wellness consultant and former manager of employee benefits and wellness programs for a U.S. carrier.

"When you consider that the average cost to identify, recruit, and train a driver can exceed $6,800, it is alarming to see that the driver turnover rate for large truckload carriers stays near 100 percent," she adds. "Turnover challenges, coupled with rising healthcare costs, mean the trucking industry faces a huge financial burden. So, any ROI is crucial to a carrier's success."

Of course, return on investment isn't always about the bottom line and what can be strictly measured. Results often come in the form of happier drivers who feel good, and many companies are content to simply provide a healthier work environment for drivers.

"The role that a successful wellness program plays in so many different components of a company's success makes it hard to place an exact numerical value on the benefits," says Ali John, manager of corporate wellness for global transportation provider Werner Enterprises. "The bottom line is that healthier drivers go to the doctor less, are behind the wheel more, and have more productive working hours.

"We can quantify that each driver who takes 1,000 more steps, smokes 10 fewer cigarettes, or eats 100 fewer calories per day as a part of a wellness plan is making great strides in the right direction," she adds. "Drivers who become more aware of their personal health and take small steps toward living a healthier lifestyle, will improve their fitness, morale, productivity, and attitude.

"The best part is they will likely share this change and feeling with co-workers, which creates a ripple effect," John says. "Werner's driver wellness program helps create awareness and plant seeds for healthy behavior."

THE RIGHT REASONS

ROI aside, most of the carrier respondents to IL's survey implemented their program simply because they felt it was important. Among carriers with an existing driver wellness program, 69 percent say they began it because it was the right thing to do, while nearly 85 percent say they want to enhance the quality of life their drivers experience (see chart, right).

"Truck drivers are the backbone of the American economy, and while ROI is important, it is also important to show appreciation for the sacrifices drivers make every day to ensure the economy keeps rolling," Morrett says. "Wellness programs and health education—if implemented industry wide—have the potential to alter society's perception of truck drivers.

"A renewed perception might improve the likelihood that the younger generation will step up to fill the seats of those retiring," she adds. "Wellness programs are an essential component in the solution to the driver shortage."

The elements of each carrier's wellness program vary, but they all share the same goal: healthier drivers. When designing a wellness program, it's crucial that carriers talk to their drivers about their concerns and find out what types of wellness services they feel they will benefit from. At Werner, for example, the company's Wheels for Wellness began with a focus on the most common health issues that impact drivers.

Profile

AAC Cargo is an international Freight Forwarding company, based in Dubai, with a reputation for providing outstanding quality that continues to secure a loyal customer base. The Company has developed a strong, young management team, which together with the founding Directors are committed to working within established quality procedures to provide each customer with the most reliable personalized service and dedicated to the continuous development of both our people and our services.

We provide a broad range of Sea Freight, Air Freight, Cars Shipping, Boat Relocation, International Movers, ExpressCargo, with our broad range of logistics solutions & Products and consolidation services, we ensure your cargo reaches the right place, at the right time in a cost-efficient way. We work with a spread of ocean carriers covering major carrier alliances with planned space protection from every major container port in the world to deliver reliability. We also work with many Airlines specialized in Air Freight.

AAC Cargo, Dubai, U. A. E.

www.aaccargo.com

Tel: +971 4 8880718

Air Freight, Sea Freight, Express Cargo, International Movers, Boat Relocation, Car Shipping, Parcel, Project cargo and Fine Arts cargo.

Title:International Cargo & Shipping Services

Keyword:Air Freight, Sea Freight, Express Cargo, International Movers, Boat Relocation, Car Shipping, Parcel, Project cargo and Fine Arts cargo.

Search This Blog

AAC CARGO L.L.C.