Logistics UK Gears up for Driver Health Week

(Copyright, Logistics UK, reproduced with kind permission)

This upcoming Driver Health Week (1 – 6 September), business group Logistics UK has joined a collective of operators, organisations, academics and policymakers in shining a spotlight on the health and wellbeing challenges faced by professional drivers. As part of the week-long event, Logistics UK will be sharing guidance from contributors to its wellness hub THRIVE on the practical steps drivers can take to improve their health and wellbeing, while calling on the government to prioritise improvement of the facilities available to professional drivers while out on the nation's roads. 

"We are proud to be supporting Driver Health Week, advocating for logistics professionals and their needs," said Logistics UK's Chief Executive Ben Fletcher. "Drivers play a critical role for the UK economy: 80% of UK freight travels on the road network at some point, and the UK truck fleet covers over 300 million miles every week. It is drivers that ensure supermarkets shelves are stocked, hospitals equipped and businesses receive the goods they need to run their own operations. Drivers should not be taken for granted which is why it is essential there is a coordinated effort across industry and from policymakers to address the current variations in facilities available across the country and ensure proper support is in place so drivers and the UK economy can continue to thrive." 

Drivers can spend many hours in their cabs, and while many enjoy the independence of working alone, there are limited opportunities to exercise, which can be compounded by a lack of nutritious food available at truck stops. According to data from Structured Health Intervention for Truckers (SHIFT), 88% are overweight or obese and 67% suffer from high cholesterol.   

 
"This may be a common scenario, but it shouldn't be the norm," Mr Fletcher added. "The challenges drivers face are not confined to the individual; they affect employers too. A healthy workforce is a happy and productive one, and tackling these issues through simple steps such as the provision of healthy food options and exercise advice will lead to higher employee engagement, reduced sickness absence and better driver retention." 

Last year, Logistics UK launched THRIVE, its dedicated online hub designed to support the health and wellbeing of logistics professionals, providing resources covering nutrition, fitness and sleep. Since its launch less than 12 months ago, the platform has welcomed over a million digital engagements, showing that the appetite for guidance is keen among professional drivers and their employers 

"The success of THRIVE shows how much having access to trusted guidance matters to logistics workers," said Mr Fletcher. "THRIVE's ethos, which aligns with the mission of Driver Health Week, is to show how making simple changes to behaviour such as preparing healthy packed lunches and increasing walking can have a big impact. However, we all know how hard it can be to change ingrained habits, so while these changes may seem small, it is important drivers know they have the backing of the sector behind them and are supported in making these changes that will improve their health and wellbeing." 

Throughout the week, THRIVE contributors will share their expertise, with Callum Jordan, a Level 3 personal trainer, providing tips for motivation and nutrition, and Liam Swain, a physiotherapist, offering targeted exercises for hips and shoulders – perfect for those who spend much of the working day sitting down. 

Logistics UK's THRIVE can be accessed here. 

Logistics UK is one of the UK's biggest business groups, representing logistics businesses which are vital to keeping the UK trading, and more than seven million people directly employed in the making, selling and moving of goods. With decarbonisation, new technology and other disruptive forces driving change in the way goods move across borders and through the supply chain, logistics has never been more important to UK plc. Logistics UK supports, shapes and stands up for safe and efficient logistics, and is the only business group which represents the whole industry, with members from the road, rail, water and air industries, as well as the buyers of freight services such as retailers and manufacturers whose businesses depend on the efficient movement of goods. For more information about the organisation and its work, please visit logistics.org.uk