Overhauling Truck Driver’s Health
Once upon a time, you would not have seen the words “Truck Driver” and “Exercise” used in the same sentence, but things have changed. Professional truck drivers have one of the unhealthiest occupations in the country, with over two thirds of its 3.5 million drivers in the US (325,000 CA) being overweight or obese and suffering from the many risk factors associated with their profession. This is not only making it difficult for trucking companies to retain their veteran drivers, it is also becoming more of a challenge to hire new drivers to replace their aging and unhealthy workforce.
Today, truck driver health and wellness has become a major concern for trucking companies, and the transportation industry as a whole is scrambling to find new and creative ways to improve the mental and physical health of the nation’s driver force.
As a result, we are seeing a rise in company sponsored wellness programs, mobile apps, and even a few in-cab exercise devices all designed to help truck drivers learn how to eat healthier, exercise, and improve their overall wellbeing
Unfortunately, while these efforts are certainly a step in the right direction, they simply do not go far enough to address the underlying cause associated with the poor follow-through rates and disappointing results of these programs and their respective participants.
The Problem
You cannot simply give someone a diet plan or exercise program with the expectation that it will change his or her life. Nor should you expect that a once a month phone consult with an online health coach is going to motivate and inspire the majority of drivers to take on new healthy habits. While such programs may work for a few self-motivated drivers, for the most part they are nothing more than token gestures that fall way short of what is required to positively affect a companies bottom line, or to make any real difference in someone’s life.
The Solution
In order to make a significant impact on the health and well-being of our driver force, trucking companies need to do more. For starters, they need to move away from wellness programs designed for the general population, and instead implement programs tailored specifically to a truck driver’s unique needs and lifestyle. Going one step further, if a company wants to improve the employee buy-in and participation rate, nothing says, “we care” more than when management takes on the role of participant right alongside their employees.
Finally, in addition to being driver specific and having management participation, another area vital to the success of a program is an element to assist with behavioral change. Something to keep the driver connected to the reasons behind why they want or need to lose weight and improve their health. A core component that not only educates, but delivers the daily motivation, encouragement, and support necessary to help the driver maintain their focus, commitment, and resolve in achieving their weight loss and other health related goals.
The Reality
The 90 Day Professional Truck Driver Fitness Challenge checks all the boxes and is ready for your company to implement today – Corporate Rates Available.
