This article was originally published in Issue 2 2023 of Mobility magazine.
For decades, over-the-road commercial truck drivers have been essential to our country’s economy and well-being. Despite the layers of service workers contributing to the movement of goods and products, drivers are largely to thank in their own right. Commercial truck drivers move more than 70% of all freight within the United States – equating to 10.93 billion tons – and 80% of essentials used in U.S. communities. Without them, goods like food, raw materials and medicinal products might prove challenging to find.
Shift gears (pun intended) to the moving industry and the statistics are just as impressive. With more than 30 million people moving annually, the household goods moving industry is paramount to mobilizing talent when and where the business need exists. To be successful in this industry, van operators must have strong mental stamina, emotional intelligence and be in good physical condition.
The Period of the Pandemic
Prior to the pandemic, almost 28% of truckers surveyed were found to be suffering from loneliness followed by 27% from depression with close percentages reporting chronic sleep challenges, anxiety, and other emotional problems. Almost overnight, stay-at- home requirements impacted everyone except for essential workers. The trucking industry was classified as “essential" and van operators in the moving industry rolled on.
Suddenly, these van operators needed to find contactless alternatives to historically “hands-on processes," and were faced with the need to practice safe distancing while wearing masks and gloves to move relocating employees. This labor-intensive work is not easily performed under these conditions, yet like in many other critical industries, this group of professionals persevered through it, while simultaneously facing additional setbacks as restaurants closed and supply shortages surmounted.
Post Pandemic Re-entry
As businesses began to re-open and strict “contactless" rules eased, demand increased amidst a sea of newly developed issues like increased operational costs, and labor shortages that forced adaptation yet again. The result yielded an even larger decline in the mental well-being and health of these road warriors with higher amounts of fatigue, diabetes and depression reported. In a profession mostly made up of men (14% women reported as of 2021), mental well-being has been largely ignored in overall health measurements, a critical oversight which is beginning to change.
Van Operator Perspective
To gain proper perspective, I looked to a few road warriors for input on what life “was" and “is" like on the open road. “As van operators, we didn’t have a break, during or immediately after, the pandemic. It was important for me to maintain my structured routine to ensure I remained healthy while on the road. For me, it was about making my own meals and making sure I stayed active," said Chris Stoskopf, Van Operator for Suddath. “I know there were van operators that struggled with maintaining healthy routines which was exacerbated by labor shortages and demands that forced us to think and operate differently." Stoskopf went on to share that his family and operations team at work were instrumental in helping him overcome challenges. “They were my support group and were there as needed to help me cope with obstacles and overcome hurdles."
As many of the pandemic-related obstacles were mitigated, other stressors have increased. Uncertain economic and housing market conditions, for example, weigh heavily on van operators’ minds. Now is the time for mental wellness among van operators to shift into high gear.
Promoting Holistic Wellness
To help put some of these issues into perspective, Torrey Lauermann, Manager of Safety Policy with the American Trucking Associations (ATA), shared some of the biggest physical risks identified in an in-depth global study, sponsored by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, in partnership with the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. The report shares highlights from a first-of-its kind international conference that brought together members of public-and private-sector agencies, academic and research institutions and transportation and health industries to explore the health and wellness of commercial truck and bus drivers, and their crucial link to overall road safety.
Top physical risks identified included:
- Obesity/lack of physical fitness and the resulting health complications often tied to it, such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease
- Sleep apnea or other sleeping disorders leading to driver fatigue
- Musculoskeletal disorders or other ergonomically related injuries
As the focus on mental health risks continues to gain equal attention to the physical challenges, Lauermann shared that the ATA are currently revamping their Driver Health and Wellness Hub to incorporate mental health tips, too. To be successful, companies in transportation will need to integrate holistic approaches to Health and Wellness support as a cultural discipline.
Steps to Drive Change
Identifying and raising awareness about the risks is an important part of the process, but what can drivers and companies do together to address them?
Some strategies for implementing a successful program include:
- Create awareness and instruct your fleet on how to identify stressors that can lead to depression, loneliness or hopelessness
- Provide access to professional resources that can offer help anonymously
- Encourage a stigma-free atmosphere of openness and support, including facilitating a buddy system that allows drivers to connect with their peers
- Focus on financial well-being by educating your fleet on how to manage costs and maximize return on the road
- Encourage exercise and lifestyle movements that promote overall health
- Encourage or incentivize preventative care, including regular physicals
- Support work-life balance and focus on incorporating “down-time" to recharge
- Support intellectual wellness by offering virtual programs that teach new skills
- Celebrate and recognize driver contributions as an essential organizational element
Final Thoughts
As the research study noted above observes, “Healthier drivers can lead to improved morale, lower driver turnover, reduced medical and worker’s compensation costs, and increased roadway safety by decreased accident risk." It’s in everyone’s interest to pursue this important goal.
Consider some, if not all the above suggestions and do your part to help relieve the heavy load carried by our critical and beloved van operators. With peak season upon us, any action taken now will undoubtedly help drive awareness and promote disciplines that help us all move mental and physical well-being priorities for our drivers forward.