Building a Driver Wellness Program That Sticks

• Megan Young, HNI Account Executive
• Jodi Mathy, HNI Senior Claims Specialist

AUDIENCE

• Trucking company executives committed to wellness
• HR and benefits professionals in the transportation Industry

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Let's face it: Wellness is tough stuff in the trucking industry. Drivers often are dealing with stress and fatigue, eating a poor diet, and have little opportunity to exercise while out on the road.

The cost of this is lost productivity, increased health insurance and work comp costs, and increased accident risk. Adding to reasons to be concerned about wellness is the FMCSA's increased scrutiny on driver health. As of May 2014, drivers are required to be examined by a doctor on the National Registry of Certified Medical Professionals, and there's talk of new rules for sleep apnea testing.

Proactive motor carriers are leveraging wellness programs to control costs and stay two steps ahead of the federal regulations. Done right, a wellness program also can be a powerful tool for recruiting and retention that shows drivers you care about their health and well-being.

In this webinar, we talked through how to build a program that will inspire healthy lifestyles, starting from the day new drivers or employees are hired by making sure they are truly fit for duty. From there, it becomes an ongoing journey to encourage healthy behaviors in day-to-day operations, sharing driver-friendly, inviting wellness options on a regular basis, and following any on-the-job injury.

Our subject matter experts also explored the challenges of driver wellness efforts, including case studies, government policies, and increased focus on driver health, and they discussed how to design a program that sticks.