Get started in 8 simple steps
What’s in this blog?
- Benefits of a trucking fleet wellness program
- How to start a virtual truck driver wellness program
- Launch your virtual wellness program at no cost
The healthcare costs for a worker with strong wellbeing can be up to 62% lower than the costs for an employee who struggles with it. In an industry where health risks are a persistent challenge, it makes good business sense to prioritize truck driver wellness.
We’ll lay out the benefits a wellness program for truckers can bring and share 8 steps to get your own virtual fleet wellness program up and running.
Benefits of a trucking fleet wellness program
Implementing a virtual wellness program offers upside for both drivers and the organization.
Meet drivers where they are
Virtual wellness programs are easily accessible and available on demand. These two qualities align well with drivers’ lifestyles.
With online programs, drivers can tap into health and wellness tools whether they’re parked at a rest stop, on a layover, or at home between routes. This flexibility makes it far more likely that they’ll actually use the resources.
Keep drivers on the road
Supporting driver wellness can reduce sick days, prevent injuries, and help manage chronic conditions that can lead to long-term absences if unaddressed. Healthy drivers are able to spend more time on the road, keeping operations running smoothly.
Reduce costs and protect revenue
Virtual wellness programs often cost less than comparable in-person services, which is a direct savings for employers. Secondary savings can come in the form of fewer health-related absences and lower medical claims expenditures, which keep costs down and preserve revenue.
How to start a virtual truck driver wellness program
1. Set goals
First, consider what you’re trying to achieve as an organization. Are you hoping to reduce driver turnover? Make it easier to recruit new employees? Improve your fleet’s performance? Reduce healthcare costs? All of the above?
Setting clear, specific SMART goals like ‘reduce preventable absences by 10% over 12 months’ will guide your strategy when developing your wellness program and make it easier to track your progress.
2. Assess needs
Truck drivers face a specific set of health challenges, including higher rates of smoking, obesity, and diabetes, as well as a greater risk for sleep apnea. It can be harder for truckers to access nutritious foods and to get regular physical exercise than people in other lines of work.
This is why it’s important to craft a wellness program that’s tailored to the unique needs of this profession. Promoting solutions that cater to drivers’ health requirements and lifestyle–and incorporating your own intel on your fleet’s healthcare costs, medical claim patterns, and absentee rates–ensures a program that’s built to address employees’ real needs.
3. Seek out driver input
When launching a virtual wellness program, asking the target audience for input is a crucial step in the process.
Drivers are more likely to engage with a wellness program if they feel like they had a role in shaping it and it’s something they will actually use. So, ask them what they want. You can use tools like employee surveys, listening sessions, or even a driver advisory group to gain input.
Involving drivers up front can also help you identify potential obstacles, like technology challenges or concerns about privacy, so you can address them before your program launches.
Here are some questions to consider:
- What would make a virtual wellness program feel useful?
- What obstacles would prevent them from using such a program?
- What health needs do they feel are not being met?
- What motivates them to make changes to improve their health?
4. Compare platforms
Telehealth solutions can vary widely in features and cost. To give your fleet wellness program the best chance for success, look for a platform that’s easy for drivers to use, simple for the company to set up, and versatile enough to accommodate a range of needs.
If budget is a concern, consider a platform that can be launched at no cost to the organization. Some wellness platforms even cater specifically to the trucking industry, which can aid in implementation and adoption.
5. Communicate program details
A virtual wellness program can only succeed if drivers know about it and understand its value. To make sure this is the case, plan a series of launch communications that outline what the program will offer, how drivers can access it, and any costs involved.
Including statistics or real-world success stories in your communications can help the program’s benefits feel both tangible and achievable.
6. Support drivers in accessing the program
Even the most well-designed program can fall short if drivers struggle to use it. Promote adoption and consistency by making it easy for drivers to learn how to use the platform and get support if they need it.
Consider resources like an onboarding session, how-to guides (both written and visual), and incentives for participation like small rewards or recognition.
Another good way to support drivers in engaging with a wellness program is to offer them quick wins. Activities that are simple and fast to accomplish–a five-minute stretch routine they can do at a rest stop or a short audio clip about healthy snacking–can generate interest and create momentum drivers can build on.
7. Gather feedback
After the program has been up and running for a couple months, check in with drivers to find out how it’s going. You can go back to the same group of drivers you tapped for initial input and get their feedback now that they’ve had a chance to sample the platform.
Look for both quantitative data (how many drivers have tried out the offerings?) as well as qualitative data (are there any bugs that make the system tricky to use?).
8. Adjust and optimize
The best virtual wellness programs evolve alongside the changing needs of employers and participants. Regularly go back and review your original goals to assess the progress you’re making toward them and make adjustments if necessary.
Not only does regular optimization help you make meaningful progress, it also helps keep the program feeling fresh and useful for drivers.
Launch your virtual wellness program with Agile Telehealth at no cost
Healthy drivers are safer drivers, and safe drivers are the cornerstone of a successful fleet. Promote driver wellness with virtual, on-demand offerings from Agile Telehealth.
With Agile Telehealth, fleet operators can equip drivers with resources to combat obesity, achieve better sleep, quit smoking, and stay on top of well visits to address health concerns before they affect work performance. Online accessibility means drivers can use the programs from anywhere, while flexible scheduling works with drivers’ nontraditional hours.
The best part? It costs your organization absolutely nothing. Agile Telehealth handles all the build and operational management and all you have to do is promote it!
Interested in learning more? Check out our program offerings and fill out a form to chat with our sales team!
