Improve ROI by investing in a healthier fleet
The trucking industry supports commerce, manufacturing, trade, and much more–but the work itself can take an outsized toll on drivers’ health. Trucking wellness programs, particularly virtual ones tailored to the unique needs and challenges of truck drivers, can empower employees to take control of their health while helping employers reduce healthcare costs and improve retention.
Here’s why your trucking company should make the move toward implementing driver health programs now.
Truck drivers face increased health risks
When you work in trucking, it’s harder to maintain a healthy lifestyle than it is in other professions. The very nature of the work means long hours, tight deadlines, excessive sitting, and lots of time spent alone.
Being on the road for many hours a day, several days a week means truckers don’t always have easy access to healthy meals, and fitting in exercise after an 11-hour shift can feel unattainable. As a result, fleet wellness statistics are concerning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, truck drivers are more likely to be overweight and to have diabetes than people in other professions. This puts truckers at serious risk for other chronic and cardiometabolic illnesses. . Truckers are also more likely to smoke, which, as you know, can come with a host of health problems.
Unfortunately, drivers often delay seeking medical care because of their irregular hours or out of fear of losing wages. When taken together, these risk factors can translate into serious health problems and time off the road, both of which are detrimental to your drivers’ and organization’s productivity and profitability.
How fleets can benefit from virtual wellness programs
For truckers, one of the biggest barriers to care is access. Physicians’ offices revolve around a traditional 9-to-5 schedule, which isn’t a truck driver’s reality. Even convenience-focused options like urgent care and 24-hour clinics can feel out of reach due to cost. That’s where virtual wellness programs come in.
Online trucking wellness programs can support employees in key areas:
24/7 access to care
Virtual healthcare platforms designed for truckers, like Agile Telehealth, provide around-the-clock access to licensed medical professionals via phone, video, or messaging. This means drivers can consult a doctor for routine check-ups, urgent needs, or prescription refills without disrupting their routes or schedules. These online services can also come with more affordable visits and medication, removing some of the financial burden and stress of in-person clinic visits.
Mobile weight loss and fitness support
Truck drivers are more than twice as likely to be obese than people in other fields in the U.S. Online weight loss programs like GLP-1s, nutrition coaching and personalized fitness plans can help truckers manage their weight in a realistic, sustainable way.
Because these programs can be easily accessed via smartphone, truckers can tap into the resource from anywhere without having to show up at a gym or nutritionist’s office. Losing weight is one of the best ways to lower the likelihood of chronic disease, making every pound lost a step in a positive direction for truck drivers.
Smoking cessation and chronic disease management
When you’re on the road hour after hour, that next nicotine rush might be the only thing keeping you awake and relaxed, and that can be a hard habit to ditch. Quitting smoking is a massive milestone for a trucker, but ongoing support is key to making the lifestyle change stick.
Virtual smoking cessation programs like one-on-one coaching on the phone or via video can offer accountability, while group programs boost motivation and can even help participants feel a sense of community. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) gives truckers a manageable off-ramp to ditch their pack-a-day habit and improve their overall health.
Mental and behavioral health support
Mental health isn’t talked about as much as it should be in the trucking industry (though this is thankfully starting to change). Virtual mental wellness services like telehealth counseling and therapy apps can help start the conversation and make it easier to access support.
Making mental health support not only available, but convenient for truckers to access on their own time can make a significant impact on their ability to manage stress, deal with depression, and cope with being away from friends and family for extended periods.
How online fleet wellness programs can drive better ROI
Offering trucker wellness programs is a great thing for your workforce, but it’s not the only upside. Doing so can directly benefit your trucking company’s bottom line.
Lower costs, higher value
Telehealth programs often cost less than their in-person counterparts. Such programs can further reduce benefits spending by preventing high-cost claims, like E.R. visits and the need for expensive prescription drugs.
Helping a driver reach a healthier weight, kick their smoking habit, or manage depression can save thousands in annual healthcare costs. One study on the financial impact of workplace wellness programs found that every $1 invested yielded an average ROI of $4.90–a cost savings of $1,224 per participating individual. For employees in one or more high-risk categories, the ROI was even more impressive: a return of $19.20 for women and $35.40 for men on every $1 spent.
Improved employee satisfaction and retention
Trucker turnover is costly–some estimates put it between $6,000 and $12,000 per driver. And because of the conditions of the job, that turnover is high, with long-haul driver turnover rates exceeding 90%.
Offering robust, employee-centric wellness programs sends a clear message that you value your drivers beyond their on-time deliveries, which can improve their employee engagement.
Happy workers stay with their companies longer than dissatisfied, disengaged ones, making trucker wellness a win for your employee retention and recruitment costs.
Competitive edge
One tactic to combat the current trucking industry labor shortage (estimated to be close to 80,000 drivers) is to focus on attracting a younger generation of qualified workers. Younger workers are increasingly interested in modern health resources that fit their lifestyle–which is exactly what virtual wellness programs can offer.
Bringing these health-boosting programs to the recruitment table can differentiate your company in a tight market and make the difference in getting an applicant to accept the job rather than losing them to a competitor.
Get on the road to a healthier workforce with Agile Telehealth
Your number one priority is delivering goods efficiently. Our number one priority is making sure you have a team of healthy employees who can help you accomplish your goals. Agile Telehealth makes virtual wellness benefits simple with click-to-build planning, employee-friendly branded interfaces, and fast rollouts.
Build a resilient, engaged workforce with health programs that are tailored to truckers’ unique needs and lifestyle. Learn more today!
