The health and wellbeing of lorry drivers topped the agenda at a parliamentary reception hosted by the RHA this week.
The trade association showcased its new Guide to Maintaining Driver Health – Keeping Drivers Fit for the Road report, designed to support operators in looking after their staff’s welfare.
The guide points out that just meeting the basic D4 medical rules was not enough and hauliers should conduct health checks more often.
It also covers fatigue and mental health and ensuring HGV drivers have easy access to healthy food and toilets.
RHA chair Moreton Cullimore opened the reception, which brought together parliamentarians, industry leaders and stakeholders, and he paid tribute to the drivers who moved goods amid difficult conditions.
Cullimore said they were asked to do this in conditions that fell well short of what was expected in other workplaces.
He also reflected on the work the RHA has done to improve understanding with decision makers: “We have been persistent, evidence-led and constructive, and that approach has delivered some quality results,” he said.
“We must be honest about the challenges that remain and the need for continued engagement to address them.”
Keir Mather, Parliamentary under-secretary of state at the department for transport, praised RHA members and the wider industry for their role in supporting the economy and Rachel Taylor, MP and freight and logistics APPG chair, updated on industry and government efforts to tackle freight crime.
