The wellbeing of professional drivers is in the spotlight this week as Driver Health Week 2026 kicks off today (1 September).
The campaign, led by Driving Better Health, runs until 6 Sptember and aims to raise awareness of the physical and mental challenges faced by professional drivers and encourage operators to take a more proactive approach to supporting their workforce.
It includes health checks at truckstops, online events and the inaugural Driver Health Day at Loughborough University on Friday 4 September.
The campaign is supported by organisations including National Highways, the RHA, Logistics UK, Loughborough University, the Society of Occupational Medicine and D4Group.
The week comes as driver health and wellbeing remain significant issues for the road transport sector.
The DfT’s evidence review into HGV driver recruitment and retention highlighted concerns about the perceived lack of value and respect for the profession, while research cited in the review found that only 34% of surveyed drivers believed the public regarded their job as a profession.
The Trucking Lives Report 2024 also found that 32% of HGV drivers said their work had a negative impact on their mental health, while 54% reported a negative impact on their physical health.
SNAP, a gold sponsor of Driver Health Week, said the campaign should lead to longer-term changes in how driver wellbeing is addressed across the industry.
Peter McKenna, a former professional driver with 30 years’ experience, is the founder of DriverWell, an independent wellbeing, mental health, and duty-of-care platform built specifically for the UK’s transport and logistics industry.
He said access to suitable facilities could have a significant effect on drivers’ wellbeing.
“If drivers have proper facilities at the end of the day, their wellbeing is a lot better,” he said.
McKenna also highlighted the potential impact of isolation, particularly for drivers working irregular hours or spending nights away from home.
“There’s still periods where they’re not talking to family or friends and you have a lot of time to think,” he said.
He said poor sleep, hydration and nutrition should also be considered alongside mental health, with all contributing to how drivers feel and function during their working day.
McKenna also encouraged employers and transport managers to do more through regular, informal conversations with drivers rather than relying solely on formal wellbeing initiatives.
A driver becoming quieter or more withdrawn can be difficult to identify, particularly where there remains a reluctance among some drivers to discuss mental health problems, he added.
The six-day Driver Health Week programme includes a mixture of in-person health checks, online sessions and activities aimed at drivers and transport operators.
The Welcome Break event on 3 September, organised by Project EDWARD with partners including D4 Drivers and Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, will offer drivers health and wellbeing information covering fatigue, sleep, mental health, nutrition and occupational health.
Drivers will also be invited to complete an anonymous wellbeing questionnaire, with the findings feeding into Driver Health Day the following day.
Driver Health Day, at Loughborough University’s West Park Teaching Hub, is the flagship event of the week.
It will bring together representatives from transport, government, healthcare and academia, with speakers including Professor Stacy Clemes and Dr Grant Charlesworth-Jones, as well as representatives from operators including Tesco, GXO, Evri and Whistl.
The event will also examine findings from what organisers describe as the UK’s largest driver health study and look at practical approaches to improving driver health and wellbeing.
Nick Long, SNAP head of UK commercial, said the industry needed to maintain its focus on driver health beyond the campaign itself.
“Driver wellbeing should remain at the forefront long after Driver Health Week has finished,” he said. “Better facilities, safer places to rest, access to support, healthier working practices and genuine conversations should become part of the everyday experience of being a professional driver.”
Ben Fletcher, Logistics UK chief executive welcomed the initiative. He said: “Drivers play a critical role in the UK economy, with 80% of freight travelling on the road network at some point and the UK truck fleet covering more than 300 million miles every week.
“However, drivers can spend long periods in their cabs, with limited opportunities for exercise and, in some locations, limited access to nutritious food and suitable facilities.
“Research from the SHIFT programme found that 88% of drivers are overweight or obese and 67% have high cholesterol.
“There needs to be a coordinated effort from industry and policymakers to improve facilities and provide better support for drivers.
“Simple measures such as healthier food options and access to exercise advice can benefit both driver wellbeing and employers through improved engagement, reduced sickness absence and better retention.”
The six-day Driver Health Week programme can be found here.
