The RHA has launched new guidance aimed at helping operators take a practical and proactive approach to driver health and wellbeing, supporting workforce retention and road safety.
The guide will be a key focus of the RHA’s Westminster Parliamentary Reception next week (Tuesday 10 February), where industry leaders and policymakers will discuss the importance of driver welfare in building a safer and more sustainable transport sector.
The RHA’s Guide to Maintaining Driver Health – Keeping Drivers Fit for the Road encourages businesses to treat health as a safety issue, not simply a compliance requirement, and to support early conversations that help drivers stay fit, safe and supported throughout their careers.
The guidance covers a wide range of factors including mental and physical health, diet, neurodiversity and lifestyle, offering practical steps operators can take to enhance their policies and working environments.
The aim is to help businesses reduce absenteeism, improve retention and support healthier, more resilient workforces.
The guide points out that the very nature of the job, involving long hours of sitting, working shifts, being alone, and often having poor access to food and toilets makes vocational drivers vulnerable to health issues, exacerbated by the long wait between regular D4 medical checks.
It adds: “For operators, looking after driver health is the right thing to do and also good for business. Better health support lowers risks on the road like tiredness, sudden illness, or poor judgement, helps follow rules by making fitness-to-drive decisions early and safely, and helps keep drivers in a field that already needs more workers.”
It encourages operators to develop a practical health plan, including readily available health help at work and regular talks about fitness-to-drive.
“Ultimately, a healthier driver workforce means safer roads, more resilient fleets, and a more attractive industry for current and future employees,” the guide concludes.
Commenting on the guide, Richard Smith, RHA MD, said: “Professional drivers sit at the heart of our industry. Their health and wellbeing are fundamental to road safety, business resilience and the long-term sustainability of the sector.
“This guide is about moving beyond minimum requirements and taking a practical, proactive approach that works for operators and genuinely supports drivers.”
The guide is available here.
