Significant numbers of truck drivers could be neurodiverse, with many drivers potentially going undiagnosed, according to Harling Kaye, a truck driver and mental health campaigner, who discusses the issue in SNAP’s latest video series, Driving Conversations.
Launched earlier this year, the series provides truck drivers, campaigners, and other industry figures with a platform to discuss challenging and often overlooked topics.
Lucy Black, SNAP head of brand and digital marketing, explains why the company started the series.
She said: “We recognised the need to raise awareness surrounding vital, yet often overlooked or controversial, issues within the industry.
“That led to the launch of Driving Conversations - a series designed to give industry stakeholders, truck drivers, and campaigners a platform to discuss these topics.”
In their second series, SNAP interviewed Harling Kaye (pictured below), a truck driver and mental health campaigner.
During their interview, Harling discussed the challenges truck drivers face, emphasising the fact that, in his opinion, many are neurodiverse in some shape or form.
He said: “What I see is, and what I believe, is a lot of lorry drivers who come into driving because they have a practical orientation are almost certainly neurodiverse in some way, shape or form.”
Harling himself was diagnosed as neurodiverse, something he found out later in life. After his diagnosis, it all made sense to him, particularly concerning an event that occurred early on in his driving days.
“The job changed overnight from a Class 1 with one drop to a Class 2 with 15 drops. I did about two drops, and I had a complete and utter meltdown. What I now understand as an autistic meltdown,” he explained.
In the UK, autism rates are 710 per 100k, and it’s estimated that 20-22% of the EU population is neurodiverse.
In 2023, research from the Association for Project Management (APM) revealed that 58% of professionals working in transport and logistics considered themselves to be neurodivergent, which included conditions such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. 12% did not have an official diagnosis.
Despite this, 7% have chosen not to disclose their diagnosis to their employer, with 40% not feeling comfortable doing so.
This points to a broader challenge within the sector, which is often perceived as lacking openness, empathy, and support for those who are neurodiverse or facing mental health difficulties.
This is something which Harling is keen to change through his campaigning.
He said: “I think the industry has this rough and tough image, and discussing these topics doesn’t sit well with that.
“I hear stories from young drivers who are being bullied and manipulated, and I’m passionate about what I’m doing as I want to save lives, particularly young drivers’ lives.”
Although a stigma is still present within the industry, APM’s survey found that 100% of the transport and logistics respondents reported that, once notified, their employer made changes to the workplace or their working methods to accommodate their neurodiversity.
Neurodiversity training can benefit fleet operators and drivers by fostering collaboration, improving employee retention, strengthening company reputation, and mitigating legal and compliance risks.
Driving Conversations, SNAP’s latest video series, is now available to watch on the company’s official LinkedIn page.
