Limited access to health facilities is the biggest factor impeding better health and wellness among drivers, learns Tristan Wiggill.

To address this situation, Scania South Africa has embarked on a programme to meet the needs of workers and ensure there are safe drivers on the road. By going to the drivers, the company creates an opportunity for drivers to know their status and allow them to be appropriately managed.

“Through Reality Wellness, we conduct education, screening of blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels and perform HIV counselling and testing,” says Alexander Taftman, product and marketing director at Scania South Africa. Service stations along main highways have been used over the past four years, allowing the programme to reach numerous drivers along the way.

Company visits have also been arranged to provide the service on–site, as many drivers spend the majority of their time on the road. Testing campaigns are usually planned during peak periods, including over Easter and during the festive season. “The aim is to encourage road safety during peak transport periods. It is all part of adding value to the industry by testing one driver at a time.”

Healthy drivers are the key to safer roads. “You can drive the safest truck but, if you are an unhealthy driver, you are a risk to the public. In order to invest in the industry, drivers need to be given opportunities to invest in their own health and create more awareness. Good drivers are difficult to find and replace. A win-win situation will result if we keep well-trained drivers in the industry and ensure that their skills are retained,” he says.

Funding the initiative doesn’t deter the company. “The cost of not having a health and wellness programme, if you take accidents and the loss of lives and assets, far outweigh the capital investment needed to operate these programmes,” he explains.

Drivers are individually tested and, during the process, education is given to them about HIV and general health and wellness. When a driver is classified as high risk, he/she is immediately referred to a clinic for treatment. The follow-up process includes the close monitoring of high-risk cases to ensure that the necessary treatment programmes are administered. In some cases, companies receive statistical reports and risk profiling.

In terms of logistics, a lot of preparation is needed. “A wellness initiative like ours is similar to a road show, in which vehicles, trailers, staff, and equipment are moved to a number of sites where wellness interventions take place.

“We are very time pressurised, as we engage the drivers while they are en route. To avoid unnecessary downtime, we work with a timeframe of a maximum of 20 minutes per driver – about the same time that a driver would normally need for a lunch break.”

Taftman has some advice for companies worried about productivity losses incurred from driver testing. “Health screenings can be planned well ahead of time, in order to minimise the impact on productivity. Evaluations can be timed to coincide with scheduled downtime, such as when a truck is brought in for a service,” he points out.

Following the test, a comprehensive report is given to each driver and a summary/overview generated. This document reflects the number of drivers reached and includes risk profiling data. The reports are used to identify and develop future road safety initiatives.