The UK logistics sector contributes more than £13 billion to the UK economy and employs approximately 300,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers. Seventy-five percent of all goods delivered in the UK are transported by road; underscoring drivers’ importance to UK supply chains.1
Due to the nature of their occupation, long-distance HGV drivers are exposed to a multitude of health-related risk factors and have been identified as working within one of the most hazardous professions globally.2 3
Their working environment and job demands present barriers to adopting a healthy lifestyle, leaving drivers vulnerable to many physical health conditions.4
Our systematic review has shown that HGV drivers globally exhibit high levels of physical inactivity, accumulate large volumes of sedentary (sitting) behaviour, and are exposed to poor dietary choices.4 Long, variable working hours, including shift work, contributes to sleep deprivation5 and metabolic disturbances, further promoting uptake of unhealthy behavioural choices.3 5
This poor health profile is linked with high rates of obesity and cardiometabolic risk,4 6 7 which can culminate in HGV drivers having an increased risk of accidents, alongside higher rates of chronic diseases and reduced life expectancies compared to other occupations.2 8-10
Our recent data obtained from 382 HGV drivers (99% male, mean age 48 years) across 25 UK transport depots showed that 89% had overweight or obesity (BMI ≥25 kg/m2).11 This prevalence is greater than that seen in age-matched males (45–54 years) in England (79%).12 Severe obesity (BMI ≥40 kg/m2) in our HGV driver sample was more than two-fold greater than the general population (5% vs. 2%),12 highlighting the substantial health inequalities in this occupational group.
To compound the high-risk health profile of HGV drivers,4 6 7 UK HGV drivers are an ageing workforce.13 The UK logistics sector is also experiencing a serious short-fall in HGV drivers, reaching “a crisis point” in 2021 with many critical supply chains effected.14 There is an urgent need to address working conditions and the poor health profile of this ageing workforce to attract (and retain) employees. To date, HGV drivers have been underserved in terms of health promotion efforts.4 15
The lack of health promotion programmes for HGV drivers15 led us to develop the ‘Structured Health Intervention For Truckers’ (SHIFT), a theory-driven, behaviour programme designed to promote positive lifestyle changes in HGV drivers.16
An evaluation of the programme revealed it was effective in supporting HGV drivers to increase their activity levels and reduce sitting,17 being most effective in drivers with obesity.18 Using a co-creation approach, involving HGV drivers, driver trainers and training and development managers, we have translated SHIFT into a scalable 7-hr Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) module, and module component (a new 1-hr version, ‘Short-SHIFT’, designed to raise drivers’ awareness of looking after their health). HGV drivers must undertake 35-hrs of CPC training over 5-years to keep their licences.
We have partnered with a major UK logistics operator – Wincanton – to obtain proof-of-concept information on Short-SHIFT and SHIFT implementation. Short-SHIFT has been embedded within Wincanton’s compulsory CPC module for their 2023/24 training cycle, commencing in October 2023. 65 Wincanton driver trainers were trained in the delivery of Short-SHIFT.
All Wincanton (approximately 7,000) drivers will experience Short-SHIFT as part of their mandatory training throughout 2024. Our ongoing evaluation of ‘Short-SHIFT’ (experienced by approximately 1,500 drivers to date) has demonstrated that 85% of drivers found the session interesting and informative; more than 80% agreed that it raised their awareness of the benefits of physical activity, reducing/breaking up sitting, and a healthy diet.
After experiencing Short-SHIFT, 75% of drivers reported that they intended to make healthier lifestyle changes. From February 2024, the 7-hr SHIFT CPC module is being offered to all 7,000 Wincanton HGV drivers, during company time, with 7 driver trainers trained to deliver this.
Anticipated longer term beneficiaries will include: drivers, through improved health; employers, through reduced sickness absence and reduced employee turnover; all road users, through improved road safety and reduced accident risk; the wider economy, by the support of this essential occupational group.