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Operators are officially more worried about their
drivers' health than their own — but few know what to do about it. CM and Michelin ask the questions.
OPERATORS ARE more concerned about their drivers' health than their own well-being, according to the latest Commercial Motor/Michelin Business Monitor.
This month's survey reveals that just 49% of operators worry about their own health compared with 53% who are concerned about their employees' fitness. However, only 25% of operators offer their drivers advice about their health, weight and fitness, and only 18% offer their drivers fitness checks other than the statutory five-yearly driver medical.
The tests on offer from this small percentage of bosses included weight management programmes, blood tests and eye tests. However, one operator said that it offered drivers reduced gym membership fees to encourage them to keep fit. Others had a doctor on site, while another respondent said that all his drivers have to complete a health questionnaire regularly and action is taken accordingly.
Healthier food at truckstops was generally felt to be the best way to improve driver health according to the majority of operators (42%); and just under a third (29%) said that more information on ways to improve health would also be welcomed. Other suggestions included fitting better seats to reduce back problems and adding small fridges to cabs so that drivers are less tempted to go to cafes.
Jack Godfrey, MD at Stanford in the Vale-based J Godfrey & Son says that it's difficult to talk to drivers about their health: "They all do Iheir job well so it's hard to approach the subject with them. I don't think I could turn around and say 'you could do with losing a stone or two'," he says.
'It would help if truckstops did healthier food but everyone loves a good fry-up.
This month's survey also reveals that despite a number of new initiatives to help tackle truck crime, a growing proportion of operators are, nevertheless, becoming victims; the number of operators who were hit by crime jumped from 16% to 18% in the first quarter. Almost two-thirds (59%) of the offences were vehicle or load thefts, up from 43% in the fourth quarter. On a more positive note, the number of operators or drivers being the victim of violent crime fell; only 8% of firms suffered an assault in the last quarter, down from 12% previously.
Respondents also seem happier with the police's response; a massive 75% of operators said that they were satisfied with the police response, up from just 16% in the last quarter. •