Trucking Company, Prime, Launches New Health Initiatives for Drivers

In response to a recent article underlining negative health effects among truck drivers across the nation, leading trucking company, Prime, is proactively promoting healthiness and wellness among truck drivers to ensure drivers’ quality of life while on the road.

“An unhealthy lifestyle is often one of the larger, most negative factors that people tend to associate with typical driving jobs. This is why we provide our drivers with health programs and benefits.” Ben Wicks, Director of Recruiting at Prime.

According to a recent Business & Legal Resources article (NIOSH survey finds truck drivers at risk for health problems, 9/23/14), tight logistics and shipment deadlines commonly found in the trucking industry often lead truck drivers to overlook their physical health and wellbeing.

In addition to sleep deprivation, the article reports that truck drivers are more likely to smoke cigarettes as well as suffer from obesity and diabetes compared to the general U.S. adult working population.

The article suggests that the nature of truck driving itself – sitting for long consecutive hours, stress from traffic and deadlines, and limited access to healthy foods – might be major contributors to serious health problems among truck drivers.

Prime recently concluded its National Truck Driver Appreciation and Wellness Week on September 20, where Prime’s truck drivers participated in various athletic and sporting events, including running, biking, and mixed martial arts, resulting in one Prime driver winning a professional MMA fight.

This month, Prime drivers also competed in numerous competitions, including Tough Mudder Wisconsin, Revolution 3 Triathlon, and the “Fittest of the Fleet” championships. Since 2012, the company has also launched its Driver Health and Fitness Program, an intensive, voluntary 13-week program using digital health devices to monitor and improve drivers’ metabolism so that they burn fat while driving.

Prime encourages drivers to participate in the September Month Long Bicycle Challenge and Transformation Program, components of Driver Health and Fitness Program.

Category: General Update, Management