Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/668965
To build a strong trucking-industry workforce Health issues are worsening the labor shortage caused by an aging work- force. Since 1994, there has been a sharp decline in younger drivers, and now more than half of truck opera- tors in the United States are 45 or older. While health risks are a concern for all employees, the risks increase with age. Sixty-nine percent of drivers are obese and 54 percent smoke, according to the 2014 FMCSA study. Sleep apnea, high blood pres- sure, diabetes and depression are among other health problems plaguing drivers. Health conditions could keep many drivers off the road in the future. With the advent of FMCSA's Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, some analysts predict more stringent driver qualifi cations and increased emphasis on driver wellness. 1 8 | BULLDOG | 2 0 1 6 V 1 ON BUSINESS What can it mean for fl eets? These programs could bring critical health improve- ments to the trucking industry, where obstacles include drivers with irregular schedules, long stretches of inac- tivity and isolation and sporadic access to health care. The average age of drivers is climbing, and 88 percent of them report having at least one chronic-disease risk factor — hypertension, smoking or obesity — com- pared to 54 percent of U.S. workers overall, according to a 2014 study by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. "We are aggressively looking at health and wellness methods to reduce exposure and cost," Chris Cooper, president of Boyd Bros. Transportation, a fl atbed carrier based in Clayton, Ala., told CCJ magazine. "But we are mainly doing it to extend peoples' lives." While there is no universally accepted defi nition of workplace health and wellness programs, the Wellness Programs Study noted four commonly used strategies: screening activities to identify health risks; primary interventions to prevent the onset of chronic disease; secondary interventions to improve control of chronic conditions; and health-promotion activities to encour- age healthy lifestyles. Program components can be administered by employers directly, through vendors or group health-insurance plans or using a combination of sources. Monte Vanover, director of fl eet maintenance for Carroll Fulmer Logistics, based in Groveland, Fla., says programs that show employees their company values their health and well-being positively impact retention and recruitment metrics. Carroll Fulmer Logistics established a corporate "Biggest Loser" program (inspired by the popular TV show) in 2009, and Vanover is a previous winner. "I can tell you it has been a great success," Vanover says. "We take the challenge very seriously. It is a lot of fun and creates an atmosphere of 'being healthy' to our day-to day activities." W orkplace wellness programs are often as unique as the com- panies offering them. Here are some tactics that have proven successful for transpor- tation companies: • Let employees shape the program. As with most company policies, when employees provide input, compliance improves. Reach out to all employees to fi nd out what options they think will work best for them. • Work with your fl eet's health-insurance company and local health- care providers to conduct employee health-risk assessments. • Use your health-insurance provider and wellness vendors to fol- low up these assessments with personalized management tools. Many health-insurance companies offer health and wellness programs and/or resources they will tailor to your company and employees. • Supply personal health coaches for drivers (can be administered by 5 Reasons you should offer a health and wellness program 1 To build a strong 1 To build a strong To build a strong 1 To build a strong trucking-industry workforce 1 trucking-industry workforce trucking-industry workforce 1 trucking-industry workforce Health issues are worsening the labor shortage caused by an aging work- 1 Health issues are worsening the labor shortage caused by an aging work- force. Since 1994, there has been a sharp decline in younger 1 force. Since 1994, there has been a sharp decline in younger 1 drivers, and now more than half of truck opera- 1 drivers, and now more than half of truck opera- tors in the United States are 45 or older. While 1 tors in the United States are 45 or older. While health risks are a concern for all employees, the 1 health risks are a concern for all employees, the How to get started