Driver Health Week highlights HGV driver wellbeing challenge
Driver Health Week, running from 1–6 September 2026, is putting the health and wellbeing of professional drivers in the spotlight, with Logistics UK joining operators, organisations, academics and policymakers to highlight the challenges facing those working on the nation’s roads.
As part of the week, Logistics UK is sharing guidance from contributors to its THRIVE wellness hub, offering practical advice on nutrition, fitness and sleep. The organisation is also calling on the Government to improve the facilities available to professional drivers, recognising that driver wellbeing is influenced by both individual choices and the working environment.
“We are proud to be supporting Driver Health Week, advocating for logistics professionals and their needs,” said Logistics UK’s Chief Executive Ben Fletcher. “Drivers play a critical role for the UK economy: 80% of UK freight travels on the road network at some point, and the UK truck fleet covers over 300 million miles every week. It is drivers that ensure supermarket shelves are stocked, hospitals equipped and businesses receive the goods they need to run their own operations. Drivers should not be taken for granted which is why it is essential there is a coordinated effort across industry and from policymakers to address the current variations in facilities available across the country and ensure proper support is in place so drivers and the UK economy can continue to thrive.”
Professional drivers can spend long periods sitting in their cabs, often with limited opportunities for physical activity during the working day. Access to nutritious food can also be difficult, particularly where suitable options are limited at truck stops and rest facilities.
According to data from the Structured Health Intervention for Truckers (SHIFT), 88% of professional drivers are overweight or obese, while 67% have high cholesterol.
“This may be a common scenario, but it shouldn’t be the norm,” Mr Fletcher added. “The challenges drivers face are not confined to the individual; they affect employers too. A healthy workforce is a happy and productive one and tackling these issues through simple steps such as the provision of healthy food options and exercise advice will lead to higher employee engagement, reduced sickness absence and better driver retention.”
For fleet operators, supporting driver health can therefore have benefits beyond individual wellbeing. Better access to healthy food, opportunities to stay active and practical health advice could contribute to employee engagement, attendance and retention at a time when the logistics sector continues to face recruitment challenges.
Logistics UK launched THRIVE last year as an online health and wellbeing hub for logistics professionals. The platform provides resources covering areas including nutrition, fitness and sleep.
In less than 12 months since its launch, THRIVE has recorded more than one million digital engagements, demonstrating demand for accessible health and wellbeing guidance among logistics workers and their employers.
“The success of THRIVE shows how much having access to trusted guidance matters to logistics workers,” said Mr Fletcher. “THRIVE’s ethos, which aligns with the mission of Driver Health Week, is to show how making simple changes to behaviour such as preparing healthy packed lunches and increasing walking can have a big impact. However, we all know how hard it can be to change ingrained habits, so while these changes may seem small, it is important drivers know they have the backing of the sector behind them and are supported in making these changes that will improve their health and wellbeing.”
The focus on driver health also highlights the role of fleet operators, policymakers and infrastructure providers in creating working conditions that make healthier choices more achievable.
Drivers may be able to improve their diet, increase physical activity or prioritise sleep, but these changes can be difficult when working patterns, long journeys and limited roadside facilities work against them.
Throughout Driver Health Week, THRIVE contributors are sharing practical advice aimed specifically at professional drivers. Level 3 personal trainer Callum Jordan is providing guidance on motivation and nutrition, while physiotherapist Liam Swain is offering targeted exercises for the hips and shoulders, areas that can be affected by spending much of the working day seated.
For the UK logistics sector, Driver Health Week provides an opportunity to consider driver wellbeing as an important part of fleet management. Supporting healthier drivers could help improve quality of life while also contributing to safety, productivity and retention across the industry.
