Truck drivers urged to protect their backs
Long hours behind the wheel can take a toll on a truck driver’s back, but simple changes to driving position and regular exercises can help reduce the risk of pain and restricted movement.
That is the latest advice from the team at Chippenham Pit Stop in Wiltshire, which the Road Haulage Association (RHA) has described as setting the benchmark for customer care.
The site, located just off Junction 17 of the M4, is using its September Health Campaign to highlight the importance of looking after drivers’ backs.
A poster displayed around the Chippenham Pit Stop features a QR code linking to a short video demonstrating simple exercises designed to help drivers loosen up their backs after spending hours behind the wheel.
However, the campaign also emphasises that drivers can start protecting their backs before they even set off by adopting the correct driving position.
The key messages on the poster encourage drivers to keep their “head up, and looking forward, shoulders relaxed, back supported by the seat, knees comfortably bent, hips back and supported and foot correctly positioned on the pedal between 100-120 angle.”
Lisa Hatherell, Pit Stop Director, Health Campaigns Co-ordinator and former nurse, said drivers can often underestimate the importance of looking after their backs.
“Drivers assume that their back looks after themselves but actually they need to give them proper care and attention,” she said.
“Truck drivers are climbing in and out of their cabs all the time but taking a few moments to set up the correct driving position will help protect them from pain and restricted movement.”
The campaign highlights an important issue for the road haulage industry, where professional drivers can spend many hours seated in the same position during a working day.
For drivers, making small adjustments to the cab environment and taking opportunities to move and stretch during breaks can help support better posture and reduce the physical strain associated with long-distance driving.
The Chippenham Pit Stop’s latest health campaign forms part of its wider focus on driver welfare, recognising that keeping professional drivers healthy is an important part of maintaining a safe and productive road transport operation.
With drivers regularly climbing into and out of cabs, as well as spending extended periods seated, the Pit Stop is encouraging them to make back care part of their daily routine.
The September campaign provides drivers stopping at the site with practical advice that can be implemented immediately, from checking their seating position before setting off to using simple exercises to loosen up after a long journey.
