Health in Gear – Truck Driver Wellbeing Program
Health in Gear is an OzHelp health and wellbeing program for owner-drivers in the road transport industry, delivered in partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and the Australian Government, Department of Health.
There are an estimated 209,300 truck drivers in Australia and 97 percent are men.
The program offers health and wellbeing ‘Truckie Tune-Ups’ delivered by an OzHelp wellbeing support worker and nurse, with ongoing personal support provided by telephone, and health and wellbeing resources provided online.
OzHelp undertook a literature review into the poor health outcomes of heavy vehicle truck drivers to inform the evidence base for the program. Truck drivers are the second-highest occupation group at risk of suicide, after construction workers. Risk factors include long and irregular work hours, poor diet, lack of exercise, fatigue, relationship pressures, isolation from friends and families, and the stress of regulatory burdens and tight deadlines – added to this are increasing pressures and regulations due to Covid-19.
OzHelp engaged stakeholders in the design and development of the program, including representatives from state and territory transport associations, the ACT Ambulance Service, the University of Wollongong, the Australian Logistics Council, safety experts, and owner-drivers.
Through these consultations, OzHelp understood it had to build trust and connection with drivers if they were going to engage with the program.
OzHelp delivered across the ACT, New South Wales, and Queensland a unique and tailored program that:
- took support ‘to the road’ and connected with 583 drivers and delivered 85 brief and engaging Truckie Tune-Ups (TTUs) at key roadside hubs
- reached 524,000 people connected to the transport and logistics industry through an information campaign
- provided accessible online information at healthingear.com.au accessed by 1549 visitors and a telephone support line 1800 IN GEAR
- an engaging podcast ‘Share the Load’, downloaded 573 times, that drivers could listen to while on the road.
Download the Literature Review
Download the program pilot Final Report
OzHelp will roll out further phases of the Health in Gear program over the coming months. If you would like more information or would like to get involved, please email
Further reading about driver health and wellbeing:
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy 2012-2022 – Priority industry snapshot: Road transport
National Transport Industry Health and Wellbeing Study
National Road Safety Partnership Program
Queensland Transport Industry Workplace Health Intervention: Research study overview, findings, discussion and conclusion and Diet and exercise
Fit For The Road, a New Zealand based health and wellbeing program for log truck drivers.