Trucking companies play a big role in the transportation industry and their impact has grown significantly in the last couple of years. It’s their job to ensure the seamless movement of goods across different locations around the world.

The companies are the foundation of the supply chain and they need to enable product delivery and ensure commerce doesn’t suffer. The transportation industry is also important for the economy, so trucking companies have somewhat of an influence on that as well.

On the other hand, trucking companies have another important task. The number of truck drivers is higher than ever before and so many people turned to this type of employment as a way to earn money for their families.

However, the job of a truck driver is no easy task. It might seem like an easy job—you get a route, you drive, deliver the goods and voila, that’s it. However, this usually isn’t a one-day job. A single delivery can take days, if not longer.

And that’s precisely why trucking companies need to ensure that their drivers are healthy and fit. Unfortunately, not a lot of trucking companies put the well-being of their employees as a priority. And that can have long-term consequences.

In the next paragraphs, we’ll talk a bit about the role of trucking companies and why they need to take their responsibilities seriously.

The role of trucking companies

As mentioned, the role of trucking companies is versatile. They have several responsibilities and each one is equally important.

Freight management

Their main responsibility is freight management which means they need to coordinate the pickup, transportation and delivery of goods. This is a very important task as it involves route planning and scheduling. If this step isn’t done properly, then it’s impossible to guarantee that the goods will be delivered within the desired timeframe.

Vehicle maintenance

Another important responsibility is to ensure the vehicles are regularly checked and repaired if necessary. The vehicles need to be regularly serviced to avoid any faulty parts. This is extremely important, especially with the number of truck accidents rising each year, with more than 5,500 large trucks involved in fatal crashes in 2022.

As the consequences of a truck accident can be much more severe when compared to a car accident, it’s necessary to regularly check these vehicles and ensure they’re in working condition.

Compliance

In case you were not aware, each state has its own set of rules and guidelines when it comes to trucks and transportation. Trucking companies need to be aware of all of these, including state and federal laws as well as safety standards. This is where employee well-being also comes in, but we’ll talk about this in a bit.

What trucking companies can do for their employees

As highlighted, apart from coordinating the transport of goods, trucking companies need to put some thought into their employees’ well-being as well. And, they’re also acquired to do so by the law.

Providing adequate rest and breaks

Truck drivers often work long hours and cover long distances, which can lead to fatigue. Ensuring that drivers have sufficient rest periods and breaks is crucial. Implementing policies that comply with hours-of-service regulations helps prevent fatigue-related accidents and promotes overall health. Also, many states have a regulation that truck drivers need to get a mandatory 2h break after an 8h shift.

The lack of regular breaks is one of the main reasons why truck accidents take place and in these cases, you, as the driver behind the wheel, aren’t necessarily the one to blame.

In such situations, if the right to proper rest has been denied to you by the trucking company, that can work to your advantage. All you need to do is hire a truck accident injury attorney who’s an expert in the matter and they’ll help gather all the necessary evidence to build a strong case against the trucking company.

Health and safety programs

Implementing comprehensive health and safety programs is essential. This includes regular health check-ups, access to medical facilities, and training on safety protocols. Providing ergonomic seating and equipment in trucks can also reduce physical strain and injuries.

Truck drivers lead a pretty sedentary lifestyle and that can be detrimental to their health. Not getting enough physical activity can affect different aspects of health and can lead to serious and long-term issues. That’s why it’s important to encourage your drivers’ physical activity.

For instance, a good perk might be access to a gym or some other type of fitness program. Additionally, it’s recommended that the drivers have access to a comprehensive insurance package that they can use for their regular checkups and trips to the doctor.

Mental health support

Apart from physical health and fitness, it’s also important to ensure that the mental health of your employees is on point. The nature of the job can be stressful, leading to mental health challenges, especially because drivers spend a lot of time alone without socializing with anyone.

Social isolation can lead to anxiety and depression and can leave long-term consequences for the person. Offering mental health support, such as counselling services and stress management programs, can significantly benefit employees and mitigate the risks.

The final word

As you can see, the job of a truck driver is not an easy one. And that’s why trucking companies need to create a safe and supportive environment. Apart from taking care of the logistics of the operation, the trucking company needs to put employee well-being first.

Allowing their employees to take regular breaks, not only ensures that the drivers are well-rested but the threat of potential accidents is also reduced. Additionally, it’s necessary to provide employees with all the resources they need to stay healthy, both physically and mentally.

All in all, a good trucking company that aims to stay in the business for long needs to learn that employees should always be a priority as the company wouldn’t even be able to exist without them.