The call comes from training regulatory body RTITB, which wants the transport and logistics sector to tackle the increasing problem of mental health issues among commercial vehicle drivers.
The organisation refers to figures from MIND, the mental health charity, which show that 30% of self reported work-related illness in the sector is due to stress, depression and anxiety – with MIND warning that a different reason is often cited due to the stigma surrounding mental health.
HGV drivers are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems, says RTITB, with the working day usually including long hours of intense concentration, strict time constraints, demanding delivery targets and heavy traffic conditions.
Poor physical health can exacerbate the risk, as can PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) – either with ex-military personnel working in the industry, or drivers who have witnessed or been involved in road accidents.
In a bid to help employers address this growing area of concern, RTITB has developed a Mental Health module within its Master Driver CPC module library.
“It can be hard to make time for additional training, even for something as important as this,” says Laura Nelson, managing director of RTITB.
“However, employers can easily incorporate mental health training into the Driver CPC periodic training that their LGV drivers are already required to complete.”