Best practice guidelines

Evidence from the literature highlights that failure to retain the skills and experience of older professional HGV drivers may have implications for the future growth of the industry. Employers, along with customers and the wider UK logistics-working environment, have an important role to play in ensuring that work is not having a negative impact on the health of this ageing cohort of workers.Our study identified both positive and negative health effects from the profession. Whilst there is the potential for the health of HGV drivers to deteriorate in older age, the findings also showed that if the work is carefully managed and involves an appropriate amount of physical work, then this helps drivers to remain fit and strong and to keep their weight down, as they continue to work into older age.

We found that the work of a professional HGV driver in the UK is likely to involve long, unsociable hours, high physical and mental demands, and often long periods of sedentary work. All of these factors can have adverse health consequences for workers, such as musculoskeletal disorders; stress; tiredness and fatigue; and issues associated with being overweight.

As a result of our study to date, we urge employers to make it easier for drivers to access healthy food and chances to exercise. Dr Johnson states “It is important that HGV employers support the health of this cohort of workers by focusing on providing opportunities to take physical activity during the working day and improving access to healthy food. It is also important we consider how the wider social and cultural aspects of the industry might be adapted to support good health as people work into older age.”

Key findings