Truck drivers report lack of mental health support

The survey of 500 UK commercial vehicle drivers, commissioned by Geotab, found that half of respondents feel uncomfortable approaching their employer for support with stress and other mental health concerns.

More worryingly, 39% of those surveyed said that their employer offered a low level of support or worse for managing stress and other mental health concerns.

Not providing the right level of support can have a major impact on the safety of their drivers and other road users as well as on the company’s bottom line.

The vast majority (90%) of van and lorry drivers said that work-related stress has a negative impact on their driving, according to the survey. Half of drivers also said that they have considered quitting their jobs because of it.

Almost all of the 500 UK commercial vehicle drivers surveyed (97%) reported that the risk of collisions has increased over the past five years, which is backed by real-world data.

Geotab has found that the total distance per collision driven by lorry and van operators in the UK decreased by almost one-fifth (19.12%) in 2023, from 920,000 miles to 740,000 miles.

For a large British company running a fleet of 1,000 heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) each driving 75,000 miles per year, the 2023 data could potentially represent an additional 20 collisions annually.

“The results of this survey are a stark reminder of the stresses of driving for a living, and we feel it’s our collective duty to raise awareness of the potential impact for drivers and other road users,” said Edward Kulperger, senior vice president at Geotab EMEA.

“Commercial vehicle drivers keep our economy moving and have come under increased pressure following the Covid-19 pandemic and massive uplift in home and business deliveries.

“It’s concerning to see how drivers feel under-supported when it comes to managing stress and other mental health concerns.”

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