Drivers and other road transport workers should feel like they can be open about any concerns regarding their emotional wellbeing, rather than keeping things hidden.
Likewise, it is extremely important that drivers and road transport staff are always able to access the right mental health support from employers, colleagues and the wider industry to prevent things becoming dangerously stressful.
McCann Logistics, based in Immingham, began a partnership with Andy’s Man Club a few years ago when the charity collaborated with the business at a local Armed Forces Day event.
Andy’s Man Club operates hundreds of free, peer-to-peer drop-in support groups nationwide on Monday nights, providing a safe, judgement-free environment where men can talk openly about their mental health.
A pair of McCann trailers already carry full Andy’s Man Club branding, but the charity’s message has now been extended to two new Renault Trucks T High Compound tractor units – making McCann one of the only UK operators running both truck and trailer in matching AMC livery.
These trucks display the Andy’s Man Club “It’s okay to talk” message.
One of the new trucks carries a deeply personal tribute: a McCann driver recently lost his son, to suicide, and with his permission, the son’s name will appear on one of the Andy’s Man Club-liveried vehicles.
Founded more than 40 years ago, McCann Logistics is a major international trailer operator, importing and exporting through the ports of Immingham and Purfleet.
Mark Brighton, General Manager at McCann Logistics said: “It’s a small gesture, but it means a great deal to our driver and his family.
“Supporting AMC is incredibly important to us, especially given the male-dominated sectors we deliver into.
“If even one man decides to attend a Monday night support group because they saw one of our vehicles, then it’s worth everything.”
As part of its long-standing commitment to workforce wellbeing, XPO Logistics has trained more than 100 mental health first aiders (MHFAiders) over the past three years, bringing the total number to 114.
Mental health first aid training has been part of XPO’s culture for more than six years, covering its 189 sites and 6500 team members in the UK and Ireland.
Every location is supported by trained MHFAiders who are listed both locally and on the company’s intranet, allowing employees to choose someone they feel comfortable speaking to.
A dedicated teams channel keeps the MHFAider community connected, enabling peer support, knowledge sharing, and discussion of sensitive issues in a confidential space.
XPO Logistics also organises periodic in-person sessions featuring guest speakers from partner charities such as Andy’s Man Club.
MHFAiders at XPO Logistics are largely volunteers, often stepping forward after attending MHFA England’s MHFA Champion course.
Others are identified through site leadership and HR Business staff, based on their approachability and trust within local teams.
Amy Brown, HR Business Partner, said national awareness events are also used as recruitment touchpoints.
She added: “Every opportunity we can, we’ll advertise upcoming courses – especially during campaigns like Mental Health Awareness Week.”
Meanwhile, parcel delivery company Yodel, in collaboration with the Retail Trust, has run about 400 online and in-person counselling sessions for staff experiencing trauma, loss and anxiety.
The partnership, which dates back to 2018, has seen the Retail Trust support almost 1,000 Yodel colleagues, equating to 34% of its workforce.
This includes helpline support, financial wellbeing advice and financial aid, in addition to employee perks including retail discounts and rewards.
In solidarity, Yodel’s fleet of vehicles feature stickers supporting the ‘respect retail’ campaign.
Yodel now has access to the Retail Trust’s new generative AI-powered dashboard which enables employers to better respond to mental health pressures by identifying wellbeing trends and generating actionable insights.
Ali Richardson, HR Director at Yodel, said: “We are incredibly proud to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the Retail Trust, an organisation that shares our commitment to the wellbeing of our colleagues.
“Throughout the partnership, the Retail Trust has provided invaluable support to our team members, with great success and feedback.”
Also, Logistics UK has launched Thrive, a dedicated online hub designed to support the mental health and wellbeing of all professionals working within the road transport industry.
The Thrive hub brings together a curated library of trusted resources covering nutrition, fitness, sleep, workplace wellbeing and positive lifestyle habits from a range of contributors and external sources.
It also provides practical tools, articles and guidance to connect people with expert support.
Contributors already involved include the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT), the Logistics UK Policy Directorate and Member Advice Centre, and Motorway Buddy.
Thrive also features dedicated signposting to resources from the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM), one of the UK’s leading mental health charities.
As well as directing individuals to CALM’s vital support services, Logistics UK highlights fundraising opportunities throughout the year to help sustain CALM’s work in preventing suicide and supporting those in crisis.
The Thrive wellness hub is available on a limited level to the whole industry while Logistics UK members receive unlimited access to resources as part of their membership.
Kevin Green, Director of Policy, Marketing and Communications at Logistics UK, said the organisation – which represents over 22,000 member organisations – uses its campaigns and events to help embed a culture of wellbeing across logistics to support its people.
He said: “In an industry where long hours, shift work and high levels of responsibility can put a real strain on wellbeing, we are confident that Thrive provides genuine help and guidance to enable us to support our members and their staff with invaluable health and wellbeing resources.”
It is not always simple to identify the signs of mental health concerns, but road transport operators need to be aware that people can sometimes bottle things up beneath the surface.
However, with the correct support, mental health issues such as stress, depression and anxiety can be managed and even prevented.
