Working towards better rest stops for truck drivers

The Australian road, transport, warehousing and logistics industries face big challenges with workplace mental health and wellbeing. The Indicators of a Thriving Workplace Survey¹ showed the transport, postal and warehousing industry was ranked the lowest of all workforces in Australia. Even more sobering was a Coroners Court of Victoria analysis that showed truck drivers had the highest death by suicide rate of all professions between 2008 and 2014.  

Contributing to risk factors for truck drivers is a lack of suitable rest areas in both quality and quantity. The not-for-profit Healthy Heads Trucks and Sheds (HHTS) works to alleviate mental health and wellbeing challenges in its field. The Goodman Foundation has helped HHTS since 2021 to research the establishment of ‘gold standard’ rest areas for truck drivers. It’s hoped that better, and more rest areas may reduce the risk factors for workers in the industry. 

¹ Indicators of a Thriving Workplace 2021 National Report, Superfriend, 2021.