Five a Day Keeps Drivers Happy, Healthy and in the Cabin

We all know that we should be eating five portions of fruit and vegetables a day – but for truck drivers who are on the road for long hours and on a tight schedule, getting their "five a day" isn’t always that easy.

For fleet operators or even the independent driver, reducing driver down time is critical for their operation. This is even more critical when we take into account the chronic shortage of truck drivers that has plagued the industry for the past few years. When a driver is off work because of their health, a truck stands idle because it doesn’t have a driver – the company is losing business and revenue.

But now, thanks to the innovative "Fruit for Trees" scheme, haulage companies can help their drivers get their five portions of fruit & veg a day and plant fruit trees in Malawi.

Hoyer Petrolog UK Gets on Board

One of the latest haulage companies to join this innovative scheme is Hoyer Petrolog UK, which supplies its 345 drivers with baskets of fresh fruit at their depots across the UK.

Gareth Sterland, Contract Manager for the company, said that, as part of the company’s 2016 Safety, Health, Environment and Quality plan, the company wanted to encourage good driving behaviour and driver’s health. This includes encouraging better eating habits which will benefit the individual and also the company through less down time caused by health issues.

The "Fruit for Trees" scheme is run by "Fruitful Office" which supplies fruit baskets to offices and companies across the UK. They have developed a quick and easy system that allows employers to provide their employees with fresh fruit every day with no effort whatsoever.

Fruitful Office supplies only premium quality fruit that is easily eaten at the depot or office without any mess or special preparation. This makes it easy for the driver, on their way to their truck, to pick up an apple, some grapes, a banana or a satsuma to eat before setting out.

What Other Benefits Are There for Haulage Companies?

First of all – driver satisfaction and wellbeing. As Eddie Pererra, a team leader driver at Hoyer, says: "The fruit is good quality – always fresh and juicy. The drivers really appreciate it."

But according to Fruitful Office, the benefits far exceed simple employee satisfaction.

Increased productivity – a survey amongst employees found that 11% more staff said that the scheme allowed them to be more productive and 79% said that, as a result of the scheme, they felt more valued by the company. Research also shows that 87% of staff prefer working for an employee who offers health and wellness benefits.

Promotes a healthier life style – 81% of employees at offices and haulage companies say that the fruit basket improves their quality of life in the work place. 70% now eat more fruit in general and 45% no longer binge on unhealthy snacks.

Improves corporate image and reputation – Image and reputation are like gold in the highly competitive business world we have to work in. Getting on board the "Fruit for Trees" puts your company firmly on the map as one that is concerned for employee health, but also the environment and improving life in developing countries (remember, for every basket of fruit delivered, "Fruitful Office" plants a tree in Malawi).

So the only question left is – will you join Hoyer and other haulage companies and… take the bite?

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching haulage companies with jobs in road transport and haulage work. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.