They’re working long hours, some of them 10-to-12-hour days, six days a week.

They leave the house when their families are still asleep, and come home when their kids are already in bed.

Being a truck driver can be a challenging job, Hall’s Cold Chain Logistics health and safety advisor Nik McNamara says.

“That’s why it’s so important for us to look after our drivers and help provide them with the tools they need to keep themselves safe on the road,” he said. McNamara uses resources from HARMfree Transport and Logistics, a free-to-join online platform with information tailored to the transport and logistics industry to improve workplace safety and wellbeing for Hall’s employees.

The driving force for change

Hall’s employs over 330 drivers who deliver chilled and frozen foods across Aotearoa.

Truck drivers are often subject to high pressure, demanding working conditions, sleep deprivation, and isolation, said McNamara.

“As a truck driver your mind needs to be 100 percent on the job. When our drivers turn up to work, every part of them needs to turn up.

“If something’s bothering them at home or they haven’t slept well, their mind’s somewhere else, it’s not on the job, and that’s when there’s a risk.”

In 2024, ACC accepted over 7200 new work injury claims in the transport and logistics sector, and spent just under $80 million to help people recover. People in the sector spent more than 384,000 days off work last year recovering from an injury.

The HARMfree platform brings information on key issues together and puts it into an easy-to-follow programme for employers to use, said McNamara.

“Stress and fatigue are a huge risk to our drivers on the road,” he said.

“We spend a lot of time educating employees on how to look after themselves using the tools available on HARMfree.”

One-stop shop for the sector

The New Zealand Trucking Association (NTA) was awarded $850,000 through an ACC Workplace Injury Prevention grant to help implement the online portal, in partnership with the National Road Carriers Association Inc, AutoSense Ltd, Success Formula, and Fatigue Management Fit For Duty Ltd. HARMfree aims to raise awareness of the psychosocial hazards for workers in the transport and logistics industry, said HARMfree programme manager John Sansom.

“These hazards include high work demands, low social support, irregular schedules and lack of communication, which could lead to poor outcomes like injuries, stress and sleep disorders,” said Sansom.

HARMfree offers transport and logistics-specific content that addresses the unique challenges faced by the industry, particularly the high number of incidents in and around vehicles, said Sansom.

“The platform is about empowering industry leaders with the knowledge and tools to make meaningful changes in their workplaces.

“We’re seeing strong engagement from companies that want to take proactive steps in improving workplace culture, and safety practices.”

NTA also runs a series of free HARMfree Connect events throughout the year, as a mix of webinars and face-to-face sessions.

Over the past year, events have been held in Auckland, Hamilton, Bay of Plenty, Nelson and Christchurch, covering a range of topics like implementing good work design, recognising the signs of concussion, sleep health and managing fatigue.

The road to recovery

As part of HARMfree, NTA has recently launched a section specifically focused on recovery at work, following funding received from ACC’s Innovation Fund.

McNamara said keeping injured employees connected during their recovery is something she feels passionate about, after a back injury sidelined her from driving for an extended period of time.

“Pushing and pulling pallets is part of the job, so when I injured my back it meant I couldn’t do that for a while,” he said.

“I was well supported through my injury and found a way to stay involved while I was recovering – that’s how I ended up in office work fulltime.”

McNamara said it is great to see ACC investing in injury prevention tools and also supporting people in their recovery at work.

He said time away from work is hard on an employee’s wellbeing.

“Truck drivers love their job, they love their trucks, and they take great pride in their work, so when they injure themselves it’s so important for them to stay connected to their workplace and feel like they are contributing in ways that are helpful to the business and helpful to their recovery.

“Depending on their injury, they might still be able to work reduced hours or do other suitable duties.

“I check in with them daily, remind them that they are a part of the family and we are here to support them through their injury and recovery.”

The HARMfree Transport and Logistics portal

• Resources – a library of best-practice downloadable resources, including templates, standard operating procedures, and multilingual materials.
• Training – courses to upskill and empower leaders and workers across a range of training options and providers.
• Self-assessment – a workplace self-assessment tool to help businesses identify areas for improvement.
• Online forum – health and safety champions in the sector can connect via an online forum, enabling them to share knowledge, and learn from one another.
• Events – invites to in-person ‘Connect’ events, seminars, and webinars throughout the year covering a range of topics.

For further information and to access the resources or register for upcoming events, visit the HARMfree Transport and Logistics Portal: www.harmfreetransport.nz.