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A targeted health initiative—featuring health education sessions, fitness trackers, and specific workouts for lorry cabins—can temporarily boost the physical activity levels of long-distance heavy goods drivers, as indicated by new research from Loughborough University.
Dr. Stacy Clemes, leading the ‘Structured Health Intervention For Truckers’ (SHIFT) randomized controlled trial published in BMC Medicine, aims for the study’s results to promote changes in policy regarding driver training, ultimately enhancing driver health and road safety.
With around 300,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers in the UK, the industry currently grapples with driver shortages and recruitment issues. HGV drivers often face health risks linked to factors like shift patterns and prolonged sitting, which can lead to chronic health issues such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Collaborating with colleagues from Loughborough University, the Diabetes Research Centre at the University of Leicester, and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Dr. Clemes studied the effectiveness of the SHIFT health program involving 382 long-distance HGV drivers across 25 transport sites in the Midlands, UK.
Beginning in January 2018, drivers were randomized into either the SHIFT program (183 participants) or a control group (199 participants) that received no intervention. This design allowed researchers to observe the effects of the SHIFT program more clearly.
The SHIFT participants received six hours of health education, access to a health coach, a fitness tracker to monitor their activity, and a lorry cabin workout regimen that included resistance bands and balls, all aimed at maintaining engagement with the program for six months.
Findings
Follow-ups occurred at six months and between 16 to 18 months later. The results indicated:
- Those in the SHIFT program walked about 1,000 more steps daily compared to the control group (approximately 10 minutes of brisk walking).
- They reduced their daily sitting time by roughly 24 minutes and increased moderate to vigorous activities by about six minutes per day.
However, no significant differences were observed between the groups for other health metrics, such as fruit and vegetable intake, sleep quality, or mental health. Additionally, the gains seen at six months diminished by the 16- to 18-month mark, which coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study’s authors conclude that while the long-term benefits of the SHIFT program remain uncertain, integrating it into HGV driver training could promote physical activity and enhance driver health overall. Dr. Clemes emphasizes the need to address lifestyle health behaviors, which are not adequately covered in the compulsory Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) training for HGV drivers.
Looking ahead, the team aims to collaborate with HGV drivers and industry stakeholders to transform the SHIFT program into a mandatory component of driver training in the UK. Expanding the program to include aspects of sleep and diet is also a goal of ongoing efforts.
Professor Thomas Yates from the University of Leicester remarked that even minor increases in daily walking can significantly lower the risk of chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, making the changes recorded in this study promising for the long-term health of the participating drivers.
The complete study findings, titled ‘The effectiveness of the Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT): a cluster randomized controlled trial (RCT)’, are available on the BMC Medicine website.
Notes for Editors
Press release reference number: 22/98
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR):
The NIHR aims to enhance the UK’s health and wealth through research, funding timely health-related studies, training skilled researchers, and collaborating with communities to shape impactful research.
For more information, contact the NIHR press office at 020 4576 0660 or email pressoffice@nihr.ac.uk.
Loughborough University:
Recognized as a leading UK institution, Loughborough prioritizes impactful research, high-quality education, and strong industry links, excelling particularly in sports-related disciplines.
With impressive national rankings and accolades, Loughborough showcases a commitment to research intensity and overall educational excellence.
Its London campus, situated in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, offers advanced postgraduate education and fosters innovative research initiatives.
