Stress and fatigue are the two major contributors to driver mental wellbeing, and these can be caused by factors both inside and outside work.

It is vital that any mental wellbeing problems are identified so an employee can get the help they need to manage their symptoms, and reduce the risk to themselves and other road users.

A sign that a driver is having an issue could be that something about the way they behave around people or carry out their job has changed.

Speaking at Fleet Live 2019, Andy Neale, director of driver risk management company NFE Group will outline how fleet operators can identify the signs of poor wellbeing and implement a supportive culture at work.

“If I came to work with a broken leg, you’d see the plaster,” he said. “If I came to work stressed, there may be no visible signs.”

Stress – together with fatigue – is a major factor in the mental well-being of a driver. And if this is poor, then it can have a significant effect on their performance: stress, for example, means a driver will take more risks.

“There is a whole range of costs to the operation caused by poor driving performance,” added Neale.

“There is the bent metal costs, bumps and scrapes, damaged wing mirrors and increased insurance costs, while research in other industries has shown that tired and stressed drivers use up far more fuel.

“There is also a human cost, which will not show up as obviously on an organisation’s balance sheet.”

Joining Neale during the session will be Andrew Brown, director of corporate partnerships at Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM). He will put into perspective the scale of the problem in the UK, why fleets should take this issue seriously and what they can do to address it in their own business. 

Fleet Live is a two-day event that gives fleet decision-makers of all levels of experience a chance to listen, learn and share their thoughts and actions on the topics currently influencing the fleet sector.

Focused on executives from a fleet, purchasing and finance background, Fleet Live will deliver insight and advice on how to run an effective, efficient fleet. 

It's free to attend and takes place at the Birmingham NEC on October 8 and 9.

Click here for more information or to register for a free ticket.

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