What is the Trucking Wellness programme? 

Trucking Wellness is a leading primary healthcare initiative in South Africa, focused on supporting the health and well-being of those in the road freight and logistics industry.

Programme Overview

• Launched in 1999 by the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry, Trucking Wellness provides essential health services to truck drivers, sex workers, and local communities.
• The programme operates 20 fixed roadside clinics and a fleet of mobile wellness centres that travel nationwide.
• Services are provided free of charge and include disease prevention, health screenings, counselling, HIV awareness, and referrals for treatment.

Services Provided

• Key offerings include HIV and STI awareness, screening, counselling, and testing, along with education on healthy lifestyles.
• Clinics provide additional screening for tuberculosis, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, and body mass index (BMI).
• The programme distributes millions of condoms, conducts wellness days at company depots, and provides referrals to chronic treatment programmes when necessary.

Impact

• Trucking Wellness has consulted hundreds of thousands of truck drivers, sex workers, and community members, improving access to healthcare in remote locations and high-traffic trucking routes.
• By focusing on education and preventative care, the programme helps reduce healthcare costs for employers and fosters a healthier workforce.

How to Get Involved

• Companies can schedule a Wellness Day where mobile clinics visit their premises, ensuring employees receive confidential healthcare screenings without disrupting work.
• Trucking Wellness is supported by major stakeholders in the logistics industry, unions, and governmental departments, reflecting a strong public-private partnership.

Trucking Wellness stands out for its commitment to accessible, sustainable health support for South Africa’s road freight community, driving change and improved well-being across the industry.

Find out more about this initiative from their website