To kick off the first episode of the Risky Business Podcast, Scott Grandys talks to Dr. Mark Manera of Supply Chain Fitness. As a physical therapist, Dr. Mark saw firsthand what a lifetime of trucking can do to a person’s body.
They discuss health, fitness, and nutrition of truck drivers and what the supply chain industry can do to improve wellness in the workplace.
[01:19] Dr. Mark Manera’s background and expertise
[04:07] Truck drivers’ life expectancy and diseases
[08:12] The #1 cause of crashes
[11:10] Promoting wellness in the supply chain
[19:54] Supply Chain Fitness
[27:21] What Dr. Mark would do to change the industry
The health and fitness of truck drivers are often overlooked. This is a problem since their lifestyle makes them more prone to suffer from type 2 diabetes and obesity later on in life. Their life expectancy is 16 years shorter than the average population. Long work hours lead to fatigue, which is the number one cause of vehicular crashes.
By prioritizing the wellness of truck drivers, we are ensuring their longevity—which can help reduce turnover rates and losses, ultimately saving billions for the industry. It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. Trucking companies can start making a change by leading by example.
At Supply Chain Fitness, they help businesses develop healthier and happier employees. They have coaches that will personalize a fitness program that can be done anytime, anywhere. Drivers are taught to form good eating habits, instead of an all or nothing mindset. They are provided with truck stop guides, restaurant options, and recipes to make clean eating easier. More importantly, Supply Chain Fitness helps drivers with accountability through constant check-ups and encouragement so they can continue to change their lifestyles for the better.