May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and, as we know, it is an important topic across all aspects of the workplace. Often, employees can chat with their desk buddy to resolve any issues they may be having, whether in their personal or professional lives. But how does this dynamic change when your employees are rarely in the office and work alone, such as your drivers? How do they manage their stress and mental health? More importantly, how can fleet managers and others support their drivers’ mental health?
1. Make Sure Drivers Take Their Breaks
Ensuring drivers take regular rest breaks is essential for their safety, well-being, and that of other drivers on the road. Long hours on the road without adequate breaks can lead to fatigue, reduced concentration and slower reaction times, increasing the risk of accidents. Tiredness can also harm mental health, contributing to stress, irritability, and burnout. Encouraging drivers to take proper rest breaks throughout the day can help them stay alert, improve focus behind the wheel, and support their overall well-being.
2. Invest in Mental Health Support
Investing in Employee Assistance Programmes (EAPs) can give employees access to around-the-clock support whenever they need it. In a 2024 study, Deloitte found that for every £1 businesses invest in supporting employee mental health and wellbeing, they see an average return of £4.70 through improved productivity.
3. Reward Drivers
Everyone likes a reward from time to time, but if you have fuel cards with Cambrian Fuelcard Services Ltd, your drivers are rewarded every time they fill up! Depending on where they fill up, they can receive Clubcard Points or Shell Go+ Rewards. Drivers can use these for personal purchases, such as gift cards or discounted food and drink.
4. Reduce Admin Tasks for Drivers
When a driver finishes their shift, the last thing they want to do is spend additional time filling out paperwork. By providing drivers with fuel cards, you can reduce unnecessary admin, including chasing receipts. You can link every fuel card to a driver or vehicle, and you and your accounts team have 24/7 access to an online portal to track and monitor fuel spend.
5. Keep Drivers Connected
Ensure your drivers feel part of the team and the business by checking in with them regularly. A quick phone call to see how they are, and if you use tools such as Teams or Slack, make sure they are included in the group chat.
Why is Mental Health so Important for Drivers?
We all know that driving requires focus and quick thinking. If someone is suffering from poor mental health, their concentration, reaction time and decision-making abilities are impacted, leading to potential accidents.
Why Should Businesses Support Drivers’ Mental Health?
There are many benefits to supporting driver mental health and wellbeing:
- Drivers who feel supported are often more productive in their work
- Retaining existing staff saves the company the cost of hiring a new staff member and training them.
- Recruiting staff. Happy staff often recommend new starters for the business, which can reduce hiring costs. Additionally, a positive company reputation will enable you to recruit high-quality staff.
- Opportunities for expansion
- Reduces the risk of road accidents and can lower operational costs from accidents
Closing Thoughts
From recruiting new staff to retaining existing staff, supporting drivers’ wellbeing benefits everyone in the organisation. If you want to look after your drivers’ mental health and reward them, consider using Cambrian Fuelcard Services Ltd for fuel cards and telematics. To discuss these opportunities, see the links below.
To apply for a fuel card with us today, click here.
To find out more about our range of fuel cards, click here.
Click here to learn more about Cambrian Fuelcard Services.
