A vital step toward safer roads and healthier drivers

The SaferStops Association has announced the Second Annual Truck Driver Safety and Wellness Symposium, set to take place on 6 and 7 March 2025 at the Birchwood Hotel & Conference Centre in Johannesburg.

Building on the resounding success of last year’s inaugural event, which drew an impressive 430 attendees from across the transport industry, the 2025 symposium promises to be even more impactful, offering actionable solutions to address the most pressing challenges facing truck drivers today.

Using direct feedback from truck drivers, SaferStops has redesigned the symposium’s structure, ensuring it addresses drivers’ needs and delivers practical solutions for their well-being. The new format will provide an immersive, hands-on experience that empowers drivers with the tools they need to thrive in their demanding roles.

With South Africa’s roads facing an alarming reality – 62% of road accidents involving trucks and human error accounting for 85% of truck crashes on the N3 highway in 2022 – the need for sustainable and effective solutions has never been greater. Heavy vehicles, though making up only 3.3% of registered road users, are responsible for 9.4% of fatal crashes, while 25% of truck drivers have admitted to being involved in accidents due to fatigue.

“These statistics highlight an urgent need for industry-wide collaboration and intervention,” says Nicci Scott Anderson, CEO of SaferStops. “It’s not just about road safety; it’s about the well-being of our drivers and the ripple effect on communities, stakeholders and our economy.”

Focus on driver wellness: Physical, financial and emotional

This year’s event will feature three dedicated wellness rooms focusing on technical, financial and emotional/physical wellness.

“Our research indicates that extended working hours, poor diet, lack of exercise and inadequate sleep significantly contribute to physical health issues among drivers, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity,” says Scott Anderson. “Furthermore, these factors also have a significant impact on mental well-being, increasing the risk of stress, anxiety, burnout and other mental health challenges. The new symposium format allows us to address these challenges more comprehensively.”

Recognising the importance of holistic well-being, the Physical and Emotional Wellness room will provide drivers with valuable insights and practical strategies to improve their physical health, mental well-being and overall quality of life.

The Financial Wellness room will offer a range of resources and services to enhance truck drivers’ financial well-being. These include assistance with the preparation of a last will and testament, financial literacy and budgeting, debt reduction strategies and more.

The Technical Wellness room will offer sessions on topics such as the importance of life-long learning and in-cab personal and vocational development, understanding advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), focusing on topics such as: is there truly a safe way to use a mobile device while driving; how can I use ADAS without incurring vehicle damages; as well as vehicles of the future.

“We cannot stress how critical it is that as an industry, we dig deeper into the overall health and wellness of our drivers. Simply focusing on one aspect like driver training is not sufficient anymore. We need multiple approaches to supporting the needs of our ageing driver population,” says Scott Anderson.

Significant findings

The inaugural 2024 symposium, where 130 drivers underwent comprehensive medical assessments, revealed that 62% of drivers required prescription spectacles, while a significant number were diagnosed with multiple vision conditions that could impact driving safety, including astigmatism, myopia and hypermetropia.

“The findings from our first symposium were truly eye-opening,” Scott Anderson continues. “The discovery that almost two-thirds of the assessed drivers required vision correction further emphasised the critical importance of regular health screenings in our industry.”

Of particular concern was the prevalence of lifestyle-related health issues. “Last year’s screenings revealed significant numbers of drivers with hypertension, elevated blood sugar levels and unhealthy body mass index (BMI) readings. It is of great concern that only 26 drivers tested were within a healthy BMI range, which has serious implications for their long-term health and safety.

“The success of last year’s medical assessments, conducted through mobile assessment centres operated by Guud Drivers and Trucking Wellness, demonstrated the value of bringing healthcare directly to our drivers,” Scott Anderson explains.

The 2025 Truck Driver Safety and Wellness Symposium has already attracted substantial industry support, with major sponsors including Absa, Isuzu Motors, OneLogix, Santam, UD Trucks Southern Africa, Volvo Trucks South Africa, Hollard Insurance, MAN Truck & Bus, Powerfleet, and Guud Drivers, among many others. The impressive lineup of over 30 sponsors reaffirms that this symposium is truly the standout event on the industry calendar, reflecting the strong commitment from both the public and private sectors. It underscores the powerful partnerships forged through the symposium, solidifying its reputation as a vital and impactful initiative worthy of continued support.

“Through this symposium, and with the generous backing of our sponsors and the National Department of Transport, we are working collaboratively to develop practical, long-term solutions to the diverse challenges facing truck drivers. Our focus remains on providing drivers with the essential resources, knowledge and support they need to safeguard their health, well-being and overall safety on the road,” concludes Scott Anderson.

Registration for the 2025 Truck Driver Safety and Wellness Symposium is now open.

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