Project 61, a nonprofit devoted to truck driver health, has acquired Offshift, a digital health platform built for truck drivers. 

Truck drivers have the highest rates of obesity and diabetes of any occupation in the U.S., according to Project 61, and it’s only getting worse. Project 61 is spearheading a movement to reverse that trend.

Offshift’s technology now powers the mobile platform delivering Project 61’s mission of putting free, practical tools and a driver-led community into the hands of truck drivers.

The platform helps drivers build healthier habits around nutrition, movement, and sleep, three critical areas directly tied to longevity, energy, and safety.

Project 61 got its name from the statistic that truck drivers are dying at an average age of 61, according to its website. 

Helping Truck Drivers Live Healthier Lives

“If we’re going to address this industry-wide health crisis at scale, technology has to lead the way,” said Jeremy Reymer, founder of Project 61, in a news release.

"With the acquisition of Offshift, we're turning awareness into action through a proven solution that empowers drivers to take daily steps toward a longer, healthier life.”

Whether it’s a five-minute workout from within their cab, healthier options at truck stops, or tracking sleep with a wearable, the platform’s features are designed for the realities of life on the road.

“Offshift was born out of frustration,” said Mark Manera, founder of Offshift, in a news release.

His LinkedIn profile explains that as a physical therapist working with industrial athletes, he saw firsthand how the lifestyle of trucking leads to chronic disease, disability, and burnout. 

“We built Offshift to change that," Manera said in the release.

“Now, joining forces with Project 61 lets us turn that vision into reality for the entire trucking industry. Together, we’re not just raising awareness about this health crisis; we’re putting a proven solution into the hands of every driver in North America at no cost.”

Manera will serve as president and chief health officer of Project 61, working with founder and CEO Jeremy Reymer.

Industry-wide health challenges will be a cornerstone of the initiative, designed to foster community between drivers, companies, and families around shared health goals. The first challenge will be launched on October 1. 

Investing in Truck Driver Health

The two companies believe that investing in driver health is one of the smartest ways to reduce risk in trucking. 

When drivers are unhealthy, risk goes up, they explain in a release, and so do healthcare costs, workers' comp claims, crash rates, and disability payouts. 

When drivers are healthier, they’re safer, more alert, and more engaged, according to the news release. Fleets see stronger safety scores, lower turnover, and reduced exposure across the board.

Trucking and insurance companies can offer this program to their drivers and also become corporate partners. Any industry stakeholder can become a corporate partner or individual donor.