CarriersEdge is offering a suite of Driver Wellness courses to be used by fleets as an extension to an existing wellness program or as a starting point to help educate drivers on staying healthy on the road.

The Driver Wellness courses are offered in three modules, addressing the three cornerstones to promoting good health: diet exercise, and the proper amount of sleep. The courses aim to help drivers change bad habits by focusing on understanding fatigue and finding ways to eat healthy and exercise while on the road.

“Wellness initiatives are definitely needed by transportation companies and their drivers. Obesity, sleep apnea, and Type 2 diabetes are common among truck drivers,” said Jane Jazrawy, CEO of CarriersEdge. “Wellness initiatives can improve a driver’s well-being and quality of life. With our Wellness Courses, companies can prevent losing drivers due to medical reasons by helping them stay healthier.”

The modules can be taken individually or as a single, comprehensive course.

The fatigue module helps drivers recognize the signs of fatigue and get more rest when they’re on the road. Discussions include how to recognize the signs of fatigue, the effects of "sleep debt" and evaluating how well you sleep, and how to overcome obstacles to getting rest.

The diet and exercise module helps drivers understand the elements of a healthy diet and exercise plan, as well as ways to make improvements. Through this module, drivers can calculate their BMI, analyze nutrition labels and get tips for eating better. They will also see how to perform stretching, cardiovascular and strengthening exercises while they're on the road, with no equipment required.

Every year in the United States, the average employee in the transportation and warehousing sector is absent from work due to illness or injury for just over one week. For drivers and carriers, lost time is lost money, so staying as healthy as possible is essential. The Illness and injury module focuses on preventing illness and common injuries on the road.

“We also find that when companies adopt wellness programs it becomes part of their culture,” said Jazrawy. “In addition to promoting healthy living and a longer driving career, wellness programs can definitely add to a company’s family atmosphere.”