{"id":13055,"date":"2022-01-16T10:47:50","date_gmt":"2022-01-16T09:47:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=13055"},"modified":"2022-01-16T10:47:50","modified_gmt":"2022-01-16T09:47:50","slug":"trucking-9","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2022\/01\/16\/trucking-9\/","title":{"rendered":"How to approach mental health in trucking"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Some 550 million workdays are lost annually due to stress on the job. Truck fleets, however, can leverage available resources to better understand the mental health of their drivers and employees\u2014and ultimately encourage retention.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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In the last 10 years, the stigma around mental health has disintegrated as more and more people are talking about its effects, revealing how mental health is an essential part of everyday life. But in trucking, that hasn’t necessarily been the case.<\/p>\n

Kirleen Neely, CEO of\u00a0Neely Counseling Center<\/a>, experienced firsthand the lack of resources within the trucking industry for mental health. Neely\u2019s husband worked in transportation for more than 15 years, and when she saw a gaping hole in the industry, she decided to fill it.<\/p>\n

During a recent\u00a0Truckload Carriers Association<\/a>\u00a0(TCA) webinar, Neely was joined by Max Farrell, CEO of\u00a0WorkHound<\/a>, who shared data from WorkHound to discuss how approaching mental health effects such as burnout and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can be a critical element to any company\u2019s retention strategy.<\/p>\n

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), more than $500 billion is drained from the U.S. economy because of workplace stress. The APA states that not only are 550 million workdays lost annually due to stress on the job, but 60% to 80% of workplace accidents and 80% of doctor visits are attributed to the same symptom.<\/p>\n

APA also reports that for every $1 put into scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders, there is a return of $4 in improved health and productivity. So, what can companies do to see this kind of return? First, they need to understand how conditions like burnout and SAD are impacting their employees.<\/p>\n

Burnout<\/h3>\n

Burnout is a syndrome resulting from workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.\u00a0It is characterized by three dimensions: Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion increased mental distance or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one\u2019s job, and reduced professional efficacy.<\/p>\n

To better understand burnout, companies can present\u00a0Maslach\u2019s Burnout Inventory (MBI): General Survey<\/a>. The survey scales 16 different items, including exhaustion, cynicism, and professional efficacy. While this tool is not used by WorkHound, it can be observed when reviewing driver feedback.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe MBI is the gold standard of measuring burnout,\u201d Neely said. \u201cThe [trucking] industry needs data\u2014this kind of test is self-administered and brings a wealth of information right from the source.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exhaustion<\/h3>\n

According to drivers, home time and missing out on family time leads to exhaustion\u2014feeling chronically tired even when drivers are not physically tired. More specifically, loneliness and loss of family while on the road are primary stressors related to exhaustion.<\/p>\n

To overcome exhaustion, WorkHound recommends getting drivers home on a regular basis, as well as paying attention to drivers who are exceptionally exhausted. When drivers are far away from resources, such as primary care physicians and other mental health resources, having those provided by the company can aid in coping with distance and loneliness.<\/p>\n

Cynicism<\/h3>\n

Nearly half of the drivers who submitted critical comments to WorkHound are in this dimension of burnout. Of the critical comments, 44.9% were about people or communications. These feelings can be identified in feedback about interpersonal conflict, departmental conflict, challenging communication styles, feeling disrespected or undervalued, or the lack of psychological safety.<\/p>\n

One driver reported to WorkHound that \u201cmanagement in the front office and production don\u2019t care to make things better as a team. [They\u2019re] not serious about the pandemic as the front parking lot is full of trash and used PPE is everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n

What can companies do to prevent that cynicism from creeping in? WorkHound suggests ensuring market alignment with wages, promoting respect for drivers, hosting in-person or virtual events where drivers can get to know their co-workers, requiring new employees to spend time on the road with drivers, and scheduling extra time with new customers or stressful accounts to ensure expectations are aligned for both drivers and customers.<\/p>\n

See also:\u00a0Recruiting and retention in trucking: A continuous engagement<\/a><\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you have something to say and someone blows you off or when you feel like your voice doesn\u2019t matter, we all have to feel like what we have to say matters otherwise cynicism creeps in,\u201d Neely said. \u201cCaring about what someone has to say even if you can\u2019t change it can make a world of difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Inefficacy<\/h3>\n

The third dimension of burnout\u2014inefficacy\u2014makes drivers feel unproductive or incapable of performing duties due to a lack of skills or resources. Contributing stressors to inefficacy are confusion over the continuously changing government regulations and the COVID-19 lockdown, being lied to by recruiting departments, and lack of professional growth opportunities. Once drivers feel ineffective or unproductive, they\u2019re more likely to seek a new employer, job, or career.<\/p>\n

To overcome this dimension of burnout, companies must set clear expectations for success. This can be done by providing training resources to demystify government regulations, as well as social support to establish the company\u2019s belief in their employees’ success. Some of these resources could include training seminars, stress-relief programs, wellness programs, skill development training, and company events.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery day, we are impacting people\u2019s lives,\u201d Neely explained. \u201cBy helping people understand that what they do matters and why it matters and showing them how they are a part of a big picture, they can see a path to their next step.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of us have aspirations, whether you\u2019re a driver or dispatcher, secretary, etc.,\u201d Neely continued. \u201cWhen you can see the path of your career in front of you, you have something to work towards and know why you matter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Seasonal Affective Disorder<\/h3>\n

SAD, otherwise known as winter or seasonal depression, usually occurs during the fall and winter months when there is less sunlight. While the most difficult months are typically January and February, the disorder tends to improve when spring arrives.<\/p>\n

Symptoms of SAD are depression, hopelessness, anxiety, loss of energy, social withdrawal, oversleeping, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, appetite changes, weight gain, and difficulty concentrating and processing information.<\/p>\n

How fleets can help their drivers:<\/h3>\n