The SaferStops Association has announced that the second yearly Truck Driver Safety and Wellness Symposium will take place on March 6 and 7, at the Birchwood hotel and conference centre, in Johannesburg.

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

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

In South Africa, 62% of road accidents involve trucks, with human error having accounted for 85% of truck crashes on the N3 highway in 2022. This highlights a need for sustainable and effective solutions.

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 owing to fatigue.

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

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, a lack of exercise and inadequate sleep significantly contribute to physical health issues among drivers, including high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.

“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,” Anderson says.

Recognising the importance of holistic wellbeing, the physical and emotional wellness room is expected to 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, 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 aging driver population,” Anderson says. 

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. 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,” Anderson noted.

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," Anderson explains.

She says 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 and Bus, Powerfleet and Guud Drivers, among others.

The lineup of over 30 sponsors reflects a strong commitment from both the public and private sectors, built on partnerships forged through the symposium.

"Through this symposium, and with the generous backing of our sponsors and the 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," Anderson says.

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