Funds raised at the Tasmanian Truck Owners and Operators Association Truck Run for Royal Flying Doctor Service Tasmania will help improve the physical and mental health of some of the State’s most crucial workers.

Truckie Checkups is a new health initiative of the RFDS, which has long been on a mission to improve health outcomes for all Tasmanians with a specific focus on people who live and work in remote and rural areas.

The $27,000 raised at last year’s event, which attracted 99 impressive rigs for a run from Glebe in Launceston to Longford Showgrounds, will fund an RFDS Tasmania physical health worker and a mental health worker plus the operating costs of one of the charity’s mobile health hub buses to set up regular health and wellness clinics at truck stops around the state.

Truck drivers will be encouraged to pull up for a quick but potentially lifesaving health check with the aim of identifying health problems before they exacerbate.

The RFDS Primary Health Care team will be delivering its inaugural “Truckie Checkup” at the next Truck Run event on 13 March, 2022 at Longford Showground.

Organisers are calling on transport industry workers and truck enthusiasts to get their rigs ready, their special interest trucks out of the shed and join in the convoy to support the RFDS and promote better health for all drivers.

The team will not only provide a comprehensive physical and mental wellbeing screen, but help individuals connect with local and community wellbeing providers in their area.

Aimed at encouraging conversations that promote physical and mental wellbeing – everyone who attends at Longford Showground will be welcomed onto the RFDS Mobile Health Hub bus for a friendly chat and quick and simple health check that covers weight, blood pressure, oxygen levels, chronic disease risk and mental health.

A Monash University survey last year revealed more than 80 percent of truck drivers are overweight or obese, one in five are suffering from depression, more than 70 percent are living with chronic pain and almost a third with multiple chronic health conditions.

Half of the drivers surveyed reported some level of psychological distress and the proportion of truck drivers under 35 with severe psychological distress was almost double that of the average for Australian males for that age bracket.

RFDS Tasmania CEO John Kirwan said that like people in rural and remote areas, transport industry workers have similar barriers of time and opportunity to seek help.

“We know that there are truck drivers out there who deal with working in isolation, long hours, deadline pressures and the constant stress of traffic and regular near misses – even the trauma of suicide attempts on the road,” Mr Kirwan said.

“It’s obvious that they take great pride in their trucks, which no doubt get a regular service, but what about the truck drivers themselves? They deserve the opportunity for some self care, and that is where we can assist thanks to generous community support.”

Tasmanian Truck Owners & Operators president Rob Bayles said that members were delighted that the money they raise not only assists with the delivery of RFDS health programs across the state, but will also give back to the truck drivers directly.

“It was a great turnout last year and it’s shaping up to be even bigger and better this year,” Mr Bayles said.

“We want to see people line the route on March 13 to view what is an amazing sight as the trucks make their way to Longford Showground - and we want them to have some fun.

“We’ve added more food and refreshment stalls, more children’s activities, a more streamlined auction and raffle where a $1 ticket can result in great prizes donated by hundreds of generous local businesses.

“And I encourage all of our drivers to take 10 minutes to visit the RFDS bus for their own sake and that of their families.”