Actor, comedian and truck lover Shane Jacobson is leading the new Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds mental health campaign, allowing truckies across Australia to receive vital wellbeing support.
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Launched on National Road Safety Week’s Regional Roads Day, the campaign uses geo-targeted radio messages, billboards and podcast content to deliver preventative mental health support to truckies travelling Australia’s most isolated freight routes.
More than half a million Australians work in trucking, warehousing and logistics, and truck driving remains the most common occupation for men in the country. However, the industry ranks last out of 19 sectors for mental health with many drivers spending long, isolated shifts away from family, friends and support.
“We know how important connection is for mental health and wellbeing, but every day, truckies are driving away from the people they love,” How Ya Travellin’? host Shane Jacobson says.
“They’re isolated for long periods of time, working unpredictable shifts, with little access to healthy food or exercise options which makes it easy for their mental and physical health to slide without anyone noticing.
“If all the truck drivers and warehouse workers in Australia had to take a break tomorrow because they were both mentally and physically exhausted, the country would grind to a halt. That’s why I wanted to be part of this campaign — to make support easier to find when they need it most.”
Hijacking the airwaves for the next six weeks, the How Ya Travellin’? campaign will interrupt commercial radio breaks along some of Australia’s most isolated freight routes like the Eyre, Great Northern, Hume and Stuart Highways, replacing ads with wellbeing tips and real stories of overcoming mental health challenges.
New research commissioned by Healthy Heads in Truck & Sheds surveyed a nationally representative sample of 110 workers in trucking, logistics and warehousing and found nearly 1 in 3 rated their current mental health as poor or fair. And for truck drivers specifically:
- 56 per cent say so much time in the cab driving causes overthinking or mental strain.
- 41 per cent say they sometimes feel lonely or isolated during the workday.
- 43 per cent don’t feel they have enough time outside of work to look after their mental health — 41% say the same for their physical health.
- 20 per cent have sought mental health support in the last 12 months.
Despite the challenges, the research also uncovered a powerful sense of motivation and self-awareness among workers. Across the board, truckies and warehouse staff expressed a clear desire to improve their health and wellbeing.
A large majority want to improve their sleep (82 per cent), get fitter or stronger (79 per cent), and eat healthier (70 per cent), while many also hope to lose weight (58 per cent).
“We often hear from drivers that something small — a family worry, a stressful interaction, a moment of doubt — can spiral into something overwhelming after going uninterrupted for ten hours and a thousand kilometres alone in the cab,” Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds CEO Naomi Frauenfelder says.
“Our data shows that more than half of drivers struggle with the mental strain that comes from long periods of isolation. That’s why this campaign is designed to break into those moments with simple, timely reminders that support is out there — and that even on the most remote roads, they’re not alone.
“With Shane’s help and the strength of the whole transport, warehousing, and logistics sectors behind this common issue, we hope How Ya Travellin’? sparks real change from the ground up.”
Healthy Heads in Trucks & Sheds’ research shows that half of all truckies and warehouse workers regularly listen to radio and podcasts to manage their mental health and feel less isolated, validating the use of audio and give this highly mobile workforce moments of support while on the road.
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