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Drivers need more support, Trans-Help founder says

Di Carroll says she has concerns for small operators and owner-drivers.

 

The woman behind the Trans-Help Foundation says more needs to be done to support truck drivers going through tough times.

CEO Di Carroll says she’s seeing an increasing number of drivers hit rock bottom.

From older drivers feeling the stress of electronic work diaries, modern fleets and regulations to those touched by suicide, Carroll believes more needs to be done to provide support to those in need.

“On average there are four to five suicides a week into trucks nationally,” Carroll says.

“If you work on the railway and the same thing happens you’re heavily compensated whereas you work in the transport industry and nobody gives a damn.”

Mechanics also suffer from depression but are easily overlooked, she adds.

“Our drivers are out there having mandatory annual health checks but it doesn’t apply to the mechanics that are working on the trucks,” she says.

“We did one particular company where we found three drivers were on anti-depressants suffering huge stress from the pressure of the workload.

“I think times are going to get worse before it gets better – we are hearing it from the drivers and I am concerned.”

Carroll says there has been a decline in work throughout the industry and that she holds particular concerns for the impact it will have on smaller sections of trucking.

“It’s going to become such a strain, especially for the smaller operators and owner drivers. They’re the ones that I’m really concerned about,” she says.

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