Susie Jones
Notizie e aggiornamenti • 3 leggere

Come può il settore del trasporto merci sostenere la salute mentale dei conducenti?

Creato: 07/10/2024

Aggiornato: 10/10/2024

Il 44% degli autisti di camion a lungo raggio manifesta sintomi di depressione, ma la salute mentale nel settore dei trasporti è spesso trascurata. La natura del lavoro gioca un ruolo fondamentale nel benessere degli autisti, che devono affrontare lunghe ore di lavoro e lunghi periodi di isolamento. In occasione della Giornata della Salute Mentale che si celebra il 10 ottobre, come possono gli autisti e il settore prendersi cura del loro benessere?

Come possono gli autisti prendersi cura della propria salute mentale?

I conducenti possono adottare diverse misure per prendersi cura della propria salute mentale:

Sonno e riposo

Un sonno adeguato è fondamentale per la salute fisica e mentale. In qualità di autista di camion, le lunghe ore al volante possono interrompere un regolare ritmo di sonno: stabilire una routine migliorerà l'umore, la vigilanza e il benessere del conducente.

Idratazione e dieta

Anche se è difficile in viaggio, mantenere una dieta equilibrata e l'idratazione è fondamentale per evitare crolli di energia e sbalzi d'umore.

Gestire lo stress

Parte della professione di autista di mezzi pesanti consiste nel gestire le situazioni di stress: le tecniche di gestione dello stress, come la gestione del tempo e gli esercizi di rilassamento, riducono efficacemente i livelli di stress. La pratica della mindfulness, come la meditazione e la respirazione profonda, aiuta a mantenere la calma.

Esercizio fisico

L'esercizio fisico regolare è essenziale per la salute fisica e mentale. Semplici esercizi come camminare, andare in bicicletta o fare stretching rilasciano endorfine e migliorano l'umore. Scoprite come mantenersi in salute in viaggio.

Parlare

La guida di camion è un lavoro isolante, in cui gli autisti passano ore senza parlare con nessuno. Rimanere in contatto con amici, familiari e colleghi attraverso telefonate e videochiamate fornisce supporto e combatte il senso di solitudine. Le aree di sosta per camion offrono agli autisti un'ottima opportunità per parlare con persone che la pensano allo stesso modo delle difficoltà del lavoro.

Fare delle pause

Stare al volante per lunghi periodi può essere mentalmente faticoso: fare pause regolari per riposare e ricaricarsi riduce i livelli di stress. I conducenti sono soggetti a norme rigorose per quanto riguarda le pause regolari - per saperne di più norme e regolamenti del tachigrafo.

Quello che hanno detto gli autisti

Abbiamo chiesto agli automobilisti sui social media di farci sapere come si prendono cura della loro salute mentale:

Truck Life GB dichiara di "sostenere gli altri autisti attraverso le mie piattaforme di social media. La mia casella di posta è sempre aperta per una chiacchierata. Che si tratti di una battuta o di una chiacchierata generale, sono le piccole cose che fanno la differenza".

"I podcast e una grande serie di compagni che conoscono tutti gli alti e i bassi, come faccio io con loro. Almeno uno di loro avrà una giornata peggiore della tua", spiega il camionista Mark.

Il servizio di testo "Be A Mate" di Mates in Mind consente agli automobilisti di parlare con volontari qualificati 24 ore su 24, 7 giorni su 7, se si sentono suicidi, ansiosi o sopraffatti. Il servizio è anonimo e non compare nelle bollette telefoniche. Tutto ciò che gli automobilisti devono fare è digitare "BeAMate" al numero 85258 per iniziare la conversazione.

Cosa possono fare le aziende di flotte?

I gestori di flotte possono adottare diverse misure per garantire che i loro conducenti si prendano cura della loro salute mentale. Favorire un ambiente in cui le discussioni sulla salute mentale siano affrontate apertamente e senza giudizi può cambiare le opinioni e le stigmatizzazioni.

Le flotte possono adottare le seguenti misure:

Carico di lavoro

Ove possibile, la riduzione del carico di lavoro dei conducenti può migliorare significativamente il loro benessere.

Supporto

Comunicare regolarmente con i conducenti incoraggia le conversazioni oneste. Fornire agli autisti un sistema di supporto farà sì che non si sentano soli.

Comunicazione

Comunicare efficacemente in merito a qualsiasi cambiamento organizzativo ridurrà i livelli di stress dei conducenti.

Cultura

Promuovere una cultura lavorativa positiva che eviti conflitti e comportamenti inaccettabili.

Cosa possono fare le aree di sosta per aiutare la salute mentale degli autisti?

Gli autotrasportatori dipendono dalle aree di sosta per le loro necessità quotidiane. Sono fondamentali per migliorare la salute mentale degli autisti, in quanto fungono da rifugio per i conducenti che hanno trascorso lunghe ore di isolamento al volante. L'offerta di strutture pulite e all'avanguardia, di cibi sani e di un luogo in cui socializzare permette agli autisti di rilassarsi e distendersi.

Le aree di sosta per autocarri possono incoraggiare la creazione di comunità organizzando attività sociali ed eventi in cui gli autisti possono entrare in contatto con i loro coetanei e alleviare il senso di isolamento.

Come ha influito la carenza di autisti sulla loro salute mentale?

Nel 2023, in Europa ci saranno oltre 230.000 posti vacanti di autista di camion: una carenza di queste dimensioni ha aumentato la pressione su chi già lavora nel settore.

L'aumento del commercio elettronico ha aumentato questa pressione: gli autisti di camion devono rispettare orari di consegna più stretti e gestire volumi di merce più elevati. L'aumento del carico di lavoro e le ulteriori pressioni hanno avuto un impatto significativo sul benessere degli autisti, con tassi di turnover dei dipendenti ai massimi livelli.

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mercoledì 16 aprile 2025 • Notizie e aggiornamenti

QUALI SONO LE IMPLICAZIONI DEI LIMITI DI VELOCITÀ A 20 MIGLIA ORARIE PER LE FLOTTE?

Susie Jones

In 2023, HGVs were involved in collisions that resulted in fatalities, a decline from 2022 but a concerning statistic nonetheless. These accidents could have resulted from several factors, such as driver fatigue, poor vehicle maintenance, weather conditions, or the actions of other road users. However, data from road safety charity Brake suggests that of road-related deaths had speed reported as a road safety factor. In this blog, we'll explore how the implementation of 20mph speed limits could impact fleet operations and lower fatality numbers. According to , only 10% of HGV collisions occurred on a motorway the other 90% were more likely to happen on an urban or rural road. Rural roads present truck drivers with narrow spaces, sharp turns, and interactions with vulnerable road users like cyclists and pedestrians, increasing the likelihood of accidents. Urban areas pose a greater risk for truck drivers due to higher-density traffic, frequent stops, pedestrian activity, and complex road layouts combined with the unpredictability of urban roads makes them more of a hazard for truck drivers. Figures published by the have shown 100 fewer casualties on urban roads in 2024 compared to the same period in 2023 before the 20mph speed limit was enforced in urban areas.The scheme is supported by organisations such as Brake and Cycling UK, and now fleet management specialists are encouraging haulage companies to get behind the scheme. They argue that the shift from 30mph to 20mph will have minimal impact on fleet efficiency and strongly reinforce the idea that it would save lives each year. According to FleetCheck, haulage operators had mixed feelings towards the initiative. Some saw the changes as a hindrance to efficiency arguing that lower speed limits may force some fleets into reducing the number of deliveries they can make in any given period. Drivers on SNAP's social media pages had strong feelings toward the suggestion. One driver commented:"Who is going to back more 20mph zones? The whole standard of driving is the problem. Ever since we came out of lockdown, the standard of driving has been diabolical, that's including cars, vans, and trucks."The sentiment remained the same on socials, with many not supporting the change. Reduced speed zones offer several benefits for truck drivers. • Lower speeds improve reaction times and reduce stopping distances, making it easier to avoid collisions particularly in urban areas.• Trucks are more likely to have less vehicle wear and tear with reduced speed limits. As mentioned, some fleet companies are concerned that lower speed limits could reduce the number of deliveries they could make in any given period. Fleets could also face the following challenges:• affecting time-sensitive deliveries, impacting scheduling and customer expectations.• companies may have to adjust routes to account for slower speeds.• investing in additional driver training to ensure compliance with new speed limits will be crucial. Although these issues can pose additional challenges for fleet companies, many can be managed proactively. Many would argue the long-term safety benefits outweigh the obstacles. In a revisited campaign titled , SNAP identified the most hazardous GB locations. We delve deeper to discover which roads could benefit from a reduced speed limit. SNAP discovered the South East had the most hazardous roads. Kent has the most dangerous roads in Britain and is on the Kent Highway Network by 2050. Which roads are the most concerning?• A short road running for just four miles but was named Britain's highest-risk route in 2018. The report singled out a stretch of the A254 between the junction of the A28 at Margate and the junction with the A255 near Ramsgate. The speed limit on this stretch varies between 30mph and 40mph built-up areas and a heavy traffic flow from the port of Dover make this road particularly dangerous for cyclists, pedestrians, and other road users. Could this stretch of road benefit from slower speed limits?• Notorious for its high accident rates, the A252 runs for 8.7 miles. In 2020, work commenced to reduce the number and severity of accidents, among the changes, a decrease from 60mph to 50mph on this stretch, except where lower limits are in force. However, is this enough to shake off the road's reputation as one of Britain's worst?Surrey and Essex were also at the top of the list and had a combined total of accidents over the last five years. High accident rates in Surrey can be attributed to its mix of populated towns and rural roads. Its closeness to London and major motorways has resulted in more collisions.• Also known as the London Orbital Motorway, the M25 is one of Britain's busiest roads while also being the second-longest ring road in Europe. Between 2007 and 2016, 7,673 accidents and 80 fatalities were reported. As a crucial motorway, speed adjustments as low as 20mph would be ludicrous. However, would the M25 benefit from restricted speed zones?• Running for 67 miles, the A3 can be a challenging road to drive on due to its high traffic volume, speed limits, and sections with poor road conditions. Truck drivers must adhere to strict speed regulations. These restrictions are in place to account for the size, weight, and braking capacity of a truck. • A truck over 7.5 tonnes is limited to a maximum speed of 50mph.• 60mph is the maximum speed limit for a truck over 7.5 tonnes. • Truck drivers must not exceed 60mph on a motorway. In the UK, speed limiter devices must be installed into any truck to cap the maximum speed the vehicle can travel. • All trucks over 3.5 tonnes must have a speed limiter set to 56 mph. • Speed limiters limit the fuel supplied to the engine once the vehicle reaches a preset speed ensuring drivers cannot exceed the limit.A private truck does not require a speed limiter unless it is being used for commercial purposes. You must declare if your vehicle is exempt from needing a speed limiter when you take it for its MOT by filling in a

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lunedì 07 aprile 2025 • Notizie e aggiornamenti

COSA DEVONO SAPERE I GESTORI DI FLOTTE SULLE NORMATIVE EUROPEE IN MATERIA DI TRASPORTI

Josh Cousens

We know fleet managers are juggling driver shortages, rising fuel costs and the considerable task of keeping trucks compliant. Now toss in a complex web of EU transport regulations that evolve faster than your fleet's mileage. Does this sound familiar?Welcome to the European haulage frontline.From hours of service rules to emissions targets, the EU's regulatory landscape is a challenge and a half but also a roadmap for more innovative, safer, and sustainable haulage. Whether running a family-owned firm in Poland or overseeing pan-European operations from the UK, staying ahead of the rules isn't optional. It's survival.EU transport regulations affect nearly every aspect of your operation: driver hours, vehicle emissions, border controls, parking, and digital compliance. Falling behind could mean fines, delays, or contract losses.The good news is that if you understand the system, you can use it to your advantage. Knowing the rules makes it easier to make your business stand out from the competition. The European Union has strict rules on how long drivers can operate on the road. Fleet managers must ensure their drivers:Drive no more than 9 hours a day (extendable to 10 hours twice a week) Don't exceed 56 hours of driving in a week Take a 45-minute break after 4.5 hours of driving.Digital tachographs must be fitted to all relevant vehicles to track compliance. Failure to do so is one of the most common reasons for penalties.Find out more about . This sweeping set of reforms is transforming haulage across borders. Key changes include:Regular return of vehicles to their home country every 8 weeks Equal pay for drivers operating in host EU countries New rules on cabotage and posting of drivers.It's a game-changer for fleet managers overseeing international transport.Discover more about the. Low-emission zones (LEZs), CO2 targets for new trucks, and incentives for electric vehicles are just the beginning. Fleet managers need to adhere to Euro 7 emission standards. These include:Know where low-emission zones are located (especially in cities like Paris, Berlin, and Milan) Invest in cleaner technology or retrofit older vehicles Track emissions data for reporting requirements.The European Union is pushing towards automated enforcement:Smart tachographs are mandatory in all new vehicles These devices transmit GPS data and can be scanned remotely by authorities Digital fleet management tools are no longer a luxury – they're your legal safety net.Fleet managers must plan parking and resting spots in compliance with driver welfare rules:Drivers must spend weekly rest periods outside the cab Secure truck parking is becoming mandatory in some regions.Fleet managers must ensure drivers follow the EU-regulated limits: 9 hours per day (with flexibility), proper breaks, and max weekly/monthly driving caps.The Mobility Package reform ensures fair competition, driver welfare, and proper oversight in international haulage and road transport – with stricter rules on cabotage, pay, and returns.Drivers who break tachograph rules can expect fines, potential bans, and a damaged reputation for the firm. Non-compliance isn't just a risk – it's expensive.Yes. Most major European countries and cities have strict policies and emissions targets to reduce vehicle air pollution, so fleet operators need to plan ahead. Fleet managers don't just manage trucks; they also manage risk, compliance, and reputation for their business. Understanding EU transport regulations is the difference between thriving in modern haulage and falling behind. makes that job more manageable. From digital payments to truck parking and compliance solutions, we support the people who keep Europe moving.Regulations are tightening, but competent fleet managers? They're tightening their game, too.Ready to get compliant, stay competitive and drive the future of freight? .

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mercoledì 26 febbraio 2025 • Notizie e aggiornamenti

IL RUOLO DELLA GESTIONE DELLA FLOTTA NEL SETTORE DEGLI AUTOTRASPORTI: PERCHÉ È IMPORTANTE

Josh Cousens

In the fast-moving world of mobility and road transport, effective is essential for keeping trucks moving, reducing costs, and improving efficiency.Whether you operate a small fleet or manage a large trucking company, the right fleet management software can transform how companies manage their vehicles, drivers, and operational expenses.Fleet management is crucial to ensuring trucks arrive where they need to be, on time, and cost-effectively.Truck fleet management minimises delays and reduces unnecessary spending by tracking vehicle performance, fuel consumption, and driver activity.Without a structured approach, fleets risk performance issues that can lead to higher operational expenses and reduced profitability.Fleet operators are greatly concerned about driver wellbeing. But, a well-managed fleet ensures correctly maintained vehicles, optimises routes to reduce fatigue, and adheres to compliance regulations.Fleet management software helps businesses monitor driver behaviour, enforce safety policies, and reduce the risk of accidents or penalties for non-compliance.Some of the most significant costs in the haulage industry are fuel expenses, vehicle maintenance, and downtime.Implementing truck fleet management solutions helps operators track fuel usage, plan effective routes, and ensure vehicles are serviced at the right time preventing costly breakdowns and unplanned repairs.With the correct data, fleet managers can make informed decisions that cut unnecessary expenses and improve profitability.Sustainability is becoming an increasing priority across the transport industry. Fleet management systems allow operators to track emissions, monitor fuel efficiency, and introduce eco-friendly driving practices that lower environmental impact.Fleets can use data-driven solutions to make strategic adjustments that align with industry regulations and corporate sustainability goals.Upscaling a truck fleet presents challenges, such as managing increased logistics complexity and maintaining productivity. Here are some challenges that fleets may encounter when scaling their fleet.• As fleets grow, advanced scheduling, route optimisation, and maintenance planning become essential to prevent delays and downtime. • Additionally, ensuring consistent safety standards and regulations becomes more difficult as the fleet expands, increasing the risk of issues and penalties. • Scaling also requires significant investment in infrastructure, such as hiring and training more drivers and upgrading fleet management software.At SNAP, we understand the challenges fleet operators face. Our network of digital solutions for the mobility industry helps businesses streamline their operations and improve driver safety and convenience.We provide access to a growing network of parking and washing locations across Europe, helping fleets reduce unplanned stops, enhance route productivity, and keep trucks moving without delays.As fleet management technology evolves, we are committed to providing innovative solutions that support the industry's changing needs.Fleet management software and data-driven insights help haulage managers streamline operations, reduce spending, and ensure their fleets operate at their full potential.Fleet management is more than tracking vehicles. It's about making strategic decisions to upgrade efficiency, reduce risks, and support long-term business growth.With the right truck fleet management approach, operators can overcome industry challenges and ensure their fleets run smoothly.Looking for more innovative fleet management solutions? Discover how SNAP's services can optimise your operations. .