Road to ruin

South Africa’s transport and logistics sector is confronting a serious and deepening health crisis. From boardrooms to long-haul routes, ELVIN HARRIS writes that workers face escalating physical and mental strain, threatening productivity and safety. 

South Africa’s transport and logistics industry – from corporate boardrooms to remote highways and byways – is facing a mounting health and wellness crisis. International evidence shows that frontline logistics workers suffer alarmingly poor health outcomes. As the World Health Organization notes, depression and anxiety alone cost the global economy US$1 trillion every year in lost productivity. In South Africa, the toll is similarly stark: health economists estimate that untreated mental illness drains R161 billion per year from our economy through absenteeism, presenteeism and reduced work capacity. These figures are no abstraction; every percentage point reflects real people – executives, dispatchers, warehouse staff and truck drivers – whose lives and livelihoods are at risk.

The local and global picture

International studies document the depth of the problem. An Aon industry survey finds that US truck drivers live on average 12 to 20 years less than the general population and have far higher rates of obesity, diabetes and cholesterol. Long-haul logistics roles create the perfect conditions for chronic disease: one multinational review found that nearly 46% of European long-haul drivers were overweight and 30% obese, fuelled by calorie-dense food and the sedentary nature of life on the road. Mental health is equally threatened. In the US, the transportation sector has the fourth-highest suicide rate of any industry; globally, roughly one in four truck drivers report serious loneliness or depression.

South African data seems to confirm the pattern. A recent study of 96 long-distance truckers found 44% were overweight and 30% obese, while 57% had hypertension and 14% diabetes. This is a small sample – a larger one is needed before drawing firm conclusions – but the indications point to an issue of real concern. Additionally, one in four South African truck drivers visits a roadside clinic each year for health issues. Warehouse and port workers face different hazards: heavy lifting and awkward postures place them at high risk of chronic musculoskeletal injuries that cause long-term pain and reduced productivity.

Causes and stressors

These health problems arise from working “on steroids”: long hours, irregular shifts and relentless pressure are built into logistics. Workers are on call through night shifts, pre-dawn dispatches and unpredictable schedules. Fatigue isn’t simply tiredness – it is a safety hazard. Fatigued workers are more likely to make mistakes, have accidents and suffer anxiety or depression.

Isolation magnifies the strain. For a driver on a week-long haul or a logistics manager firefighting a disrupted supply chain, the social support network is thin. In South African trucking – a male-dominated, pride-driven environment – admitting to stress or anxiety is still viewed as weakness. Yet 90% of drivers in a UK survey said work stress harms their driving, and 97% believed accident risk has risen in recent years. Those numbers cannot be ignored.

The South African context

South Africa faces its own particular burdens. Long commutes on hazardous roads, for example, expose workers even before the workday starts.

Worsening cargo crime adds further fear: nearly 2,000 trucks were hijacked in the last fiscal year. One industry leader warns that theft and violence leave drivers “in a continual state of fear and uncertainty”. It’s no surprise that chronic stress, fatigue and the fear of assault all translate into more collisions and injuries across the country.

The business cost of poor health

This human cost translates directly into business cost. Burnout and untreated illness result in more sick leave, higher turnover and lower productivity. Globally, depression and anxiety cause an estimated 12 billion lost workdays per year. In South Africa alone, unaddressed mental health issues are estimated to cost businesses R161 billion annually. Workers who are overweight, hypertensive or diabetic also incur higher medical and insurance costs. As one industry executive notes: “Investing in employee well-being is not just the right thing to do – it also makes business sense.”

What more can be done?

Employers, unions and government all need to take action. Employers should recognise the risks and proactively support staff by:

• Providing regular health screenings and mobile clinics for drivers and warehouse teams.
• Offering physical wellness programmes and healthier meal options.
• Enforcing rest periods and proper ergonomic practices.
• Introducing confidential counselling and stress-management support.
• Running structured education campaigns focused on physical and mental well-being in transport and logistics.

Policymakers and industry bodies should strengthen regulation of driver hours, fund roadside health clinics and support awareness campaigns to destigmatise mental health in the sector.

Executives and professionals must also take proactive steps for self-care – adequate rest, balanced diets and regular medical checks – to sustain performance and personal well-being.

Every kilometre counts

The challenges are complex, but solutions exist. Training and awareness programmes, fatigue-management systems and routine health checks are all proven strategies. The people behind every consignment and every freight train are the backbone of our economy – as are the professionals who manage the system. They deserve more than empty platitudes. It is time we listened to them, acknowledged the strains of their work and built a healthier, safer transport and logistics industry.