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NZI is delighted with the success of its first NZI Truckie Rest Zone. On the 24th of August, NZI partnered with the Taupo District Council to host the well-attended event at the Waimihia Fire Store site on SH5 between Napier and Taupo.
The event invited truck and heavy vehicle operators to stop for a complimentary drink and healthy snack, to rest and refresh themselves for the next leg of the journey, and hear some practical insights about the relationship between fatigue and road accidents.
Over the course of the event, approximately 70 truckies visited the rest stop, where they talked safety and fatigue management with NZI’s Fleet Risk Management team. NZI and Taupo District Council’s road safety team were joined by Fleet Fit experts, AutoSense and Fit for Duty, as well as the NZ Police and St Johns.
NZI Fleet Risk Manager, Michael Stirk, was delighted with how the event was received. “It was a fantastic community-based opportunity to let transport companies and drivers alike know how serious an impact fatigue can have, whilst also bringing together drivers to socialise, catch-up and take a breather on us.”
For many truckies, normal sleep rhythms are disrupted by shift work, placing them at risk during long, or overnight hauls. “It’s often the Kiwi way to just ‘kick on’, even when you’re in need of a rest,” Michael says. “We’re helping operators to not only prioritise meeting their deadlines, but also put their safety first by ensuring they’re hitting the road with an adequate amount of rest. This event allowed truckies the opportunity to hear about the issue of fatigue from a number of professionals who have their best interests at heart, and just want to see them get home safely to their families.”
The event had a welcome social element for truck drivers who are otherwise often by themselves for long stretches. The array of specialists on hand were able to relate and speak to many of the issues truckies brought up, and lent some practical tips and insights.
“Interestingly,” Michael says, “when drivers hear about conditions such as sleep apnoea it can help them put a name to their symptoms, prompting them to share those concerns with their GP, or their business. If we are able to get drivers coming away from the event looking at their experiences in a new light, or encouraged to take steps for their own health that is a huge positive.”
Gary Rennie, Community Risk Advocate with NZI, says the event succeeded in its main message of the importance of taking a break and managing fatigue levels. “We know that it is an incredibly busy time for transport operators at the moment,” he stresses, “and it was encouraging to see so many drivers pulling over and having a cuppa and a rest.”
Truckies were appreciative of the break, as well as being able to interact and engage on their own terms, while they were catching their breath and freshening up.
“While operators freshened up and enjoyed some coffee and fresh, nutritious food on us,” Gary says, “a large number took a few moments at one of the two gazebos for some practical advice and resources from Fit for Duty, or AutoSense’s Eyes Up programme.”
When they were ready to head out on the road again drivers left with a complimentary NZI Keep Cup and greater knowledge on how to manage their fatigue risk.
The NZI Truckie Rest Zone is part of NZI’s efforts to support the safety of New Zealand fleets. For more information and support on managing fatigue risk in your business, contact your local NZI Fleet Risk Manager, or ask your broker about NZI’s Fleet Fit programme.
