The logistics industry is being encouraged to treat driver mental health with the same level of importance as vehicle safety, after industry experts warned that hidden “human risk” is costing businesses billions through collisions, absence and rising insurance costs.
The warning came during the latest Destination Zero Bridge Strikes national forum, where operators, manufacturers, insurers and driver welfare specialists discussed the growing impact of mental health on safety and operational performance. The campaign, launched by training consultancy Road Skills Online, aims to involve operators directly in reducing risk and improving prevention across the industry.
A key theme from the forum was that while fleets carefully monitor fuel use, telematics and compliance, far less attention is paid to the wellbeing of the driver. Industry specialist Ian Kirkpatrick, founder of EISOP and a logistics and HR professional with more than 30 years’ experience, highlighted the scale of the issue. He referenced research suggesting UK businesses lose £51 billion each year due to poor mental health, rising to around £300 billion when indirect costs are included. Within logistics, the impact is particularly significant, with mental health-related absence averaging 21 days per case, creating substantial costs for operators.
Kirkpatrick linked driver wellbeing directly to financial and operational risk. Minor collisions can cost between £10,000 and £30,000, while serious incidents can range from £250,000 to £750,000, especially when long-term care, fatalities or reputational damage are involved. Insurance premiums can also increase significantly after a major claim, and replacing a driver can cost up to £15,000. He argued that many of the causes behind these incidents, such as fatigue, stress or psychological trauma following accidents, are rarely tracked by businesses.
He also raised concerns that drivers involved in serious incidents are often returned to work quickly without structured support, despite the possibility of delayed psychological effects. He stressed that stress is a major contributor to absence and that many managers are not properly trained to recognise or manage mental health issues within their teams.
Kirkpatrick suggested that mental health should be treated as a formal business risk, built into company policies, leadership responsibilities and driver reviews in the same way as other workplace hazards. However, industry ambassador Jacqueline O’Donovan warned that making mental health too formal within risk assessments could discourage honest conversations, as drivers may feel they are simply completing another form rather than having a genuine discussion.
Instead, she supported more practical and people-focused approaches. Drawing on her experience in the waste sector, she explained how simple breathing techniques were introduced to help drivers manage stress in high-pressure situations such as city traffic. The results included reduced absence, improved productivity and better staff engagement.
Another issue raised during the discussion was the lack of clear responsibility for driver wellbeing within many organisations, where responsibility is often split between HR, safety, operations and insurance teams, meaning no single department takes full ownership.
Despite different views on how best to implement changes, there was broad agreement that the industry needs to move beyond a purely compliance-based approach and take driver wellbeing more seriously, particularly as businesses face rising costs, driver shortages and increasing pressure to improve safety performance.
The topic is expected to be discussed further at the Road Transport Expo in July, where industry leaders will continue exploring prevention strategies, data sharing and the role driver wellbeing plays in reducing incidents such as bridge strikes. The wider conversation is now shifting towards recognising that some of the biggest risks in transport are not mechanical, but human.