West Midlands truck stop set to offer free HGV driver health checks - here's why

A truck stop and cafe sitting on the historic Watling Street will be taking part in a week of health checks around supporting HGV driver health and wellbeing.

The Stop at the Hollies in Cannock will host a day of health checks for drivers on November 18 as part of Road Safety Week.

The free health checks, coined the Great Driver MOT, will begin at The Stop at Watling Street near St Albans on November 16, moving on to The Stop at The Hollies, before finishing at The Stop at Ecclefechan in Scotland on November 20.

During a 20-minute appointment with a registered nurse practitioner, drivers will receive checks covering mental wellbeing, height and weight, blood pressure, heart rate, blood glucose and cholesterol levels, with results and personalised guidance being provided on the day.

Health checks will be available between 4pm and 8pm at each participating truck stop location, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The campaign is being delivered by Certas Energy, which said the campaign was vital due to concerns around health and welfare at the start of the festive season.

A spokesman for Certas Energy said: “The campaign comes ahead of the peak Christmas delivery season, when demand on the UK's freight network reaches its highest levels and concerns around driver health and welfare continue to grow.

“Recent research found that almost half of UK HGV drivers are living with obesity, while those affected reported greater barriers to healthy eating and physical activity than their colleagues.

“Life on the road adds practical challenges. Many drivers spend days, and sometimes weeks, away from home, relying on truck stops for legally required rest breaks, overnight stays, meals, showers and other essential services.”

Road freight moves 89 per cent of goods around the UK, supported by more than 680,000 HGV drivers.

As the average HGV driver enters their early 50s, access to high-quality facilities, health support and safe, secure rest areas is becoming ever more critical for the industry.

Despite this demand, the UK is estimated to be short of around 11,000 overnight HGV parking spaces, with just 36 per cent of drivers able to secure a designated overnight parking space and more than a third forced to use roadside lay-bys instead.

With the average HGV driver now in their early 50s, access to quality facilities, health support and safe, secure places to rest is becoming increasingly important.

Since acquiring The Stop at The Hollies in 2021, Certas Energy said it has invested significantly in upgrading the site to improve facilities for drivers, including refurbished shower facilities, a new café, health and wellbeing amenities such as a defibrillator and blood-pressure monitoring equipment, and enhanced security measures including high-security parking bays, 24/7 on-site security and full perimeter fencing.

The site has achieved Park Mark Freight accreditation, the highest standard for secure HGV parking in the UK, recognising its commitment to providing drivers with safe, secure and high-quality facilities during their journeys and overnight stays.

Mike Heaton, Head of Estate Development at Certas Energy says: "HGV drivers work incredibly hard to keep the country moving, so it's important we do our bit to support them when they're on the road.

"We've invested heavily in improving our truck stops, taking what works so well at The Stop at The Hollies and bringing that same standard to more locations across the UK. Whether it's better food, improved security, modern shower facilities or quicker refuelling, it's all about creating somewhere drivers want to stop.

"The Great Driver MOT is another part of that commitment. We know drivers don't always get time to focus on their own health, so we're pleased to be offering free health checks across our network. If you're passing through one of our sites during Road Safety Week, pop in and get checked out."