The Structured Health Intervention For Truckers (SHIFT)

SHIFT is a multicomponent, theory driven, health behaviour programme designed to promote positive lifestyle changes in relation to physical activity, diet, and sitting in HGV drivers.

The original programme consisted of a group-based, interactive, 6-hour structured education session tailored for HGV drivers, delivered by a trained educator. The education session was developed by the Leicester Diabetes Centre and derived from their ‘DESMOND’ (Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) suite of programmes, used throughout the NHS for diabetes prevention and management.

The education session was supplemented by health coach support (provided over a 6-month period via text messaging service, managed by trained researchers) and equipment provision, including a Fitbit (drivers were encouraged to use this to monitor their daily step counts and set goals) and resistance bands/balls and a hand gripper (to facilitate a ‘cab workout’ – during rest breaks).

Funded by the NIHR, SHIFT was formally evaluated with a major logistics operator in a cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) (2017-21), which revealed the programme led to a potentially clinically meaningful difference in activity and reductions in sitting in the SHIFT group, relative to controls.

Relative to controls, who continued with their usual routine over a 6-month period, drivers experiencing the SHIFT programme accumulated approximately 1000 more steps/day (equivalent to ~10-minutes of walking) when the two groups were compared after 6-months. Drivers experiencing the programme also spent less time sitting (by 24 mins/day) than controls.

Drivers experiencing the SHIFT programme made bigger changes on non-workdays, compared to workdays. SHIFT was most effective in drivers with obesity, who also lost approximately 2.5kg over 6-months. Widespread support for the translation of the programme into a driver training resource was received during the RCT.

Select quotes from drivers experiencing the SHIFT programme…

“It’s been interesting and enlightening and hopefully you and your team have added a few years to my life and others with the result of your research.” (RCT participant)

“The health assessment I had with SHIFT is a great thing specially for drivers like myself because most jobs in my line of work don’t get that kind of experience plus eating healthier food I think what you people are doing is great and hope this will carry on for many years to come” (RCT participant)

“One of the guys set up a drivers’ community page on the Fitbit app and currently there are 10 of us on their regularly posted progress updates and supporting each other’s efforts. Two of the guys have now broken the 2 stone weight loss point which is amazing and others are being far more active and getting great results (including myself, I have started running again and hit 10 lbs weight loss) this in itself proves what an excellent programme SHIFT is!” (RCT participant)

“My [health] assessment results showed a slight improvement in my blood pressure and cholesterol… still just above what they should be but I was pleasantly surprised… I’ve only upped my time walking really… not breaking any records but making an effort when I’ve had time… also slightly tried not to eat bad stuff… thanks for the incentive”

“…the health workshop was very good and I fully support you in your efforts to make it a CPC module…”

“Thank you to yourselves (students) your university, staff, teachers, etc for all your endeavours helping me to take my health more seriously. Wishing you all the very best in the future.”

Between 2022 and 2025, funding from The Colt Foundation has supported the translation of SHIFT into a driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) module. With industry partner, Wincanton, researchers from SSEHS and the LDC co-created a scalable 7-hr SHIFT CPC module, and module component (Short-SHIFT).

Wincanton’s drivers, management and training teams played a key role in the development of the SHIFT CPC module through participating in co-creation workshops, during which modifications were made to the original SHIFT structured education curriculum, ensuring SHIFT could be effectively translated and incorporated into drivers’ professional development.

A new shorter 1-hour version (Short-SHIFT) was also co-created. Short-SHIFT was designed based on driver trainer feedback and industry needs, with the purpose of embedding into existing industry delivered CPC modules. The goal of Short-SHIFT is to raise drivers’ awareness of the importance of physical activity, reducing/breaking-up sitting, and a healthy diet.

The 7-hour SHIFT CPC module, and Short-SHIFT, were accredited by the DVSA and have been embedded within Wincanton’s driver training. To facilitate the roll-out of these training resources across Wincanton’s driver network, their driver trainers were trained by LDC specialists to deliver SHIFT and Short-SHIFT.

Approximately 6500 Wincanton drivers have experienced Short-SHIFT (as of September 2024). An ongoing evaluation of Short-SHIFT has revealed that 83% of drivers surveyed (n=283) reported finding Short-SHIFT ‘interesting and informative’; 78% agreed it raised their awareness of the benefits of physical activity, reducing/breaking-up sitting, and a healthy diet, and 77% reported they intended to make healthier lifestyle changes.

An evaluation of the 7-hour SHIFT CPC module is ongoing.

Select quotes from drivers experiencing Short-SHIFT…

“We have something new today where we been included to learn about food and drivers’ health. Was very interesting to work with pictures and found different ways how to take care about ourselves”

“Small activity and discussion with the handouts was a welcome change of pace to the CPC course!”

“I enjoyed the course it was different and informative!”

“New “SHIFT” program on CPC about wellbeing and activity, it’s fantastic!”

“It’s an eye opener”

“Best so far!”

The UK logistics sector makes a major and vital contribution to the UK economy, employing approximately 300,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers. Due to the nature of their occupation, HGV drivers are exposed to many health-related risk factors, including high volumes of sitting, limited opportunities for physical activity, and poor dietary options. Long, variable working hours, including shift work, contributes to sleep deprivation and metabolic disturbances, further promoting uptake of unhealthy behaviours.

This poor health profile is linked with high rates of obesity and cardiometabolic risk, culminating in HGV drivers having increased risk of accidents, plus higher rates of chronic diseases and reduced life expectancies compared to other occupations.

Find out more about Sleepful Drive

Ruettger K, Willis S, King JA, Clemes SA (2025). Assessment of UK Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers’ lifestyle behaviours: a cross-sectional study. J Occup Environ Med. In press.

Ruettger K, Stamp E, King JA, Clemes SA (2025). An exploration of barriers and facilitators to healthy eating in UK Truck drivers. Safety and Health at Work, in press.

Sayyah M, Clemes SA, Maylor BD, Edwardson CL, Sherry AP, Ruettger K, Chen YL, Varela-Mato V, Guest AJ, King JA, Paine NP, Rowlands AV (2025). The effect of vehicle motion (cab vibration) on accelerometer-cut-point determined MVPA in Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers. Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour, in press.

Sherry AP, Clemes SA, Chen YL, Edwardson CL, Gray LJ, Guest A, King JA, Rowlands AV, Ruettger K, Sayyah M, Varela-Mato V, Hartescu I (2023). Sleep variability in UK long distance heavy goods vehicle drivers. J Occup Environ Med. 1;65(1):67-73.. doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000002687.

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Sherry AP, Clemes SA, Chen YL, Edwardson CL, Gray LJ, Guest A, King JA, Rowlands AV, Ruettger K, Sayyah M, Varela-Mato V, Hartescu I (2021). Sleep duration and sleep efficiency in UK long distance heavy goods vehicle drivers. Occup Environ Med, doi: 10.1136/oemed-2021-107643.

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Varela-Mato V, Clemes SA, King JA, Munir F, (2019). Associations between musculoskeletal conditions risk, sedentary behaviour, sleep and markers of mental health: A cross-sectional observational study in Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers. J Occup Environ Med. 61(5):437-43.

Varela-Mato V, Caddick N, King JA, Johnson V, Edwardson C, Yates TE, Stensel DJ, Daly H, Nimmo MA, Clemes SA (2018). The impact of a novel Structured Health Intervention for Truckers (SHIFT) on physical activity and cardio-metabolic risk factors. J Occup Environ Med. 60(4):368-376.

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Varela-Mato V, Yates T, Stensel D, Biddle SJ and Clemes SA (2017). Concurrent Validity of Actigraph-Determined Sedentary Time Against the Activpal Under Free-Living Conditions in a Sample of Bus Drivers. Measurement in Physical Education and Exercise Science, 21:4, 212-222.

Varela-Mato V, O’Shea O, King JA, Yates TE, Stensel DJ, Biddle SJH, Nimmo MA, Clemes SA (2017). Cross-sectional surveillance study to phenotype lorry drivers’ sedentary behaviours, physical activity and cardio-metabolic health. BMJ Open, 7(6):e013162. Caddick N, Varela-Mato V, Clemes SA, Nimmo MA, Yates TY, King JA, (2017). Understanding the health of lorry drivers in context: A critical discourse analysis. Health, 21(1):38-56.