Minister of Transport, Sindisiwe Chikunga will host the inaugural Truck Driver Safety and Wellness Symposium in Gauteng next week.
The symposium will take place at the Birchwood Hotel and Conference Centre in Boksburg, where Chikunga will host the welcome dinner on 6 March and deliver the opening address on the 7th.
The symposium's theme, which is hosted in collaboration with the SaferStops Association, is “Your Wellness is our Concern”. The event aims to bring about meaningful change to enhance the safety and wellness of truck drivers by elevating safety protocols.
It is set to become an annual event on the industry calendar.
“More than just an exchange of ideas, we aim to address actionable points and chase down partners to commit to change,” said Nicci Scott Anderson, founder of the SaferStops Association.
“We want to look back on what we have achieved in a year and reflect on the success of private-public partnerships.”
Hosting truck drivers from all provinces, fleet/human resources/risk managers, and delegates from key government departments, industry bodies, trade unions, state-owned entities and the private sector, the symposium has been designed as an interactive and informative experience. It will emphasise a holistic approach to driver wellness.
"The agenda has been carefully crafted with key industry stakeholders," said Mihlali Gqada, freight specialist at the Department of Transport.
"Our aim is not only to provide a comprehensive overview of the industry's current landscape, but also to chart a path towards progress, minimising risks for our drivers on the roads as much as possible, while improving their overall health and wellness.”
