According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOCSH), truck drivers are twice as likely to smoke as the general working population, putting truck drivers at higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, and other illnesses.
Julie Dillon, the Health & Wellness Manager at St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, knows this reality all too well. St. Christopher’s provides financial support for drivers who can’t work because of an illness or injury, and she says most of the drivers they help have one thing in common—they smoke.
The organization’s own data shows the average age a driver leaves the road because of an illness is just 52. Quitting smoking doesn’t just save drivers money on cigarettes, it can also extend their ability to keep earning for their families.
Origins of Rigs Without Cigs
With this in mind, Dillon and the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund launched Rigs Without Cigs in September of 2017 with the goal of improving driver health and preventing heart attacks and strokes.
This nicotine cessation and incentive program is free, and it pairs one-on-one coaching with real tools to help drivers stop smoking or cut back. Since it launched, more than 250 drivers have quit using the program, and about 170 more have cut their smoking in half.
DAT’s Dean Croke recently sat down with Julie Dillon of the fund to talk about the program and how it works. Watch the conversation on YouTube.
How to get started
Drivers can learn more about Rigs Without Cigs and register for the program free here. It has testimonials from other drivers, a Quit Smoking and Save Calculator, and tips for kicking the habit. Once drivers fill out the form to sign up, they’ll get a welcome email and a call from Dillon, who is also a national board certified health and wellness coach.
Every tool in the program is free
Here’s the available support tools:
- Audiobook
- Habitrol smoking cessation products (patches, lozenges)
- Grinds Coffee Pouches to feel sharper and more alert
- Medication referral through Call-On-Doc, where a provider can prescribe medication if needed
- Regular emails with tips and tools for success
- Opportunity to join a private Facebook support group
- Ongoing coaching and accountability from a health coach
Great day to quit is approaching
Thursday, Nov. 19, is the Great American Smokeout, the American Cancer Society’s annual day for smokers to quit or make a plan to quit. It’s an ideal day because people quitting won’t be doing it alone, but instead will be joining thousands of others quitting. Want more people to join? Share this post with drivers who might want to quit smoking.
How to support the fund
St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund offers an array of programs for drivers who need help. People can learn more about what they do and make a donation here.
The post Rigs Without Cigs: Free Help for Drivers Who Want to Quit Smoking appeared first on DAT Freight & Analytics – Blog.
