Using a truck as part of a modified gym workout may not be conventional but it can be just as effective.
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By wrapping a towel around a bullbar it can be used for stretching, and the cabin stairs for exercises if truck drivers can’t make it to the gym.
It’s all part of the Healthy Together Wodonga initiative being encouraged at Ron Finemore Transport.
The Wodonga company’s outlook on health and well-being has been transformed with an emphasis on exercise and healthy eating options.
The new healthy ideas have made a considerable difference to the lives of office workers and truck drivers.
Finemore’s business development manager David Coleman says the program has been embraced by many company employees.
“It’s hard to gauge the success with truck drivers as they are very spread out but they all have an exercise booklet and many have been keen as it is so hard for them to get to the gym and exercise,” he says.
“They’re virtually living in their truck so we needed to give them something to do while they were out on the road.”
Mr Coleman says by nature of their work, truck drivers lead a sedentary lifestyle sitting driving and the exercise program worked well using their trucks as a base.
“The stretching program shows how drivers can do simple things using their work base,” he says.
“Even when they are stuck in traffic there are simple stretches they can do from their seat.”
Last year, Finemore’s received a National Safety Award for the healthy initiatives developed by former employee Jacinta Macaulay.
She defeated 699 nominees to be named Safe Work Australia’s safety ambassador of the year at Parliament House.
But it’s not only the truck drivers involved in the healthy option programs, it’s across the company.
Other initiatives to have an impact is the placement of fruit and vegetable bowls at morning and afternoon tea.
Mr Coleman says the company offered fresh fruit and vegetables as an alternative to cakes, biscuits and chocolates for snacks through the day.
The fruit and vegetable offerings have also been embraced and employees are keen to take the healthier alternative, according to Mr Coleman.
Finemore’s managing director Laurie Brothers agrees, saying swapping unhealthy food for healthier options had been a winner.
“We took away the biscuits and all the naughty stuff and put apples and oranges and seasonal fruit out instead,” Mr Brothers says.
Other initiatives to get staff thinking about healthy options include a staff recipe book with entries vetoed by a nutritionist and given a star rating.
The company also contributes towards gym memberships and supported a 10,000 steps a day staff challenge over three months with winning team members receiving $50 vouchers.
