Daimler Truck Southern Africa bolsters driver wellbeing with the successful completion of the Pool Transport Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme.

• Daimler Truck Southern Africa (DTSA) reinforces the importance of truck driver’s health and wellbeing with the DTSA Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme.
• DTSA in partnership with Trucking Wellness celebrates Pool Transport, their 10th customer to complete the DTSA Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme.

PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA – Daimler Truck Southern Africa is earnestly dedicated to driver wellbeing and in partnership with Trucking Wellness, thousands of truck driver lives have been positively impacted by providing access to primary healthcare through fixed roadside wellness centres, fully-fledged mobile wellness centres and the DTSA key account customer’s Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme. On 19 April 2024, Pool Transport officially became the 10th DTSA key account customer to complete the DTSA Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme under the guidance of the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and  Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI)’s Trucking Wellness Project.

The DTSA Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme is an exclusive value-added benefit for
DTSA’s key account customers that started in 2013. The programme incorporates all employees, but with a unique approach on driver health to minimize the impact of disease and ill health on the customer’s financial, operational, human resource and total cost of ownership.

Over the past 11 years, the program has continuously evolved, enhancing content to meet emerging customer needs. This year Pool Transport was a catalyst to align the DTSA Fleet Owner Workplace Programme with RTMS accreditation, developing the first fatigue management policy and assisting in the development of a medical certification process for truck drivers.

Dirkie van Zyl, the Managing Director of Pool Transport had the following to say about the completion of the programme: “The wellness of our drivers is a priority and joint responsibility of the company and employees to fulfil our duty to directly contribute to the safety of our roads. Pool Transport is committed to foster a culture of wellness and empowerment through our organisation. We extend our sincere gratitude to DTSA for their support, commitment, and investment in the health and wellness of our employees. We would further like to thank Trucking Wellness and the NBCRFLI for their contribution to this ongoing wellness initiative in the transport industry of South Africa, and more specifically for Pool Transport.”

Tertius Wessels, Managing Director of Corridor Empowerment Project, Managing Trucking Wellness for the NBCRFLI adds: “Our 15-year partnership with Daimler Truck Southern Africa led to much closer relationships with transport companies, such as Pool Transport. It allows for increased understanding and use of Trucking Wellness and other NBCRFLI wellness services, whilst implementing programmes with true shared value for all stakeholders.”

“DTSA remains committed to advancing access to primary healthcare for truck drivers in South Africa, because we know that a healthy truck driver is a safe truck driver, contributing to safer roads for all South Africans. DTSA’s Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme is one of the vehicles to achieve this goal and I am thankful for partners like Trucking Wellness and Pool Transport for their efforts and commitment to complete this programme and make a lasting impact towards this amazing cause.” Maretha Gerber, President and Group CEO concludes.

More about Pool Transport:

Sarel Pool started Pool Transport in 1955 and officially registered the company in1965 as SN Pool (Pty) Ltd, widely known today as Pool Transport and synonymous with reliability and safe delivery of cargo, offering comprehensive supply chain solutions including spacious warehousing in Worcester and Johannesburg. They bought their first Mercedes-Benz Truck back in 1974 and are a hundred percent DTSA dedicated fleet 50 years later.

Thank you to Trucking Wellness and Pool Transport for your commitment towards this vital initiative and congratulations once again on this remarkable achievement.

Media enquiries:
Jacqueline Fourie
Cell: 0796957485
e-mail: jacqueline.fourie@daimlertruck.com

Daimler Truck Southern Africa at a glance
Established in South Africa approximately 60 years ago, Daimler Truck Southern Africa together with its brands provide an optimal experience, expertise, and attractive products and services to its customers. The Company’s success is based on its strong brands inclusive of Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Buses, FUSO Trucks in addition to offering parts and services for Freightliner and Western Star Trucks. Its comprehensive product range is backed by market-leading value-added services in Fleetboard, TruckStore, TruckTraining, and Daimler Trucks Financial Services. With a Southern African footprint that includes South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Botswana, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia, the company is headquartered in Pretoria, the capital city of South Africa, and all its products are assembled locally in its East London production plant.