Trucking Wellness & HIV Treatment

Introduction

Trucking Wellness (TW) is an initiative of the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI), which was launched in 1999. The aim of Trucking Wellness is to provide primary healthcare to those employed within the Road Freight and Logistics (RFL) Industry, driver spouses and commercial sex workers. Over the years, TW has evolved into a sustainable model of primary healthcare delivery to key populations and has become a sterling example of a successful and sustainable public-private partnership.

Background

Trucking Wellness (previously known as Trucking Against AIDS) was launched to create awareness around HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections amongst long-distance truck drivers, commercial sex workers and those at risks such as driver spouses and partners.

Since 1999 the Programme has experienced exponential growth as a result of incorporating an extensive range of free primary healthcare services. These services are offered via the Programme’s 21 Trucking Wellness Roadside Centers, which are situated at truck stops across major routes in South Africa and supported by a fleet of sleek Mobile Wellness Centers. The incorporation of the mobile clinics is a more innovative way of looking after our valued members in the trucking industry because we now work on a system where we book a vehicle for ten days at a time for one specific area and then service all companies within that region. As a result, we are able to serve more members than ever before and work towards a healthier and more vibrant trucking industry.

Since the establishment of the Wellness Centers, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of people gaining access to primary healthcare and being counselled about and tested for HIV infection.

Additionally, we have increased our efforts to educate and motivate those within the trucking industry to live healthier lifestyles in general thereby creating a more productive labour force. These support efforts by the NBCRFLI directly reduces labour risk and expenses to members and positively impacts the stability and growth of the industry and the South African economy.

Trucking Wellness Primary Healthcare Services

Condom use education and distribution
STI screening diagnosing, treatment and education
HIV awareness, information, education, counselling and testing
Referrals to appropriate service providers for ART as well as HIV and AIDS treatment and care
TB awareness, information, education, screening and referrals for treatment and care
Malaria awareness, information, education, screening and referrals for treatment and care
Screening tests for blood pressure, blood sugar, blood cholesterol and body mass index
Diagnosis, treatment, care and support of primary health problems or concerns

Trucking Wellness Support

Trucking Wellness enjoys the support of the four industry unions, as well as the Road Freight Associations (RFA) and the National Employers’ Association of South Africa (NEASA). It is funded by Mercedes Benz South Africa
(MBSA), N3TC, Imperial Logistics, Engen, Reef Tankers and the Department of Health (DoH). Lastly, Trucking Wellness is managed by the Corridor Empowerment Project (CEP), on behalf of the Industry. Through the combined efforts of the abovementioned corporations, Trucking Wellness has continued to experience year-on-year success since its inception.

Roadside Wellness Clinic Locations

Message from the NBCRFLI

The issuing of an Annual Report is always an opportune time to reflect on the successes achieved and challenges faced in the previous year. This is particularly very important in the case of the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) as the road freight and logistics industry plays a pivotal role in the economy of the country.

The 2016/2017 financial year has been very successful for the NBCRFLI. Challenges were faced and overcome and goals were achieved. Measures were put in place to save costs and effective business models were utilised to offer efficient and effective services to all the stakeholders.

The NBCRFLI performed exceptionally well financially over the 2016/17 financial period. The income generated for the year under review was R463 685 250 (last year: R391 806 491) for the Group and R264 493 118 (last year: R208 400 287) for the Main Council, which is 18.35% and 26.92% respectively above the targeted income. Our return on investments (interest earned) was R181 256 551 (last year: R127 208 170,) with the effective rate of return being 10.22% for the current year, up from 8.34% achieved in the previous year. Levies for the year under review were R78 973 216 (last year: R75 627 547), which is an increase of 4.42% from last year.

The increase in revenue is mainly attributed to the increase in industry wages, resulting in increased levy income and contributions received which resulted in increased surplus funds available for investments. One of Council strategic objectives is the maintaining of fiscal stability. The NBCRFLI is currently in the process of exploring other investment opportunities in an attempt to maximise its income revenue stream in line with this strategic objective. In order to achieve this initiative Council established the Investment Committee at the last Annual General Meeting.

The operational expenditure was 13.62% below the budget. Throughout the year, we kept a close watch on our expenditure without compromising on business continuity and quality service delivery.

We focused heavily on implementing cost-saving methods and suspended certain Council’s activities, which was a precautionary measure, until the Council’s main Collective Agreement was extended to nonparties for a period ending in February 2019.

Staff members are also trained and made aware of these measures and initiatives by encouraging them to fully participate in the budgetary process and taking responsibility for their departments and sections. The Council’s financial achievements over the past financial year can also be attributed to the positive returns on Council’s invested monies.

Despite its outstanding financial achievements, the Council is fully aware of the ever-fluctuating economic climate and the major impact this has on its members within the road freight and logistics industry.

The Exemption Committee thus continued to play a key role in reviewing and deliberating on exemptions applications brought by companies that cannot afford to pay the minimum wage due to, amongst others, adverse economic conditions in order to try and avoid potential job losses, while also ensuring that those who can, to compensate their workers according to agreed wages as per the Council Main Collective Agreement. We are committed to continuing with effective service to the road freight and logistics industry, by assisting our members with a range of industry-related offerings such as the enforcement of the collective agreement, dispute resolution, and wellness and funds administration through our offices across the country. Under the year in review, Council appointed a General Manager: Operations. This decision was undertaken to provide an effective and efficient service to Council stakeholders through the services of the Operations Department. Another major milestone achieved during the year in review was the extension of the Council’s Main Collective Agreement period of operation to 2019.

This was an important milestone for Council considering that the Main Collective Agreement was initially extended for a period of six (6) month for the period ending September 2016.

The extension is a vote of confidence in everybody involved in the Council especially Parties to the Council. Through our valuable hard work and dedication, we are providing a service that is of the highest standards to our members, this has shown, amongst others, by the fact that the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) has extended its prestigious accreditation for the period ending February 2019, which is in line with the period of Councils Main Collective Agreement. With the accreditation, we are able to conduct conciliations and arbitrations, including pre-dismissal arbitrations.

For the year under review, it is vital that each of us continue offering impeccable service levels to our stakeholders to ensure our sustainability past 2019. Further, we have to recognise and acknowledge the risks that we face and manage these risks strategically to ensure all stakeholders ultimately benefit from the NBCRFLI.

We continuously work on system enhancements with the main aim of streamlining processes to ensure timeously and correct payment to employees. During the year in review, we proudly introduced the Paycard Solution for all industry employee members. While the Paycard is optional for South African citizens, it is compulsory for all foreign employees. The Paycard issued on behalf of the NBCRFLI is a value-added service where all benefits (sick leave, annual leave, sick bonus and 13th cheque payments) are paid into an employee’s NBCRFLI account which can be accessed through the Paycard.

The introduction of the Paycard was necessary to ensure that employees are paid on time, every time. The Paycard system means that employers no longer have to update the banking details of their employees and reduce the risk of rejected banking details or payments.

In the year in review, another highlight was the success of the year-end payouts, which yielded better results compared to the previous years.

The Council embarked on a compliance initiative, which is a mutual beneficial and co-operative working relationship with the Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA).

The working relationship ensures that the maximum number of unregistered companies falling within the jurisdiction of the Council is detected and registered, to promote awareness of the Council‘s existence. The aim is to create a similar kind of co-operation with all other Ports Authorities.

The IT infrastructure Turnaround Strategy, that started in February 2014 was finalised in the year under review, this was done to ensure our IT infrastructure is governed, managed and optimised in order to minimise our IT risk at an acceptable level.

One of the Councils’ core beliefs is to be transparent and honest in all our offerings, and that is why communication is a key cornerstone in our operations. Our communication platform is divided into two strategies, targeted towards the employee and employer in our industry.

The Council realises that industry employees are integral to the effective functioning of the road freight and logistics industry. We have therefore made a concerted effort to promote our messages using accessible platforms to our industry members.

The results of the research conducted in order to improve our existing communication methods pointed out that The Daily Sun newspaper catered for the majority of our employee members. For the year in review, we initiated in advertising in The Daily Sun newspaper, to highlight specific Council related issues and decisions that may have an impact on them.

The Council website continues to play an instrumental role in assisting our stakeholders to find Council related information that is relevant to them. Moving ahead, we plan on exploiting further existing communication platforms to help us reach more stakeholders than ever before.

This emphasises our commitment to make sure that all members are kept up-to-date with relevant Council information.

The NBCRFLI continued to make use of the mobile app which caters for both employer and employee members who do not have office access at all times. The mobile app, which has similar content to that found on the website, makes it easier for those who are constantly on the road to access Council related information anytime, anywhere.

The Council has also realised the importance that our Call Centre plays in ensuring that the Council is always accessible to its members.

2017 Activities
Future of Trucking Wellness

The main focus for Trucking Wellness in the future will be to target industry employers to allow the project to screen more people at their place of work. The Trucking Wellness Programme is also excited at introducing a new data capturing system for Mobile Wellness Centres, which will enable the project to report immediately to companies, the amount of staff that have gone for testing as well as give a qualitative report as to how certain lifestyle diseases may affect a specific company, assisting them with a developing risk analysis reports.

Future investments for Trucking Wellness grow year on year and through the support from the Foundation of Professional Development, the Trucking Wellness Programme was able to acquire the data capturing system platform free of charge, the development of this system was estimated at R3, 6 million, which is a major cost-saving initiative for the programme. Over the years, the Trucking Wellness Programme has successfully worked together with CareWorks
to deliver sustainable HIV solutions by managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace and by treating HIV-positive people.

The experienced Trucking Wellness counsellors support and educate patients and their families about HIV, and related diseases, provide HIV/AIDS counselling and refer HIV-infected employee members of the to CareWorks for ARV treatment.

The Trucking Wellness Programme strives to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS effectively by:

Encouraging those who test HIV negative to remain HIV negative.
Keeping those who test HIV-positive, healthy and productive for as long as possible.
Positively influencing attitudes to breakdown the stigma surrounding the disease

Directors

Hollander, Louis
D’Almeida, Tony
Ramakgolo, Tabudi
Mothibedi, Solly
Ndlovu, Musa
Jaja, Faith Mbonambi,
Masaccha Kubheka, Sibongile

Message from the MBSA Executive Director

As Daimler Trucks & Buses Southern Africa, we recognise that the transport sector is the heartbeat of the economy. We also acknowledge that the health and wellbeing of truck drivers, is our responsibility and this is the reason we have partnered with the Trucking Wellness Programme an initiative of the National Bargaining Council for the Road Freight and Logistics industry. The Trucking Wellness Programme has operated successfully since 1999, and 2017 marked yet another year of delivering primary healthcare to those employed by the Road Freight and Logistics industry. Through the Trucking Wellness initiative, more than over 1 000 truck drivers have attended driver training in 2017. Also recorded has been the increase in the number of people being tested for HIV from 20 474 in 2016 to 23, 790 in 2017. In our unwavering pursuit to improve trucking wellness, in 2017, we continued with our commitment to partner with the Corridor Empowerment Project (CEP), the fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme, to positively impact the health and wellness of truck drivers across South Africa.

2017 also recorded an increased number of truck drivers accessing healthcare services across the 21 fixed Roadside Wellness Centres. In addition, the year saw the successful implementation of the Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness programme for the benefit of Mercedes-Benz and FUSO Trucks’ key customers wherein all activities implemented through the Trucking Wellness project continued to strengthen relationships with Mercedes-Benz and FUSO Trucks dealers and customers.

Since its establishment, Trucking Wellness has strived to focus on new and innovative interventions to promote stakeholder participation whilst increasing its value to Mercedes-Benz and FUSO Trucks’ customers. To this end, during 2017, four Driver Wellness workshops were facilitated by partnership local dealers for local driver trainers. The workshops provided an ideal opportunity for a range of key stakeholders to network, receive updated health information relevant for truck drivers and reiterated where primary healthcare could be accessed on all major trucking routes and across South Africa’s borders.

Finally, the programme partnered with John Williams Commercial Vehicles in Bloemfontein in their marketing campaign during which truck services and driver wellness took centre stage. A Trucking Wellness mobile unit offered access to health information, condoms and health screening and operated onsite daily at the dealer and at night, the unit was made available at the Ultra Shell located on the N1 motorway. A total of 84 truck drivers participated, reaffirming the need for innovative driver wellness interventions such as these.

The devastating impacts of poor health and wellbeing on truck drivers are well documented. Improving trucking wellness is everyone’s business and I wish to thank stakeholders who have partnered with Mercedes-Benz and FUSO Trucks to support the Trucking Wellness programme, namely the National Bargaining Council Road Freight and Logistics Industry (NBCRFLI) for providing us with the platform to continue our support of the programme.

Sincerely,
Jasper Hafkamp
CEO of Daimler Trucks and Buses Southern Africa
Proprietary Limited

Driver Training

The MBSA driver training facilities at Zwartkop, South Africa, provides participants with vital guidelines and information about economic and safe driving. MBSA also understand that driver training is a vital platform to promote and educate drivers on the importance of making healthier lifestyle choices as well as educate drivers about important aspects of health and wellness.

The education provided at driver training is modelled off the Trucking Wellness programme. The drivers receive material covering information on disease prevention, methods on how to make positive lifestyle choices, health services available through Trucking Wellness and a map of the 21 Trucking Wellness Centre’s located across South Africa.

A key advantage of introducing the programme by MBSA was that the driver training was the perfect platform and environment to induce drivers to basic, accurate and effective information about appropriate health and wellness behaviour. The programme encourages drivers to visit
the Trucking Wellness Centres on a regular basis to have regular check-ups.

The driver training is a key aspect of the truck driver’s career as it trains them to prepare for hazardous situations that may occur on the roads. It also provides the ideal opportunity to make their own health a priority as a key component for the important roles on the road.

Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme

Through their Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme, MBSA has underpinned that the health, wellness and safety of drivers have a far-reaching impact not only on the individuals, companies and the industry but is a springboard for the upliftment of communities through various activities. During the year in review, the Workplace Wellness Policy was translated in Zulu for a Fleet Owner in KZN. This new initiative facilitates increased access and understanding of their related rights and responsibilities within the workplace.

Driver Wellness

Through MBSA the Trucking Wellness project introduced driver wellness workshops during the reported financial year. At these workshops, driver trainers from local Daimler Trucks & Buses customers along with media were invited to attend four successful breakfast workshops on driver wellness. Local dealers hosted the events and thus provided the Dealer Principals with an opportunity to network with their customers. All participants received an electronic copy of the presentation, the driver wellness booklet and the MBSA Fleet Owner Workplace Wellness Programme video. This will allow them to inform and further educate all the drivers at their respective organisations on the importance of driver wellness. It also informs the drivers on all the Trucking Wellness services and where they can be accessed.

Quality Healthcare Services

MBSA understands the important role that the nurses and coordinators play in the Trucking Wellness project. Professional development is critical to providing quality healthcare services to the Road Freight and Logistics Industry. Annual workshops are held to complement the nurses’ and coordinators’ education, this includes assessments of their development needs which ensure alignment with the standards set by the National Department of Health.

Through the workshops, we continuously provide Road Freight and Logistics Industry members with a health service that is equal to healthcare trends, treatments and techniques of international standards.

During the Corridor Empowerment Project annual employee workshop, all roadside Wellness Centre employees were recertified in Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to ensure accurate responses during emergency situations where a patient is non-responsive and not breathing.

The Clinical Quality Improvement Committee facilitated the alignment of the drug list to National Government treatment guidelines, treatment of breathing problems and emergency care. The main aim of Trucking Wellness remains the prevention of chronic diseases followed by patients’ referrals to the most appropriate resources for emergency and long-term treatment and care.

MBSA, Trucking Wellness and John Williams Dealership in Bloemfontein partnered for a special project over a three-day period where health screening and information were offered to truck drivers at John Williams dealership during the day and after-hours at the Ultra Shell truck stop. Trucking Wellness also participated in the MBSA employee volunteerism programme where the project was communicated to MBSA employees through presentations.

New Mobile App

A new mobile app was developed and implemented in 2017 for Trucking Wellness staff. This app is used by mobile wellness centres during the onsite health screening. This creates a real-time and paperless system increasing data reliability and reporting possibilities to fleet owners.

World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day, commemorated annually on the 1st December, was observed at all 21 Trucking Wellness Roadside Centres through HIV information sessions and access to HIV counselling and testing. The theme for 2017 was #let’send it, the themes key message was focused on ending isolation, stigma and HIV transmission. This provided the ideal opportunity to also focus on sex workers and their specific healthcare needs and challenges.

2017 Statistics

Roadside Wellness Centre HIV Counselling and Testing

Combined 2017	Total Tested	Positive	Negative	Inconclusive	Male	Female	Industry Member	Non-Industry Member	Prevalence
January 2017	790	35	755	0	729	61	473	317	4.43%
February 2017	878	48	830	0	816	62	552	326	5.47%
March 2017	694	27	667	0	648	46	410	284	3.89%
April 2017	726	21	705	0	677	49	395	331	2.89%
May 2017	1161	56	1105	0	1101	60	752	409	5.85%
June 2017	1019	42	977	0	943	76	614	405	4.12%
July 2017	1023	39	984	0	944	79	443	580	3.81%
August 2017	1168	45	1123	0	1088	80	457	711	3.85%
September 2017	1236	57	1179	0	1127	109	420	816	4.61%
October 2017	1126	52	1074	0	1063	63	235	891	4.62%
November 2017	1147	40	1107	0	1077	70	214	933	3.49%
December 2017	1429	94	1335	0	1252	177	310	1119	6.58%
TOTAL	12397	556	11841	0	11465	932	5275	7122	4.48%

Roadside Wellness Centre Primary Healthcare

January to December 2017	Roodekop	Imperials	Villiers	Warden	Tugela	Mooirivier	Harrismith	Marianhill	Kokstad	Mthatha	Total
Number clients seen at HTA sites (Headcount)	1431	2408	1990	1435	1370	1860	1559	1450	1418	247	15168
Number of people attended Awareness Trainings at HTA sites	1720	244	4527	1490	1052	1504	628	2335	1632	116	15248
Number of Truck drivers seen at HTA sites	933	986	1531	1150	911	1300	1257	1103	1118	174	10463
Number of Sex Workers seen at HTA sites	1	0	6	145	15	0	27	4	4	0	202
Number of Men who have sex with men (MSM) seen at HTA sites	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Number of Male condoms distributed	24860	1190	79199	78340	19747	50540	76900	91313	23786	480	446355
Number of Female condoms distributed	590	0	14	25	0	479	340	600	325	0	2373
STI treated new episode	38	35	19	35	92	6	156	9	247	26	663
STI partner treated - new	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Male Urethritis Syndrome treated - new episode	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
HIV client pre-test counselled (excluding antenatal) - Female	58	62	65	36	8	35	28	28	20	2	342
HIV client pre-test counselled - Male	783	366	1404	539	185	550	476	1165	550	186	6204
Client screened for TB (post HIV pre-test counselling)	841	428	1469	575	193	585	504	1193	571	188	6547
HIV client tested (excluding antenatal) - Female	58	62	65	36	8	35	28	28	20	2	342
HIV client tested - Male	783	366	1404	539	185	550	476	1165	550	186	6204
HIV test client 15 - 49 years	711	320	1232	465	165	478	447	1010	509	162	5499
HIV test client 50 years and older (excl ANC)	130	108	237	109	28	104	57	181	62	26	1042
HIV test client < 15 years	0	0	0	0	0	5	0	3	0	0	8
HIV test positive - new (excluding antenatal) - Female	1	1	5	4	2	2	3	1	2	1	22
HIV test positive - new - Male	34	5	85	18	17	10	19	47	30	12	277
HIV test positive client 15 - 49 years	28	4	77	19	16	10	18	41	29	12	254
HIV test positive client 50 years and older (excl ANC)	7	2	13	3	3	2	4	7	3	1	45
HIV test positive client < 15 years	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0