CVSA COMMITTEE AND PROGRAM NEWS
The Alertness Equation:
How Positive Relationships Add Up By Rodolfo Giacoman, Fatigue Management Specialist, Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance
According to a meta-analysis of 148 studies on mortality as it relates to social relationships, with combined data from 308,849 individuals, subjects with relatively strong social relationships had a 50% higher rate of survival compared to those with few or weaker social relationships. Another meta-analysis by the same authors found that ongoing loneliness raises a person’s odds of death by 26% in any given year. According to the Harvard Study of Adult Development, people who maintain warm relationships at age 50 are the most likely to live beyond age 65. The study also found these relationships to be the single most important predictor of satisfaction at age 65. This suggests that positive relationships not only contribute to our physical health but also to our mental and emotional well-being. That is why CVSA conducted a Nurturing Positive Relationships webinar in July, as part of the North American Fatigue Management Program (NAFMP) Driver Series. The series covers the five keys to wellness: 1. Sleep hygiene 2. Exercise 3. Nutrition 4. Mindfulness 5. Positive relationships
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For the sleep hygiene webinar, our featured speaker was Tom DiSalvi, vice chairman of the National Sleep Foundation board of directors, and Schneider National’s vice president of safety, driver training and compliance. For the webinar on exercise, our featured speaker was Dr. Mark Manera, founder and chief executive officer of Supply Chain Fitness. For the nutrition webinar, instead of having a featured speaker, we took a virtual tour through truck-stop restaurant menus and a supermarket. For the mindfulness webinar, our featured speaker was Emily Moorhead, 200-hour certified yoga teacher and CVSA writer-editor. For the webinar on positive relationships, we were fortunate to have a guest who excels at nurturing interpersonal connections: Ruth McDonough, specialized cargo driver at Hittman Transport Services and CVSA 2022 International Driver Excellence Award winner. Right off the bat, McDonough taught us a lesson. When we invited her to do the webinar remotely — as we usually do — she replied, “You want to talk about nurturing personal relationships? Then let’s do it face to face.” She drove more than six hours from her home in Tennessee to our headquarters in Washington, D.C., where we had a delightful conversation and a wonderful visit. Read on for a summary of our discussion, and be sure to view the webinar at www.nafmp.org to hear from McDonough herself.
What are positive relationships? Positive relationships are characterized by mutual respect, trust, support and cooperation. Both parties feel valued, understood and appreciated. They involve people who communicate effectively, listen attentively to each other’s needs and concerns, and strive to find common ground and resolve conflicts in a constructive manner.
How do positive relationships add up for commercial drivers? I mproved health: Individuals with
strong social connections and supportive relationships tend to have lower risks of developing chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes. They also have lower rates of depression, anxiety and other mental health disorders. R educed stress: Positive relationships can
serve as stress regulators, helping drivers cope with the challenges of their job. Social support can also buffer the effects of stress, reducing the risk of stress-related negative health outcomes and improving mental health. E nhanced alertness: When drivers feel
supported and valued, they are more likely to be mentally alert and focused. This can lead to improved safety and performance on the road.
