Introducing 'DriverWell'
Supporting the people behind the wheel, not just the job they do.
One of the reasons I created HGV Smart Ireland was to make practical information, advice and guidance more accessible to professional drivers, particularly those who are newly qualified or still finding their feet in the industry.
There's an enormous amount to learn when you first start driving an HGV. And even after years of experience, there will always be something you haven't encountered before, a question you need answered or a situation you're not entirely sure how to handle.
My aim is to provide a free resource where drivers can find straightforward information, written in plain English, without having to spend hours searching for it.
But there's something that even the most comprehensive website cannot replace.
Sometimes you just need another human being who understands what you're going through.
Someone with genuine industry experience, who understands the pressures of the job and recognises that there's a person behind the steering wheel.
And that's where people like Peter McKenna, founder of DriverWell, are making a real difference.
Who Is Peter McKenna?
Peter is an experienced professional driver and a passionate advocate for the people working in the transport industry.
Through his work with the Professional Drivers Support Network (PDSN) and, more recently, DriverWell, he has continued to raise awareness of the challenges facing professional drivers and improve the support available to them.
He is also an ambassador for Grassroots Suicide Prevention and Asthma + Lung UK, reflecting his commitment to both mental and physical health.
What I particularly admire about Peter's approach is that he recognises something our industry has been rather slow to acknowledge.
Looking after drivers means looking after people, not simply making sure they're qualified, compliant and available for their next shift.
Peter's commitment to driver wellbeing also comes from personal experience. He has spoken openly about the difficulties he has faced and how those experiences influenced his determination to help others.
That understanding gives his work a particularly valuable perspective.
You can read more about Peter and his story here:
DriverWell – A Different Approach to Transport Wellbeing
In February 2026, Peter launched DriverWell, a dedicated online wellbeing platform developed specifically for people working in transport and logistics.
And it isn't just for HGV drivers.
The platform also recognises the needs of transport managers, planners, dispatchers, mechanics, warehouse workers and the many other people who keep our industry moving.
Because while driving can be an isolating occupation, the pressures of transport don't stop when someone steps out of the cab.
DriverWell brings together practical wellbeing resources, educational information, self-reflection tools and routes to additional support.
Importantly, individual wellbeing support is free for life.
There are separate paid services for businesses, but drivers and other transport workers can access the core individual wellbeing resources without paying a subscription.
It's an ambitious project, and one that addresses a genuine need within the industry.
Website: https://driverwell.co.uk/
Driver Mental Health – One of the Most Important Conversations We Need to Have
This is an area of Peter's work that I feel deserves particular recognition.
Professional driving can be a wonderful career. I love it myself, and I know many other drivers who feel exactly the same.
But that doesn't mean it comes without challenges.
Long hours, isolation, disrupted sleep, difficult working conditions and time away from family can all take their toll.
Then there are the pressures that aren't always obvious to people outside the industry.
The responsibility of operating a large vehicle, demanding schedules, difficult customers, traffic, poor facilities and the occasional feeling that absolutely everything is your problem to solve.
And sometimes life outside work is difficult too.
Drivers don't leave their personal worries behind when they climb into the cab.
Historically, our industry hasn't always been particularly good at discussing mental health.
There's still a tendency in some workplaces to expect people to put their heads down, get on with things and avoid admitting when they're struggling.
But being a competent, experienced professional driver doesn't make someone immune to anxiety, depression, grief, burnout or other mental health difficulties.
You can be very good at your job and still need support.
DriverWell is helping to make those conversations easier.
Its resources cover subjects including stress, burnout, loneliness, trauma, recognising warning signs and knowing when and where to seek help.
There are also routes to specialist support services for people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Peter's involvement with Grassroots Suicide Prevention is particularly significant, bringing additional awareness to an area where early conversations and appropriate intervention can be enormously important.
For me, this is one of the most valuable aspects of DriverWell.
Not every driver will need mental health support.
But every driver should know where to find it if they do.
The DriverWell Platform – Practical Support in One Place
What makes DriverWell particularly interesting is that it goes beyond simply providing articles about mental health.
The platform includes several tools designed around the realities of working in transport.
Mood Check-ins and Fatigue Awareness
Users can record how they're feeling and keep a private log of their self-reported tiredness.
The idea is to encourage people to recognise patterns in their own wellbeing and consider whether they need additional support.
These are personal reflection tools, not medical assessments or official fitness-to-drive checks.
RoadMate AI
DriverWell also offers RoadMate, an AI-based wellbeing conversation tool.
It provides a space for general wellbeing reflection, helping users think through concerns and find appropriate support resources.
It isn't a replacement for a trained mental health professional, but it offers another way for someone to begin exploring an issue.
Peer Support
DriverWell includes an online peer-support community where people working in transport can connect and share experiences.
Sometimes knowing that somebody else has encountered the same problem can make an enormous difference.
Everyday Wellbeing
The platform also provides practical guidance on:
Sleep, fatigue and shift work.
Nutrition, hydration and eating well on the road.
Physical health, movement and cab ergonomics.
Stress management and relaxation.
Difficult workplace conversations.
Financial worries and workplace pressures.
Finding appropriate professional support.
These are subjects that affect drivers every day, but which can easily get overlooked in an industry primarily focused on vehicles, deliveries and compliance.
The resources can be accessed through a web browser, making them available without needing to install a separate app.
DriverWell Practical Wellbeing Centre:
Support Following Serious Accidents and Traumatic Incidents
Another part of DriverWell that particularly caught my attention is its dedicated Post-Incident and Trauma Support section.
This addresses something that can be overlooked in the transport industry.
When a driver is involved in a serious collision, particularly one involving injury or loss of life, there are procedures to follow.
The emergency services attend, statements are taken, investigations begin, and the operator deals with the necessary reporting and paperwork.
But what happens to the driver afterwards?
Even when a driver has done absolutely nothing wrong, being involved in a serious incident can have a lasting psychological impact.
DriverWell provides information about possible trauma responses, the recovery process, when professional help may be appropriate and where to find specialist support.
It also includes guidance for employers on their responsibilities towards staff following traumatic incidents.
I think this is an especially valuable resource.
The paperwork might be completed in a few days. The impact on the person involved can last considerably longer.
Post-Incident and Trauma Support:
Independent Recognition – ORCHA Assured
In September 2026, DriverWell achieved ORCHA Assured (Bronze) status, following an assessment covering clinical assurance, data privacy and accessibility.
This is an important milestone for a platform dealing with something as personal as mental health and wellbeing.
It's one thing to create a resource with good intentions. Having the platform assessed against independent assurance criteria is another important step in its development.
The recognition reflects Peter's commitment to building a responsible, credible wellbeing resource for the transport industry.
It also demonstrates how far DriverWell has developed in a relatively short period.
For drivers considering using an online wellbeing platform, knowing that attention is being given to issues such as privacy, accessibility and appropriate safeguards is particularly important.
Helping Drivers Find Safer Places to Stop – SafePark
Another recent development is DriverWell's partnership with SafePark, aimed at helping professional drivers find parking support and plan safer rest stops.
And this is something that will resonate with anyone who has spent time driving an HGV.
Finding somewhere suitable to park isn't always straightforward, particularly when driving hours are running short or you're working somewhere unfamiliar.
Then there's the question of security, facilities, access and whether the place you've found is somewhere you can actually get a decent rest.
These aren't minor inconveniences.
Poor parking provision, concerns about vehicle security and inadequate facilities can all contribute to stress and fatigue.
The partnership with SafePark recognises that driver wellbeing extends beyond mental health awareness.
It also involves addressing the practical circumstances that affect drivers throughout their working day.
Having somewhere safe and suitable to stop, rest and recover is an important part of looking after the person behind the wheel.
And I think it's encouraging to see wellbeing initiatives recognising that these everyday challenges matter too.
Supporting Transport Operators and Managers
DriverWell also recognises that improving driver wellbeing isn't solely the responsibility of individual drivers.
Employers have an important role to play.
Through its Fleet Wellbeing Suite, DriverWell offers resources to help operators develop a more structured approach to staff wellbeing.
These include toolbox talks, workplace wellbeing guidance and facilities for recording actions taken to support employees.
The platform also provides resources aligned with the Road Haulage Association's Wellbeing Charter.
Importantly, individual workers' private wellbeing records are not made available to their employers.
The fleet reporting system is designed around aggregated information, with privacy safeguards.
Some fleet services are free, while additional business features are available through paid arrangements.
For smaller operators in particular, having access to practical resources can be helpful when trying to improve workplace culture without having a dedicated HR or occupational health department.
And as a small operator myself, I appreciate the value of initiatives that make these subjects easier to approach.
Fleet Wellbeing Suite:
Why I'm Highlighting DriverWell on HGV Smart Ireland
I created HGV Smart Ireland because I believe useful information should be accessible to the people who need it.
I'm a professional driver and a transport manager, and I know how much there is to learn in this industry.
But I also know that information alone isn't always enough.
You can understand every tachograph symbol, know your driving hours inside out and be perfectly capable of reversing an artic into a space that looks approximately three inches wider than the trailer.
That doesn't mean you're immune to stress, exhaustion, loneliness or difficulties in your personal life.
And it certainly doesn't mean you should have to deal with those things alone.
HGV Smart Ireland focuses primarily on practical driving knowledge, safety, compliance and helping drivers understand the job.
DriverWell approaches the industry from another equally important direction: the health, wellbeing and personal support of the people doing that job.
They're different resources, but I believe they share a common objective.
Making the transport industry a better, safer and more supportive place to work.
I have enormous respect for Peter and the work he is doing.
His commitment to driver advocacy and mental health, together with the development of DriverWell and its growing range of resources, deserves recognition.
And I think it's important that drivers know these resources exist.
Where to Find DriverWell
DriverWell – Wellbeing Support for the Transport Industry
Main website:https://driverwell.co.uk/
About Peter McKenna:https://driverwell.co.uk/about-peter
Practical Wellbeing Centre:https://driverwell.co.uk/wellness
Post-Incident and Trauma Support:https://driverwell.co.uk/post-incident-support
Educational Resources:https://driverwell.co.uk/learn
Fleet Wellbeing Suite:https://driverwell.co.uk/fleet-pricing
DriverWell is UK-based, so some legal, healthcare and specialist support information is specific to the UK. Drivers in Ireland should check that any services or guidance are applicable to their circumstances.
Final Thoughts
We spend an enormous amount of time in transport talking about looking after our vehicles.
Preventative maintenance, inspections, servicing, defects, tyre pressures and roadworthiness.
And rightly so.
But sometimes I wonder whether we give the same attention to the people operating them.
A lorry can be repaired, serviced or replaced.
People aren't quite so straightforward.
We need to become better at recognising when someone is struggling, creating workplaces where people feel comfortable speaking up and making sure appropriate support is available.
Peter McKenna is doing important work in this area, and I'm delighted to highlight DriverWell as a resource worth knowing about.
Because ultimately, looking after the person behind the wheel is every bit as important as looking after the vehicle they're driving.
And sometimes, simply knowing where to find help can make all the difference.
HGV Smart Ireland is an independent, free information resource for professional drivers. This article highlights DriverWell as an external resource. DriverWell provides general wellbeing information, self-reflection tools and routes to further support; it is not a clinical or emergency service.
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