U.S. Xpress Enterprises has launched a Healthy Heart campaign as part of its annual Highway To Health wellness program. Established in 2009, the Highway To Health wellness program is a comprehensive effort focused on improving the health and wellbeing of the company’s work force, which includes more than 7,000 over-the-road drivers. Those who participate in the Highway To Health program and meet their goals can win prizes and earn cash.
“Our wellness program really picked up a great deal of momentum in the past year,” says Mary Augustino, U.S. Xpress wellness coordinator. “We have hundreds of drivers and office staff who are actively engaged in the Highway To Health program. Above all, our main goal is to improve the health of those who work at U.S. Xpress so that they have an increased quality of life. As part of that effort, we are looking to grow participation in the program by 10 percent this year.”
The U.S. Xpress Highway To Health program encourages preventive health screenings, healthy eating habits and regular exercise to increase quality of life and reduce healthcare costs for employees. “The culture at U.S. Xpress is very similar to a large family, and when you are family, you care about one another’s health,” says Max Fuller, co-chairman and chief executive officer of the Chattanooga, Tenn.-based company. “All of our employees – whether they are on the road or in the office – are critical to the success of U.S. Xpress. That is why we have made, and will continue to make, an investment in their health.”
To keep the program fresh and exciting, each month will focus on a different health topic.
During the month of February, the Highway To Health program is focusing on heart health. Drivers and office staff have been encouraged to sign a heart health pledge that commits individuals to live a healthy lifestyle that reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke. The guidelines of the pledge include: visiting a primary care physician for regular check-ups; taking steps to quit smoking (if the person smokes); having blood pressure, blood cholesterol and glucose checked during the year; calculating BMI and taking steps to reduce it if unhealthy; and taking medications regularly as they are prescribed.
“Since we announced the Health Heart campaign, we’ve had a good response,” Augustino says. “It has been very gratifying to see our people step up and make the commitment to improve their heart health.”
