Safety is imbedded in the ways in which Followmont Transport operates. It’s a by-product of good business practices rather than a standalone function. Safety, in simple terms, is how Followmont Transport operates every day.
The business’ family values have long guided both internal and external outcomes, with service and care sitting as the bookends which shape how Followmont Transport supports its customers, people and communities. Followmont Transport Chief People Officer, Melissa Strong, says care isn’t just a word on the whiteboard. Instead, it’s a factor which heavily influences how the business designs its programs and supports its people.
“When our team is healthy and fit for work, it directly impacts the safety of the communities they interact with every day,” she explains. “That’s a responsibility we take seriously.”
Followmont Transport has just launched its new Fit for Life and Work program in line with this commitment. The scheme is a structured, proactive framework which was designed to support employee health, fitness for work and long-term wellbeing.
The program brings consistent medical screening, early intervention and practical wellbeing support together to help employees better understand and manage their health. From there, it strengthens safety outcomes across the business and on the road.
Rather than focusing solely on compliance, the framework takes a holistic approach to wellbeing by addressing physical health, mental wellbeing and functional fitness for work. A key element of it is the Fit for Life Driver Campaign – Driving Health, Driving Success which focuses on common health conditions that can impact driving safety. This includes diabetes, sleep apnoea and weight management.
Melissa says the program is an initiative grounded in care, prevention and longevity.
“There’s a gap in how driver health is managed across the industry, and with an ageing workforce, more people want to work longer if they choose,” she says. “We want to help our people do that safely, while also supporting balance outside of work so they can fund their retirement and enjoy life beyond the job.”
Followmont Transport’s Fit for Life and Work program was developed in response to industry-wide challenges including an ageing transport workforce, ongoing skills shortages and inconsistencies in how medical standards are applied. Melissa says it will improve overall health and fitness across the workforce by identifying risk factors early and enabling more targeted support. This will be achieved through company-funded medical assessments, targeted health campaigns and access to wellbeing resources.
“We want to support the whole person – not just compliance,” she says. “This program helps safeguard against potential gaps in medical screening while giving our people confidence and support to manage their health and continue working safely for longer if they choose.
“Right now, we can talk about age, experience and licence types. But gaining a clearer picture of workforce health allows us to be far more deliberate in the programs and campaigns we put in place, so they genuinely support the individual.”
Employees will have access to a range of health options and guidance, helping reduce the fear often associated with medical checks. This approach is designed to be proactive and supportive, rather than reactive.
“The process can feel daunting for many people,” Melissa explains. “Not just with the check-up, but what comes after.
“This program helps take away that uncertainty by supporting people through access, time and cost, and helping them understand how to manage any issues that arise. We want to support our people so they can be their best selves, both at work and at home. That’s central to who we are.”
The program strengthens Followmont Transport’s overall safety performance by identifying potential concerns early. Melissa claims this will give the family business a clearer picture of its workforce from an audit, safety and compliance perspective while helping individuals better understand their own capabilities and resilience.
She also notes that while fatigue rules are prescriptive, they don’t always address broader health factors.
“Fatigue rules tell you what you can do, they don’t manage fatigue,” Melissa says. “This program supports overall fitness for work, including fatigue, which directly impacts how safely someone performs their role day to day.”
Around this program, Followmont Transport supports safety through a comprehensive range of initiatives led by its safety, learning and development and compliance teams. This includes licence upgrades, driver assessments, leadership programs, depot-based safety training, Chain of Responsibility education, Dangerous Goods awareness, load restraint, pre-starts and fault reporting.
Regular depot safety audits and online e-learning modules are also delivered throughout the year. Additionally, Followmont Transport runs Safety Leadership Programs and wellbeing initiatives aligned with key health awareness campaigns.
“We recognise health and wellbeing concerns can affect anyone,” Melissa says. “Early awareness and action support safer outcomes for both our people and the communities they interact with.”
The company also conducts quarterly safety pulse surveys to gather feedback directly from employees on the ground. These surveys provide a regular check-in on how safety initiatives are working in practice, encourage open communication and help identify opportunities for improvement based on real-world experience.
Vehicles are fitted with fatigue management systems and advanced telematics, and the business continues to invest in fleet and equipment with safety-focused features to support safe, consistent performance across the network.
“We have a responsibility to the communities we interact with every day,” Melissa explains. “Ensuring our people are fit for work and performing their role safely is critical, particularly when they’re sharing the road with the general public.”
Australia’s largest supply chain and logistics trade show, MegaTrans, is returning in 2026.
Scheduled to take place from 16-17 September 2026 at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre, MegaTrans 2026 will once again shine a spotlight on the Sustainable Supply Chain of the Future – attracting key players across freight, logistics, warehouse operations, transport technology, infrastructure and more.
To participate, visit www.megatrans.com.au/get-involved/.
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