MIAMI — UrgentCareTravel (UCT), the medical cinic network at Pilot Flying J, has opened three new medical clinics focused on providing fleets and professional drivers medical services. With the addition of new medical clinics in Baytown, Texas, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and West Memphis, Arkansas, all at Flying J Travel Centers, UrgentCareTravel now has nine medical clinics in its network.
UrgentCareTravel plans to add seven more clinics in 2018, with a growing clinic network over the next few years.
“Pilot Flying J is committed to making a better day for professional drivers,” said Ken Parent, president of Pilot Flying J. “This partnership with UrgentCareTravel allows us to provide on-site care as an additional service aimed at making life on the road better for drivers.”
Parent said UrgentCareTravel clinics address today’s critical challenges in the trucking industry:
- Professional drivers do not have convenient access to medical clinics where they can park their truck. The trucking industry is estimated lose hundreds of millions of dollars in driver productivity per year as drivers spend an additional four to six hours off the road each time they need a medical service.
- Professional drivers have health challenges. According to UrgentCareTravel’s analysis of over 15,000 Department of Transportation physicals performed at its clinics, 50 percent of drivers have one or more serious medical conditions, including diabetes, hypertension, obesity and high cholesterol, which in turn, limit their commercial drivers license to one year or less.
- Most professional drivers today have no health insurance or health insurance with high deductibles and premiums. Since the required ongoing care of their pre-existing conditions are paid out of pocket, drivers visit clinics less often, their conditions worsen and they eventually leave the workforce.
- Driver health is a major contributor to the high turnover rate in the industry. Based on UrgentCareTravel discussions with fleets, with industry turnover rates upwards of 100 percent, company profitability decreases as the average recruiting cost is $5,000 per driver.
“Our network of medical clinics at Pilot Flying J fills a critical need in the trucking industry – affordable and convenient healthcare,” said Siva Suresh, CEO of UrgentCareTravel. “We value our relationship with Pilot Flying J which enables us to address the key healthcare needs of professional drivers to help them stay healthy and on the road.”
With a focus on convenience and affordability, UrgentCareTravel is the only medical clinic network focused on truck driver health, Parent said.
For additional information about UrgentCareTravel’s health network, locations and services, please visit the website at www.UrgentCareTravel.com.
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, Pilot Flying J has more than 750 retail locations in 44 states, Roadside assistance available at over 145 locations nationwide and growing as part of its Truck Care program, 44 Goodyear Commercial Tire and Service Centers, and 34 Boss Shops. For more information, visit www.pilotflyingj.com.
The Trucker News Staff produces engaging content for not only TheTrucker.com, but also The Trucker Newspaper, which has been serving the trucking industry for more than 30 years. With a focus on drivers, the Trucker News Staff aims to provide relevant, objective content pertaining to the trucking segment of the transportation industry. The Trucker News Staff is based in Little Rock, Arkansas.
