Two years ago, the New Zealand Trucking Association launched a bold initiative to lift health, safety and wellbeing standards across the transport and logistics sector. After a year of development, collaboration and peer review, the HARMfree Transport & Logistics Programme went live. Since then, it has become one of the most practical and accessible health and safety resources the industry has ever had.

Independently evaluated, widely embraced and entirely free to join, HARMfree has proven that when resources are clear, relevant and easy to use, operators don’t just take notice, they take action.

From nothing to something that works

Before HARMfree, health and safety resources for the transport and logistics sector were scattered across multiple agency websites, often difficult to locate and, in some cases, outdated. There was no single, industry owned programme that operators could rely on as practical, consistent and fit for purpose.

HARMfree changed that. Developed in close collaboration with operators, peer-reviewed by industry and guided by health and safety experts, the programme brought together the best available resources, standard operating procedures, and templates in one place. Importantly, it stripped away jargon, ensuring materials could be understood and applied by busy operators in the real world.

Independent evaluation, strong results

HARMfree has now been independently evaluated with impressive results:

• 2 out of 5 stars average rating for resources and assessments
• 95% said the programme was extremely easy to follow and understand
• 85% reported positive changes in workplace health, safety and wellbeing culture.

The strongest impacts were seen in two key areas: workplace culture and work design. Operators reported more supportive environments where staff felt encouraged to speak up, as well as more structured systems for scheduling, fatigue management and safety planning.

Built with and for the industry

HARMfree was not something imposed on operators, but built alongside them. The NZ Trucking Association worked with health and safety champions, operators, and industry advisors, to peer-review resources, test ideas and refine the programme’s direction.

This collaborative approach would not have been possible without the HARMfree partners who generously donated their time and expertise to help shape the programme. Their input ensured HARMfree reflects the real-world needs of all businesses.

Funding and the road ahead

The initial development and rollout of HARMfree were supported by ACC through a Workplace Injury Prevention funding round, which gave the programme the momentum to establish itself and prove its value. That funding has now ended.

In a move to secure its future, the NZ Trucking Association has gifted all intellectual property and programme resources to the newly formed Transport Well Charitable Trust. This step ensures the programme remains protected, industry-led and freely accessible.

Independent evaluation has recommended that HARMfree continue to expand its library of resources and provide more guidance to affect positive behaviour change, building on its strong foundation. To make this happen, the industry must now step up to support and sustain the programme.

Why free matters

One of HARMfree’s greatest strengths is that it is, and must remain, free to access. By removing cost as a barrier, the programme has reached operators who might otherwise never have engaged with health and safety resources. Whether running a single truck or managing a national fleet, every operator has equal access to tools that improve safety, wellbeing, and workplace culture.

A call to the industry

HARMfree belongs to the transport and logistics sector and is now in the ownership of the Transport Well Charitable Trust. It has been proven that when the industry collaborates, it can create something practical, effective, and transformative. But the programme’s future depends on continued support.

Every contribution, large or small, is tax-deductible and goes directly toward maintaining and growing this vital initiative. By pledging your support, you are not just funding resources, you are helping secure a trusted, evidence-based programme that makes workplaces safer and healthier.

You can pledge your support today at transportwell.nz.

Conclusion

Two years on, HARMfree Transport & Logistics has already achieved what many thought impossible: creating a free, easy-to-use programme that operators value, trust and apply in their daily operations. It has shifted workplace culture, strengthened safety systems, and reached thousands across New Zealand.

The challenge now is to keep this momentum going. With continued industry backing, HARMfree can expand its reach, build on its successes, and remain a pivotal initiative to improve safety and wellbeing in transport and logistics. For an industry that keeps New Zealand moving, HARMfree is helping ensure its people are supported, protected, and set up to thrive.

The team at NZ Trucking Association would like to acknowledge our partners, including Success Formula, Autosense, National Road Carriers, Fit for Duty and everyone who participated in the project teams and steering groups. Thank you.