Garmin is steering toward a new category with its fitness smartwatches: professional truck drivers.
Unlike other smartwatches on the market, Garmin's Instinct 2 – dezl Edition is specifically tailored for truck drivers to address their needs and lifestyle. In 2019, more than 10 million Americans had commercial driver's licenses, according to trade association the American Trucking Associations.
"In the trucking space, (health and wellness) has really started to become a topic," Caleb Herbst, vice president of Garmin's automotive segment, said. "These drivers are required to be in the cab in a sedentary nature for hours on end, and they have limited opportunities to focus on things like health and wellness. But it doesn't mean they don't care about it, and it doesn't mean it's not a real issue for the industry."
Health risks
Compared with other U.S. workers, truck drivers are twice as likely to be obese, which can increase the risk for health problems such as heart disease, diabetes and hypertension, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a CDC survey, three out of four truck drivers said they don't get the recommended amount of physical activity.
"For me, it gets back to hearing that problem that we could help solve for these customers. We kept hearing the theme of this struggle with maintaining a healthy lifestyle on the road," he said. "As soon as we start to hear that enough times, it doesn't take long before you go, 'Oh, my goodness, I think we have a way to support that.'"
More trucking companies are starting to focus on their employees' health and wellness. Last year, Koch Trucking Inc. partnered with Rolling Strong, a provider of health and wellness programs for transportation companies and their drivers. Rolling Strong has helped companies launch health and wellness competitions, and its app includes links to find healthy meals on the road and access to a nationwide network of health-related services. Canada-based Sutco Transportation Specialists provides a health-focused newsletter and hosts weight loss challenges with prizes for its drivers.
Garmin's new smartwatch could easily be offered by transportation companies as an employee perk.
Expanding the lineup
Garmin already has a pulse on truck drivers through its line of GPS truck navigators that offer features such as alerts for upcoming steep grades, sharp curves and weigh stations.. Millions of those navigation systems are on the road, Herbst said.
The new smartwatch pairs with Garmin's truck navigators and offers physical activities for an on-the-road lifestyle. Guided physical activities can be as short as 5, 10 or 15 minutes, and truckers can follow along with Garmin's smartphone app. Users also can choose the intensity level of the workout.
"We looked for an opportunity to say, 'Let's give them short, impactful things they can do in the space that they are in,'" he said.
In addition to health metrics like hydration and stress tracking, the smartwatch keeps drivers in mind with a rugged design and longer battery life – up to 28 days. Another feature enables contactless payments and allows drivers to view and redeem reward point balances and member loyalty programs at leading travel plazas like Love's Travel Stops and Pilot Flying J Travel Centers. The smartwatch also has daily break timers to coincide with planned stops and notifies drivers of upcoming weigh stations and which ones they can bypass.
"It couples convenience with supporting their healthy lifestyle in a way that just integrates seamlessly into their daily life," Herbst said.
