Life on the Road has Its Ups and Downs

When I first thought about becoming a professional truck driver, the call of the open road and the sound of my wallet stretching with all the cash I would be making was mostly all I could imagine. I knew I would be away from home for days at a time, and that I would probably gain some weight, but the thought of seeing the country and getting paid to do so was quite enticing. 

If I knew then what I know now, I would make the same decision. The lessons I learned along the way caused me to doubt my thought processes at times, but in the end, I regret not changing careers sooner.  Life on the road is not without its ups and downs. The highs far outweigh the lows, however, and that is why many of us still love the life of the Over the Road truck driver.

The Ups

First of all, let's talk about the view from our "office" window. Whether you are on congested highways or 2-lane country roads, the scenery is always changing. From the majesty of the Rockies to the skyscrapers tickling the puffy clouds in the blue sky over our major cities, the sights can be breathtaking. Even if you travel the same roads every day, the scenery is different day to day, hour to hour. From wildlife on deserted roads to fireworks lighting the night sky on the 4th of July from all directions, it can be pretty spectacular. You won't see those things from behind a desk, from a cubicle in the center of an office floor. 

Secondly, there is a certain freedom we have. Yes, there are regulations to be adhered to. Yes, there are customers to keep happy.  If you are a company driver there are driver managers to keep informed, but mostly we are left to ourselves and our thoughts. We can listen to our favorite music or podcasts. We can drive in silence and ponder great life-changing questions like "I wonder if there are any Taco Tuesday deals at 7 am"?  We can keep the cab of our trucks at whatever temperature we desire. We can hold conversations with ourselves. Let's face it, we have it pretty good most of the day.

Thirdly, we get to meet a lot of good people.  I still believe most people are good and as professional truck drivers, we have the ability to brighten someone's day just by being friendly and smiling.  Maybe just by saying hi, or buying a stranger a cup of coffee, we can change a strangers outlook on their day. Many times, a stranger can have the same effect on us by simply doing the same things.  Doesn't the saying go "A stranger is just a friend we haven't met yet"? 

The Downs

It isn't all sunshine, lollipops, and unicorns though. There are some downers, and they can weigh pretty heavily on us.

Being away from family is tough, especially when there is a crisis at home.  Whether it be a major illness, or a broken down vehicle, we are helpless in our ability to help them, even though that is all we want to do at that time.  Many times we feel helpless and we watch family members suffer through whatever they are going through, unable to lend anything other than kind words and an empathetic ear.  There is no magic button we can punch to make it better, and let's face it, that stinks.

Another downer is the toll life on the road takes on professional truck drivers' health.  Healthy food choices, while gaining popularity, are still hard to find at truck stops sometimes. Eating out every night is costly and eating healthier even costlier.  Having a truck equipped with a fridge helps, but there is only so much room in those. It's easier and quicker to grab a burrito from under a heat lamp than to sit there and prepare a meal.   After a long day sometimes we just want to grab a bite and go to bed. Not exactly a healthy decision, but one many of us make every day. Finding time to exercise is also tough to do and takes dedication.

Lastly, let's circle back to one of the Ups...People. We deal with our share of disrespectful dock workers, office personnel, 4-wheelers, and other truckers. We can run into a hundred pleasant people and one jerk and we will remember, and complain about, the jerk.  It is human nature. Shaking off an encounter with a person whose only goal is to make you miserable (it isn't really, but sometimes it feels that way, right?) is hard to do, and usually sticks with you all day. It can affect the way you drive and the way you deal with other people.  

In the end, I think the ups far outweigh the downs.  Life on the road is hard. Knowing that we are literally keeping our country moving, providing for our families makes the downs a little easier to tolerate.  Seeing an eagle taking flight, or watching the sunset over the Pacific as we drive down I-5 helps take the sting out too. So did that cup of coffee a stranger bought me this morning.  Thanks, man, the next one is on me.