A Trucker's Life Part 13

The American truck driver has a lot to deal with; miles away from home and family and dealing with traffic, weather, load schedules, health problems, lack of sleep, poor diet, stress, regulations, DOT, logbook, road congestion, road construction, the general public’s attitude toward truckers. Many of us don’t truly understand the daily life of a trucker. The lack of understanding has, for many years, created a very poor and inaccurate stigma against truckers. But truckers deserve our respect.

Besides what is mentioned above they also have to reconcile themselves with sacrificing their family time to deliver goods all over the country. Sacrifices that cause many missed events; missed first steps, missed birthdays, proms, first dates, ball games, school plays, first tooth and first words, anniversaries and holidays.

Truckers start out with the right attitude, ready to begin their career in long-haul trucking, only later to be discouraged by all those things that attempt to destroy their self-esteem and self-respect.  While they began their career with their heads held high and full of enthusiasm, years of trucking and being treated like second-hand citizens have sometimes taken their toll.

Most will agree that professional truck driving is an unappreciated job, but one must understand that the general public has no comprehension of a trucker’s lifestyle and that the largest section of the general public would crumble under such a job filled with so many obstacles and personal attacks.

Truck drivers keep America moving and provide us with the comforts of life that we have come to expect and sometimes take for granted.  Professional truck drivers are the backbone of this country more than they realize.

Our message to all truckers: you are valuable . . . you are essential . . . you are skilled . . . you are significant.