A number of people are attracted to the trucking industry to enjoy the freedom of being alone and enjoying adventures on the road. The appeal of seeing new places and beautiful views highly outweigh sitting at a desk with a boss breathing down your neck all day.
However, sometimes drivers can miscalculate how much time they will actually be spending alone in their rig. When traveling through remote areas they can go for days without having a friendly conversation with someone.
Plus, some days homesickness and missing your loved ones can really set in, but this should not steer you away from a career in trucking. There are ways to battle unforgiving solitude on the road.
Fighting Solitude
1. Break Up The Silence
Don’t just ride for miles listening to the sounds your truck makes as it barrels down the road. Fill your cab with entertaining noises. Turn your CB on to listen to what other truckers are talking about and join in on the conversation.
You could also invest in a satellite radio subscription so you don’t have to keep switching to different local stations all day. This way you can find a station you like and stick with it. There are also a number of trucking podcasts you can listen to on a weekly basis that actually discuss what’s happening in the industry.
If you download a music app like Pandora or Spotify you can build your own playlist. Your friends and loved ones can also make custom playlists and send them to you.
2. Talk To Meaningful People
You will run into a lot of people on a daily basis while delivering and picking up loads, but the guys at the warehouse are there to get the job done. They don’t necessarily want to shoot the breeze and might be a little short, but don’t take it personally.
Talk to the people who matter in your life. Give your friends and family a call back at home or video chat with them to see their faces. Seeing your kid’s smile will really turn your day around.
There are also a number of online forums to connect with fellow truckers online. Once you make friends with a fellow driver then you will have a new friend for life. You guys will talk about the industry and may even spot each other around different areas of the country.
3. Bring A Pet Or Friend On The Road
Nothing livens up your rig like a four-legged pal, even though some truckers also swear that having birds or snakes on the road are excellent companions. Just be sure to put some thought into what type of pet you want to bring and be prepared for them. For example, cats will need a secure litter box, and puppies will go through their teething phase no matter where they are.
A majority of pets that work well on the road include smaller and lazier dog breeds who don’t require frequent stops. Also, older cats who like to chill do well. However, we’ve seen all sorts of animals enjoy the trucker life.
If your spouse has some time off work or your kids have a school vacation bring them along for a trucking adventure. They will love riding in your big rig and seeing what the trucker life is like. For kids especially, the trucking industry can be really exciting.
4. Make Your Cab Feel Like Home
Why not take the time to make your cab feel like a mini home to enjoy while you’re away? Take your favorite blanket or pillow with you, or hang up posters for your favorite sports team. You can also bring your favorite coffee mugs.
Go ahead and get a TV so you can watch your favorite Netflix shows or movies. You can also get a gaming console to enjoy your favorite video games and even play them online with your friends and kids.
Why not bring your comfort food too? Outfit your rig with a mini fridge, hot plate, microwave, and maybe even a crockpot to cook your favorite meals. You could also cook a few of your favorite meals before your trip and bring them with you to enjoy later.
Enjoy The Road
Nothing beats getting away from people to enjoy the tranquility of being alone, but sometimes loneliness can catch up with you. You could be on the road for weeks at a time and sometimes a call
from a shipper could cut your time at home short. However, when this happens it’s easy to beat unforgiving solitude by making a little effort to connect with your loved ones and make your cab feel like home.
Tell us how you beat the solitude of the road in the comment section below and visit ExpressTruckTax.com for more trucking blogs.