What are the biggest emotional obstacles as a long haul trucker?

by Joy
(Seattle, WA)

Is it isolation and loneliness? Is it the stress that is inherent in this profession? If so, what are the most stressful aspects of this job? I'm really interested in how truckers deal with the emotional side of this profession. Thanks for your response.

Comments for What are the biggest emotional obstacles as a long haul trucker?

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Sep 18, 2011
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Thanks so much for your feedback
by: Joy

I am working on a project with a company named Science of Mileage and I am developing a component to address all different aspects of the driver(s): stress, turnover, job satisfaction, and working between the top management to facilitate a schedule that would accomodate truckers being able to drive slower to save fuel and help the environment with less pollutants emitted.

What would really be helpful, if you are so inclined to respond, would be to ask you personally a few more questions and get the details of one of your stressful days.

I have also greated two CDs to help with truckers' stress and to help get a more restful sleep or a quick energy pickup through relaxation. I would love to send you the CDs at no cost to let you use them and give me feedback if they help or not.

Through this information I am also going to be attempting to get the top management of trucking companies to agree to give bonuses to those truckers who save the most fuel in a 6 to 12 month period of time.

Thank you for being the dedicated hardworking truckers that help move all those things we need in life. You are indeed the backbone of the American economy and I don't think your work is appreciated as much as it should be. Feel free to email me at ingo@Evergreencounseling.com if you would like to participate.

Thank you so very much!

Sep 15, 2011
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Trucking jobs and stress
by: Anonymous

I agree with the previous commentc. There is many reasons for stress on the job. If anyone says there should be no reason to have stress on a truck is blowing smoke.

Me and my guy are a team with children that still live at home,which live with my brother and his wife. How can you not be stressed when you child calls all upset because they had a bad day and momma is not there to hug them? We are out here so we can have a job and provide for them. It is not a easy life. But,it is life that put us here.

Our life is filled with,Shippers,layovers,route planning,always pushing for that extra mile.Sitting in truck stops that personally I would never stop at if not for living on this truck. And missing home. I have been from coast to coast across this great country,I have been through small towns and big cities of 46 states.I have stood on mountain tops and stood in awe of gorgeous valleys,have seen some of the most breathe taking sunsets ever to have graced the skys.

But,nothing compares to home.

Sep 01, 2011
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Emotions that long haul drivers can face OTR vary from driver to driver
by: Jeff

This will all depend on the individual driver. Some drivers hate being out away from family, being out there by themselves.

For other drivers; (like myself) being all alone out there does not bother us at all. A point of stress for a lot of drivers is hot loads. Knowing that you are sitting on a load and wondering how in the world you are going to deliver on time.

For others, logbooks are a major hot button. Considering that there are still a lot of companies out there that all they see is $$$ signs; the sooner you deliver the load, the sooner they get paid. Therefore they don?t care how you get it there, even if you have to run two logbooks.

Newer drivers may not know what exactly that means, I don?t think it is done a whole lot these days, but it amounts to keeping two sets of logs; one for the company and one for law enforcement.

Other drivers feel a lot of stress when driving in bad weather, or when they drive for a company that has a reputation for their trucks always breaking down.

These are only a few of the things that will cause stress in drivers. Bottom line is, stress levels and the underlying cause of driver stress depend on the individual driver and how they are equipped to deal with it.

I hope this gives you at least some insight into driver stress.

Jesus loves you.

Sep 01, 2011
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my opinion about being lonely and trucking
by: Anonymous

If you have emotional problems you need to find another job. When your in a truck you doing a job. You are constantly busy, there is not much time to be lonely

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