Drivers, please take care of yourselves
I have been writing tributes about my truck driver friends who have passed away far too often in the past couple of years. I hope I never have to write another.
It seems that every few months, I learn of another friend whose life has ended, and I feel a need to recognize them. I do my best not to focus solely on them as truck drivers, as they were so much more than that. They were someone’s spouse, brother or sister, son or daughter. They might have been someone’s mom or dad, a mentor or a best friend.
I am coming up on 15 years in the transportation industry, and they have been the best years of my professional life. I have been fortunate to meet lots of wonderful people through trucking and am proud that I have maintained many of these relationships, whether we work at the same company or not.
I like to say that drivers are “my people.” I’ve never driven commercially, but any success that I’ve had in the driver recruitment and retention world is because of my strong relationships with drivers.
Writing these tributes often makes me emotional. They’ve led to deep conversations with some family members of the recently deceased. I feel it is important to let their loved ones know that they weren’t simply a butt in a seat or a number, but a valued part of the team. These are tough conversations but are meant to be comforting for the families. The ironic thing with death is it can bring people together.
‘Your shift is over, driver – you can rest now’
I admire the online trucking community and the respect that people pay to the recently departed. Sometimes, it seems like a shame that someone must die before nice things are said about them. A common post after a death is of a truck driving into the clouds with the caption, “Your shift is over, driver — you can rest now.” It feels like only a driver can say it, as though it is a sacred image that requires a commercial driver’s license to post.
To my driver friends, please focus on your health. The irregular schedules, long hours, unhealthy food, cigarettes, coffee and pop will catch up to you eventually. Stress and isolation are probably taking a bigger toll on your body and mental health than you think.
Believe me when I say this: I don’t want to have to write any more tributes.
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It’s all about having a truck ready when someone ask for it if you don’t say yes they soon forget you are out there soon you are no longer on the call list owners don’t realize how many hours you have been working it’s all about being available for the customer drivers were a dime a dozen for years .
Hello Michael Zelek,
Thank you for a great column. Although we as members of the public seldom know the names of the drivers who make our lives better, more comfortable, healthier, and safer, we still appreciate all that truck drivers do for us. My uncle was a professional long haul driver who was, fortunately, able to enjoy retirement, but as you say many drivers are not so fortunate. As a member of the public, thanks to all the drivers whom we may not meet but whom we appreciate all the same.
Couldn’t agree with you more, the industry is notorious for pushing drivers into trying to put in as many hrs per day as possible, why? What’s wrong with working 10-12 hrs a day , instead of allways running up against the clock 14-16 hrs or more .. alot don’t want to say No , alot can’t say No ! Its been inbedded for the 30 years I’ve been involved and not really seeing why we constantly need to work our lives away!