By Sandy Long
Holidays are hard for many truck drivers of both genders. Thanksgiving is one of the two worst holidays. Thanksgiving is all about family getting together for a big dinner, football games on the television, and catching up with little seen relatives. Many truck drivers have lost touch, or actually have lost their family, so are alone. Then there are those who have to keep working through the Thanksgiving holiday so cannot get home. Granted, some truck stops offer really great deals for CDL holders on the road for Thanksgiving dinner. However, it is not quite the same as having a home to go to.
Some drivers who can get home will throw up a post on social media offering any drivers in the area an invitation to come to their home for Thanksgiving dinner. There is an organization, fully volunteer, no donations asked for, called Meals for 18 Wheels on Facebook. If you are stuck out on the road and need a meal, they put out the call and a volunteer will bring you one. They work throughout the year to help drivers stuck in shops, or without money to eat, but really focus on holidays. Great bunch of folks!
Beyond the Thanksgiving dinner, many drivers get depressed during the holidays when they are alone or cannot get home. Many social media groups offer a place to go and interact. The Women In Trucking Association Facebook Group does a Fun Weekend for holidays. The Fun Weekends usually include posts of music, food pictures and recipes that can be made on the truck, family orientated jokes, and sharing of memories. For those who are really depressed and need a safe place to go to talk, there is a Facebook Group called Truckers for Truckers (Fight Against Depression and Suicide). Both of these Facebook groups are strictly moderated and free to join, so members are safe.
Yes, Thanksgiving and other major holidays are tough on many truckers. However, especially at Thanksgiving, drivers can help themselves feel better about being on the road by making a list of what they do have going on in their lives to be thankful for. You might be surprised at how many good things are truly going on in your life. Another idea is to check in the area you are going to be in on Thanksgiving Day for homeless shelters where you can go to assist in serving others. As you are going into a truck stop restaurant on Thanksgiving Day, look around for other drivers sitting alone and ask if you can join them. Strike up conversations with other drivers if in the driver’s lounge or at the coffee counter.
In this time of giving thanks, I want to thank all of you who read these blogs, the Women In Trucking Association for allowing me to write for them and be a member, all of the members and sister admins of the Women in Trucking Association Facebook Group, and all of my brother and sister drivers everywhere. Happy Thanksgiving Ya’ll!