6 Ways You Can Handle Loneliness as a Truck Driver

Truck Drivers

Feb 9, 2022

Are you experiencing loneliness as a truck driver? You aren’t the only one! There are several things you can do to combat the loneliness on the road.

If you’re a truck driver, you know that there is much to love about life on the road and the trucking industry. There are many benefits between the money, not being tied to a desk, working on your own, and the exciting opportunity to be an owner-operator. But, with most occupations, there are several downsides to the job.

Loneliness is a huge issue that many truck drivers deal with. Whether you’re new to the industry or not, chances are you could use a little help coping with the isolation on the road. We’ve gathered some ways you can deal with loneliness in your life as a truck driver and stop feeling so isolated.

Continue reading below to learn more.

 

 

6 Helpful Ways to Deal With Loneliness as a Truck Driver

 

The industry can sometimes romanticize life on the road. But in reality, it’s not as magical as it is often depicted. Being separated from friends and family for weeks at a time can feel a lot like a solitary confinement sentence. Here are some ways to help you handle the lonely life of a truck driver:

 

  1. Make a Plan to Keep in Touch — Before heading out on a route, make a solid plan to stay in touch with your loved ones back at home. An excellent way to do this is to invest in a smartphone that allows you to access social media platforms and video chat apps.
    Even though you can’t physically be with your people every night, chatting with your kids or texting your pals before going to bed can help you feel more connected. It’s also important to remember that, while you’re feeling lonely on the road, your loved ones back home miss you too!
    Daily contact will strengthen your connections, making your time at home even more enjoyable and valuable.
  2. Try Something New and Different — Doing the same thing over and over, especially when you’re alone, can feel like a drag. Combat your feelings of loneliness by mixing it up! Try something new and different whenever you can.
    Maybe there is something on your route that you’ve always wanted to do but never have gotten around to doing it. Stepping out of your comfort zone and doing something different is a great way to get present and out of your head and elevate your mood.
  3. Bring Along Your Pet — One of the biggest draws to life as a truck driver is the opportunity to work without being surrounded by a lot of other people. But that doesn’t mean you don’t need a little interaction and companionship.
    Many trucking companies have drive-along programs for lonely truck drivers that allow their drivers to bring their companion animals on trips. A pet on the road can help you feel happier, healthier, and more productive. If you’re willing to meet your pet’s needs and your company allows animals, it’s worth a try!
  4. Pack Your Favorite Photos — It’s easy to feel disconnected from the life you left back at home when you’re on a long haul. You can minimize this separation feeling by bringing your favorite photos of your loved ones while you travel. Keep the pictures on your dashboard or in your wallet so you can quickly glance at them when you’re feeling down.
  5. Get Active in the Trucking Community — It is important to remember that you're not really alone even when you’re on the road alone. There are thousands of other drivers in the same boat — er, big rig — as you.
    Join the conversations on forums, chat rooms, and Facebook groups and connect yourself to the vast national trucking community. Chances are, you’ll cross paths with some of the people you talk to during your route, giving you an opportunity for a good conversation over a meal on the road. This can help make the life of a long-haul driver a bit less lonely.
  6. Engage in TV Watching — Staying up-to-date on current events and what’s on television can help you feel a part of the community, regardless of where you are and in real-time. When you bring TV along, your trip becomes a lot more interesting and much less lonely.
    The secret to a less lonely life on the road is companionship and memory-making, and a television in your truck helps satisfy these connective memories; the characters or real-life people in the shows you watch become your companions on the road.
    Moreover, when you’re fulfilling your mandatory rest time on a Sunday evening and catching up with friends and family on the phone, you can join in on the conversation about the football game or favorite show that just ended.

 

 

Are You a Truck Driver and Feeling Lonely? Let EpicVue Help!

 

Loneliness as a truck driver is a very real thing. If you are feeling isolated on the road, EpicVue can help! Being alone isn’t necessarily about a lack of physical presence, but more so a mental state. Television can fulfill the human need for connection. Even if you’re physically alone, the people on your TV screen can help keep you company and make you feel like you’re a part of something. 

During your time on the road, the faces you see may not look familiar, but your connection in talking about the shows you’ve watched can feel a lot like home and friendship. Now you are ready to head back out, feeling recharged, and can enjoy the new memories and relationships you’ve made, in spite of the confines of your truck.

Television can counteract feelings of isolation. Happy and healthy drivers are more likely to stay with your fleet, significantly reducing the costly and tedious cycle of recruitment and retention. EpicVue specializes in outfitting your fleet with premium in-vehicle satellite televisions. Contact us to learn more today!

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5 Steps to Developing a Truck Fleet Management Strategy

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Quality truck fleet management with a good strategy is a vital element for success in the trucking industry. These systems are necessary for communication, and processes are sure to succeed. There’s no doubt that the best semi-truck fleet teams are those that are effectively and efficiently managed, making a great fleet manager worth their weight in gold — and then some!  But what is it exactly that makes a fleet manager great? It all comes down to a solid fleet management strategy and reliable semi-fleet processes. In fact, these are essential to finding both short- and long-term success. If you’re in charge of a semi-truck fleet and are looking to build a fail-proof truck fleet management strategy, you’re in the right place. We’re here to give you some tried-and-true tips and tricks for developing a solid plan. With a little hard work and the right strategy, you will surely see increased profits, fleet growth, and a happier, healthier, and more productive crew. Keep scrolling to learn more.

5 Things to Consider When Developing Your Truck Fleet Management Strategy

If you want to develop a quality truck fleet management strategy, make sure to consider the following:
  1. Invest in a Fleet Management System — You could be the most experienced and focused manager, but you will still have difficulties staying organized and productive without a quality truck fleet management system in place. Managers of old used to rely on elaborate systems involving paper spreadsheets, filing cabinets, and more to run their business, but there are simpler ways to get the job done. Join the digital age by digitizing your workflow and operations; you’ll find that processes are optimized, and your team’s performance is improved! A good system will allow you to keep track of the best routes, maintenance schedules, driver and vehicle efficiency, automating various tasks (such as routing and scheduling deliveries, billing and invoicing, sending jobs to drivers, etc.) and more so you can maximize the potential of your fleet.
  2. Find Ways to Cut Maintenance Costs — It’s no secret that the economy is in an exciting place right now. Inflation is on the rise, and maintenance costs are not exempt. A solid semi-truck fleet manager must prioritize finding ways to reduce costs. Taking a defensive, preventive approach to maintenance is key. Improving fleet efficiency and ensuring that your rigs and necessary equipment are in tip-top shape and ready to go can help you stay ahead of maintenance issues. Consider utilizing a good fleet management system that can tell you about the vehicles’ engines and other diagnostic features to help extend the life of your trucks. These tools can help you quickly identify any problems with your trucks and avoid issues down the road when they become more serious, thus cutting maintenance costs. Another way to reduce maintenance costs is to base your trucks’ service schedule on accurate engine usage hours instead of an arbitrary calendar. This helps to eliminate unnecessary repairs and potential hours and revenue lost, allowing you to make the most of your fleet while still taking great care of them.
  3. Find Ways to Save Money on Fuel — As a fleet manager, it almost always comes down to budget. And one of the biggest portions (we’re talking between 50% and 65%) of overall operating costs is dedicated to fueling costs. As mentioned above, having a good management system and GPS tracking in place can help you develop an excellent management strategy. You’ll be able to monitor your drivers’ driving performance, habits, and behavior and monitor fuel usage, which directly affects fuel consumption. By tracking and analyzing this information, you’ll be alerted to issues sooner than you may have been otherwise. Moreover, tracking this info will keep you apprised of any safety concerns, such as aggressive driving. Addressing these issues will help you reduce operational costs associated with your fuel budget.
  4. Perfect and Optimize Your Drivers’ Routes — Customers and clients demand quick and on-time deliveries, so taking the perfect and optimal route is absolutely crucial. Your business’ reputation counts on it! Inaccurate arrival time estimates, delays, and inefficient routes will only lead to frustration. Hiccups and issues along the way are bound to happen and are an inevitable part of any industry, including trucking. But, by automating customer notifications and other processes, fleet managers can experience a lot less stress, allowing them to spend time and put their focus elsewhere.
  5. Prioritize Your Drivers’ Health and Wellness — One of the biggest parts of developing a good truck fleet management strategy is prioritizing your team’s health and wellness. Feeling isolated on the road comes with being a truck driver; it’s part of the territory. So fleet managers who promote a healthy work-life balance and positive mental health are typically much more successful.

Here are some ways managers can prioritize employees’ health:

Include EpicVue in Your Truck Fleet Management Strategy

Developing a truck fleet management strategy is essential to the success of your business, and EpicVue is here to help make it happen. EpicVue will outfit your fleet with premium in-cab television so your drivers can enjoy a bit of home on the road and catch up on their favorite shows. Contact EpicVue today to learn more.