Long Hours For Truck Drivers
This is one of the most frequently asked questions I get. I can see how the average person in a car could get bored with driving. And I have taken those long road trips for hours on end where you cannot find a good radio station. But, when you are driving for a living it can be far from boring and sometimes downright stressful. The first difference between taking a road trip in a car and driving a big truck is the comfort. In my opinion driving a big truck is way more comfortable than driving even a luxury car for more than a few hours. Before we had to stop and take a 30 minute break, I could easily spend my whole 11 hours driving in my truck. In a car I definitely have to stop every couple of hours to stretch my bones.
Another reason I don’t get bored while driving a truck is that there is always so much going on. Depending on the time of year you get construction zones or blizzards. Around holidays there are four and five times the amount of cars on the road, even in the middle of nowhere. You never know when you are going to come upon a wild animal, a car accident, inclement weather or whatever. We as truck drivers need to expect the unexpected. Most of the stuff we do all day can get pretty routine and mundane. But, every once in awhile you look over and there is a truck upside down in the ditch or there is a pregnant lady that has blown a tire. It’s kind of like the daily soap opera of life, sometimes the day is forgettable and sometimes we witness cataclysmic wrecks in other people’s lives.
One of the ways that I avoid becoming bored while driving is to listen to music, talk radio or audio books. I generally recommend the music when it comes to areas of major traffic in cities or around construction or wrecks. This is because music gives you a better concentration level than listening to talk radio or audio books. Talk radio or audio books is what I recommend once you get out and away from the traffic situations. Even though you must always have your guard up while driving, once you get out of the city and the traffic you can set on the cruise control and listen to these types of programs. Audio books especially is a good way to keep your mind occupied and maybe even learn a thing or two when you are driving.
Talking on the phone is a good way to pass the time driving as well. However, if you have a hard time multitasking I would not do this. I see people all day long when I am driving that can barely drive straight without the distractions of a phone call. So, if you are going to talk on the phone while driving make sure you take the appropriate safe actions to do so. Please use a hands free or Bluetooth device and make sure to put your phone into voice activation hands free mode. The old CB is another way to pass the time if you have some interesting drivers around you.
Although all of the distractions and sounds mentioned above are good ways to stay occupied while driving. Sometimes I find that sitting there listening to the engine or the road is a good way to collect your thoughts. Especially when you get off the phone with someone and you were talking about something exciting or when you are in a more solemn mood from some bad news or something that didn’t go your way. Driving in silence can be one of the best therapies out there. So, do I get bored while driving? Sometimes I do, but most of the time I have plenty of stuff to keep me busy. As always, be safe out there driving wherever you may go.
