Fuel for Thought

Driver Appreciation

This week has been National Truck Driver Appreciation week. Many companies have had sponsored family events such as cookouts for their drivers. Others have given bonuses, gift cards, even vacations to their employees. There have been quite a few companies who have sponsored giveaways online all week, with various items from new truck mattresses to fancy gift baskets to electronics and truck accessories.

Naturally, being the recipient of one of those gifts is always a special treat. Sometimes even just a thoughtful card or a heartfelt thank you could be just what you need at the end of a rough week. But what, as a driver do you do to show appreciation for yourself?

All of us are out on the road for long hours, sun up to sun down. As expediters we often drive overnight hours with little time for anything other than driving and sleep when dispatched on a load. For those of you who run teams you have even less down time than those who are solo drivers. So again I ask, what do you do to show appreciation for yourself, and for your partner if in a team, or if a significant other rides with you?

Recently, Allen and I had a load that didn't deliver until Monday. We made excellent time over the weekend, so we had all day Sunday to ourselves which lately has been a rarity. Allen, being more experienced and knowledgeable of routes and locations, decided to plan a much needed Sunday date day for the two of us. A little us time off the road to appreciate each other. A little time to be us out of the truck. He took me to dinner at the famous Lambert's Cafe, home of the throwed rolls. Of course he laughed at me like he always does while I ooh'ed and aah'd over all the neat historic items in the place. It's like a museum in there, antique after antique! After we ate, and since we were stuffed, he suggested we go walking around and do a little shopping at the outlet mall. Seriously, what girl is going to turn down shopping? I even got pretty yellow flowers, my favorite! Allen? I talked him into getting some new dressier leather shoes. We spent the late afternoon strolling around hand in hand, talking, teasing, laughing, and most importantly letting the buildup of stress from being in the truck fade away. We took the afternoon to forget work, forget maps and GPS, forget trip orders and hours of service, and just laugh and appreciate each other.

Every once in awhile you have to do that. You have to stop and smell the flowers, or the coffee, the ocean, the mountain breeze, or the fresh, hot throwed rolls. We live in a beautiful country with so much history, culture, and nature. And guess what? We work in an industry that allows us to see it all from the best office window anyone could ask for. Take advantage of that job perk when you can. Make time throughout the year, all year long to appreciate the view, appreciate yourself, and appreciate each other. Don't wait for some arbitrary "Driver Appreciation Week" for some trinket or gift. You are the driver. Appreciate yourself every chance you get! Get out of your truck or van and experience something new as a special treat to yourself. It will be memory to last a lifetime.

Sierra and Allen at Lambert's Cafe

~Sierra Sugar