Driver Lifestyles

Home for the Holidays

By Jeff Jensen, Editor
Posted Dec 22nd 2005 3:05PM

christmas_image.jpgThe life of the professional driver is typically a lonely one, but come the holidays -  specifically,Thanksgiving and Christmas -  that loneliness is magnified, especially if the driver is unable to make it back home to family and loved ones.

In fact, the longing for serious home time can begin well in advance of the actual holiday. Our consumer-oriented culture is deluged with Christmas advertising that begins shortly after Halloween and the constant reminders of home, hearth and the upcoming festive season can exacerbate the driver's sense of isolation.

For the general trucking company driver who must obey his company's orders to work through the holidays, it can be a depressing time.  If the driver wants to keep his job, he'll keep his wheels rolling, despite the company's advertising that "our drivers get plenty of home time."

For the owner-operators of expediting, it's time and distance that can pose difficulties for the driver trying to make it back to the house for the holidays.  If the expediters last load leaves him 1,000 miles away from home and his carrier doesn't have a load taking him in that general direction, it means a deadhead at his expense.  Most drivers will, however, willingly accept that cost if it means being with the family on this important occasion.      
 
A driver should keep in mind that if he doesn't make it home this year for the holidays, there is no rule that says he must celebrate on a given day.  The expediter can always find the holiday spirit with his family before or after the traditional day on which it is celebrated. Every day is actually a good day to be thankful, especially a day when one is surrounded by family and loved ones.

We asked a few expediters about their plans for the holidays - would they make it back home for Christmas?

Ben and Melanie Easters
"We don't have any children, so we prefer to stay out on the road.  Let the people with families enjoy the holidays with their kids.  Our nieces are with their parents and that's as it should be."

Leo Bricker
"Actually, I'm picking up a load on Dec. 21 that delivers on December 22, 20 miles from the house!  For the holiday, we'll go to my in-laws' house, complete with nephews, nieces, etc."

Phil and Diane Madsen
Phil says that he and driving partner Diane follow their normal business practices even as the holidays get closer.  As the load offers come in, they either accept or reject them, depending on whether the loads take the couple in the right direction.

This year, as they were preparing to take themselves out of service, a load offer came in that took them from North Carolina to Ohio.  A deadhead from Ohio to Minnesota got them back home on December 21.

"This is our third Christmas on the road (in expediting) and we always make it home for the holiday," says Phil.  "Our first year we had a load that delivered 90 miles from home on December 23.  Last year we deadheaded home from New Jersey.

"This year, we got a load offer 15 minutes after we pulled into the driveway - we pick up on the 27th and take it to Texas."

Chet Merithew
Chet finished up a busy holiday week with a run from Windsor, Ontario to Alabama.  He figures on a 550-mile deadhead to home in Arlington, TX.  His holidays are shceduled to be brief however - he has plans for extensive truck PM and then it's back on the road.

Terry O'Connell
Terry tells us that he deadheaded back to the house (St. Louis) on Dec. 22nd from Detroit and that he and wife Rene have made it a point to be home or at a relative's home for the holidays since they've been in expediting.  Terry states that he's ready to hit the road again after Christmas "if I get the call."

Rich Moore
Rich says that during the past quarter of this year he has been running in the southeastern region, so he didn't incur a long deadhead back home for the holidays.  He told his carrier to show him out-of-service until next year - January 2, to be exact.

Rich says that during his many years in expediting, he and his wife Mary have always made it a point to make it home for Christmas.  This has meant some lengthy deadheads, however, including one from Toronto to Jacksonville, FL. 

Don and Yvonne Gibson
Yvonne tells us that the couple's final run was from California to New Hampshire that delivered ion the morning of the 23rd.  From there, it was a deadhead to Ocala, FL to be with Yvonne's daughter and grandchildren for Christmas. 

The Gibsons say that this will be a special holiday after what their family members experienced when Katrina rolled through Biloxi, MS a few months ago. 

"After Katrina, I feel that life is just too short.  I need to go see my family," says Yvonne.

From:  Expediters Online

To: All of the hard-working men and women of the North American transportation industry:

If you won't be able to be with friends and family this holiday season, thank you for your dedication in keeping the wheels rolling and the freight moving. - Merry Christmas!

If you will be sharing this holiday with family and loved ones, we hope you will enjoy a warm and joyous celebration in the company of those special people.  - Merry Christmas!

To:  All of our military men and women in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the globe:  A heartfelt and grateful Thank You for your service, dedication and sacrifice in helping to maintain the freedoms and safety that we enjoy back home.  You're in our thoughts and prayers and we hope you'll be with us again very soon.  A very Merry and Safe Christmas and Happy New Year!