“I want a divorce, I can’t handle feeling like a single mother all the time even tho I’m married.” my wife screamed into her cell phone at me. Growing up as a third generation trucker I knew how she felt, I was reminded all to often by my mother who would cry herself to sleep sometimes. So I took a short haul gig and we worked on our relationship.

Like all good things that position came to a end, I had to hit the road to make money for my family. Again our relationship fell apart, I looked for therapy but no one would take us as clients due to my work schedule. Now in a situation where my choices are quit my job, lose my home, not provide for my kids and both my parents who were hospitalized or hit the road and take a chance of losing my wife. I decided to keep trucking for my family.

I love trucking but I can’t lie to you, the “trucking life style” is not always great. I lost my wife, almost lost my mother to cancer and watched my dad suffer from diabetes, shamed that he couldn’t provide for his family. At a time when most people would spend more time with their family, I had to run my tail off to take care of mine. It is not easy knowing that no matter what decision you make your hurting someone. That those 3 weeks your on the road earning money to feed and shelter your family may be their last days.

I remember calling my dad from my mothers hospital bed and saying “I’m hate trucking I want to —-” he said “the trucking way of life is a huge sacrifice, you give up your personal life so others can have theirs.” That is a great way to explain over the road trucking.

I know that I’m not alone here, many drivers are suffering from situations like this or maybe even worse. I didn’t want to unload my feelings on my ill family or make the situations worse. I felt trapped, with no one to talk to, I kept myself busy as not to deal with my problems. Then when I looked for professional help my schedule was not “regular” so they couldn’t talk to me.

I turned to my creative outlet by making a private video for my ex wife (kinda cheesy). I later uploaded it to youtube and was comforted with all kinds of wonderful advice.

This was years ago, today we all have someone to talk too.

Buck Black is an LCSW therapist who specializes in helping truckers and their families with anger and stress management, as well as depression and relationship problems. He does this over the phone, and Skype (webcam) at http://www.TruckerTherapy.com so truckers can make a living while, instead of taking time off work for office visits. Buck’s services are not just limited to the trucking community. He frequently sees couples and families in his office who are looking to improve themselves in various ways.

I have asked Buck if he could share a couple of tips that could help many men and women out here on the road, he gladly accepted.

Tips for improving your mood while on the road

Mile after mile can get very boring…and depressing! If you think about it, truckers have the ideal conditions for depression—isolation from much of the world, usually lack of exercise, difficulty getting healthy food, and little contact with family. All of these factors will wear on anyone unless there is a focus on keeping yourself positive.

1. Keep focused on the positive.

• All of that time to dwell on the negatives can really catch up with you. Turn off those news and political shows on your satellite radio. There is enough negativity out there and purposely tuning into it will only make it worse. Focus on positive music, or better yet, comedies and anything else that might make you laugh!
• Remember, if you are focused on something positive, it is much harder to think about the problems related to the job or how much you miss your family.

2. Eating better foods.

• I don’t mean to preach about food. I know it seems as though almost everyone criticizes truckers and their diet. This is just a reminder the more fast food and sugary foods you eat, the worse you will feel. There truly is a connection. Steer away from those hamburgers and fries and try more chicken, salads, and healthy subs. See what happens. I bet you will notice yourself feeling better. Choosing healthy food can still be quick and easy.

3. Exercise.

• The more you move, the better you feel. It’s just how the body works. You don’t necessarily have to work out at a gym in order to get some exercise. When you park, walk a few laps around your truck or park as far away from the building you are going to. Remember, you can always pump a little iron while you are in the truck. I know some drivers have a dumbbell they use to do a few reps while in their truck. Again, you don’t have to do a full exercise program. Just move a little more and it will lift your spirits.

4. Keeping in touch with friends and family

• Communication with the outside world is very important. Remember…because you are a trucker, you are automatically involved in long distance relationships. You have a long distance relationship with your spouse, friends, family, and so on. When discussing serious subjects, especially with your partner, use phone (or webcam, if possible) in order to help with accurate communication. Your tone of voice can often make a world’s difference in regards to working problems out or causing new ones! Don’t rely on texts and email too much. The written word can sometimes get you into trouble.

5. Find something you enjoy.

• Everyone needs something to look forward to. It is very easy to get in the dull routine of driving mile after mile for no particular reason. You just see those little green mile markers creeping past. I want you to think about how each mile marker represents another step closer to your goal. What goal? Well…it’s whatever goal you choose! Maybe each of those green posts represent the sooner you get home or the sooner you make enough money to get that new laptop you’ve always wanted.

• It’s also important to find something fun to do while you are on the road. What hobbies can you do? Maybe something related to blogging, photography, surfing the web, or whatever floats your boat.

I hope these tips will help life’s ride be a little smoother. Don’t be afraid to try some new things and throw out those that don’t work. Remember, you are in control of your life and your happiness. No one else can make you happy, mad, or anything else for that matter.

Maybe you have considered training truck drivers?

Nearly a decade ago I started my journey of teaching entry level truck drivers. I have traveled all over the world and never had to leave the cab of my truck. Some of the stories that have been shared with me and the friendships I have made are really quite extraordinary. I’m eternally grateful to have this opportunity.

When I first starting working with entry level drivers I had not the foggiest of a idea how to even begin. I was a solid and experienced truck driver with out the skill set to teach. Of course I made all the rookie mistakes by showing them all the wrong things;

• Speed averaging
• Rounding off miles
• Trip dropping
• How to by pass the scales
• Taught them how to be more aggressive in their driving so we could make good time, etc

In the beginning my patients was tested and my life was threatened due in part to my inability to truly teach;

• I have had drivers fall asleep behind the wheel
• Get robbed or thrown in jail
• Urinate or defecate on them self and the truck
• Jump out of the truck while they were driving
• Try to punch me while I was driving
• Just released out of the mental institution (no joke)
• Speak very little English

My first year was a real learning experience it took me a while but I slowly realized that even tho you might be a great truck driver that does not mean you have the ability to teach. I thought to myself  “crap, I’m a horrible teacher” at this point I had two options;

1. Seek out guidance from a good teacher
2. Stop all together

Have you ever seen a truck this big?

On one of my recent trips out to Florida I pulled into the Tiger Truck Stop in Gross Tete, LA to partake in their fine cuisine when I spotted one hell of a beast and I’m not referring to the tiger that makes his home at the truck stop. The beast I’m speaking of was a 600 inch wheel based Freightliner Coronado renegade,  a somewhat rare truck that was pulling Chris Rado’s scion racers. Check this amazing truck out!

Want to check out what these guys are hauling in the back of this beautiful rig? Check out Chris Rado in action

Please check out my channel whitelinefilms and if you like my videos please subscribe to my trucking videos. Thank you to all who support the work I do.

Not a day goes by that I don’t hear “we need to improve highway safety” and tho trucking is at its safest point in history I would think that the constant pressure to make improvement plays a big part in that success. I personally believe that the current pay system in the trucking industry contributes to not only accidents on the highway but poor health for many drivers. Could changing the way truckers are paid make a difference for the well being of millions?

Every week on the blind spot trucking talk radio show industry experts get together to discuss the future and current state of the trucking industry.  Join in with the 30-50 regular cast members who are live on the call to talk about what matters in trucking, maybe your a little shy? Join in the trucking chat room instead every Tuesday night at 10pm eastern time. This show is downloaded on average of 50,000 times a month and has over a million downloads since the show launched. Unlike “ON AIR LIVE” shows this show can be listened to and shared with friends and family into perpetuity, thank you all for sharing the show because of you we’re really making a difference in the trucking industry.

Other topics on this episode:

• Talk about the entry level driver problem
• Going owner operator | Advantages, disadvantages
• Changing the pay structure in the trucking industry is it doable?
• CSA 2010

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I have traveled many miles across this great nation of ours meeting many great men and women along the way. However I’m not going to sit here and try to paint this pretty picture about trucking like all the men and women are great because the fact of the matter is there are many, many douche bags. Just when I thought I had met, seen, heard of the most notorious of douche bags this country has to offer out of no where like a burning sensation the day after partying with truck stop hookers comes Donald Crawford.

( alright, maybe not such a big surprise, LOL :->)

The story goes something like this;

Donald thrown out on his head by the bouncers of Sassy Kat’s Showclub in Indianapolis, Indiana after a 45 minute hardcore session of pounding back drinks like his life depended on it. He brings himself to his feet, dazed, confused, and mildly retarded. He slowly stumbles his way across the parking lot trying to shake off what appears to be a vagina high. At some point he starts to panic when he can’t find his truck, he calls 911.

“911 whats your emergency?”

“my truck has been stolen and my son is inside” Donald reports

This is the condensed version of the report as it took Donald four minutes to spit out what just took you five seconds to read.

Upon arriving to the scene the officers realized Donald was not the victim of theft he was plastered drunk and smelled of moldy snatch. Putting two and two together the officers had figured he had been at the titty bar, they went to the strip joint where they confirmed that Donald was in fact at the bar acting like a ten year old who just seen his first issue of playboy. Back at the truck stop they found Donald’s truck door unlocked  keys in the ignition and his five year old inside passed out from watching cartoons. Way to go super dad, your sir are the biggest asshole in the world.  The officers had found the mother of the child was in nearby Franklin, Indiana they called and she came down to pick up the kid and I’m sure what money if any he had left over as this douche bag is not going to make a paycheck for a long time.

Question: What do you think is wrong with this bastard? If he wanted to go to the strip club why not take the kid home to mommy and go back to the club or would she not like the idea of him being entertained by other women?  He must of thought he was home free if he had the kid and she wouldn’t suspect a thing? What you think?

I thought I was one tough trucker.

The American Trucker is often seen as the last American mountain man, a nomad of sorts traveling across America through some of the worst of conditions to deliver his freight. A way of life for most, a job for others but one thing is for certain.  We’re a tough as nails subculture who can  do more then tell you about what it takes to keep a nation running we can show you the bruises.

As I like to say “trucking is not for pussies“. I have seen men travel under some really bad conditions and when I say conditions I’m not talking about the weather in this case. Most people have the luxury to call out if they feel a cold coming on. Have you had the flu or a cold lately? did you call out of work?  When normal civilians can call their doctor and schedule a appointment to take care of their health that is often not a option for a trucker who could be thousands of miles away from his doctor, if he even has one.

I once had a medical emergency that was life threatening, So I drove myself to the ER in Pasadena CA they told me “you can’t park that big truck here!” I said “watch me #$@#$ I’m about to die!!”. Finding a legal place to park to seek medical attention is another huge problem in the trucking industry.

I have dealt with all kinds of medical conditions on the road before I could get home or to a qualified doctor to take care of myself such as: broken bones, abscessed teeth. pinched nerves etc.. No one should have to compromise their health, their safety and the life of everyone around them because no one is there to help in their time of need or they’re to stubborn to seek out help. When I first started driving I hated the idea of taking time of to take care of my health after many health problems and nearly loosing my life on several occasions I realized taking care of your health should be every drivers number one priority.

I digress, I want to share a story with you about one trucker who’s medical situation makes my “dealt with medical problems list”  look like a whiny excuse to write a article. Trucker Jason Ripley was cruising through Darlington, Co Durham when he hit a crash barrier. What is so strange about that, you say “it happens everyday” you say “stop wasting my fu#king time” you say.  Alright mother #$@$# I’ll get to it. What makes this different is not only that he was impaled by a 8ft pole but that he was conscious enough to call his boss and say “I’ve had a bit of an accident - I’m in a spot of bother sir.“  That is truly a tough trucker. Jason recovered and was back to work shortly after the accident.