This post appears in the September 2013 edition of Truck News
From the driver
reaction I've witnessed on social media recently, the half hour
compulsory break included in the FMCSA hours of service rule changes
that came into effect this past July 1 seem to have released a whole
bunch of pent up frustration within the driver pool. I think it is
the most foolish rule to be imposed yet. Why? Because how many
drivers in North America were not taking at least a half hour break
once per day either in the form of a meal break or off duty time at
the dock? I've heard the word “stress” used more by drivers since
July 1 than ever before.
Stress has been on my
mind a lot in the past few years. If your a driver perhaps it has
been on your mind too. I've been feeling stressed out despite
experiencing many positive things in my life. This had me concerned
to the point that I was even perusing mental health websites at one
point checking the warning signs for depression. I just seem to be in
a funk, a general feeling of fatigue and frustration. I'm generally
not unhappy although that pops up from time to time. In a way I've
been glad to hear more drivers voicing their concerns over stress on
the job. I'm obviously not alone.
As I look back over the
columns I have written the issue of time spent on the job comes up
quite frequently, and I usually relate that to feelings of stress.
I've called it the difficulty in finding a balance between work and
home when the scale is always tipped towards the amount of time spent
on the job. So obviously I haven't found a solution to resolve the
feelings of stress. So I've been asking myself, what gives here? My
wife and I have a loving relationship that strengthens with each
passing year. We have a wonderful daughter and two beautiful
grandchildren. The relationship I have with my employer is built on
honesty and integrity and provides well for my family. When I look
around at the state of the world I recognize how lucky I am and I am
truly grateful.
Despite all those
positives I still find myself asking the question: Is this trucking
lifestyle really for me? I find myself thinking about the many
things I'm missing out on as I cruise down the road. Thoughts of
family, of play, of hobbies, and of relaxing and doing nothing at
all. As a driver do you find yourself asking similar questions? When
you get to your home time is it frenzied and rushed and does that
suck some of the enjoyment out of that time?
Here's an example from
my own life. Home renovation is something my wife and I enjoy doing
together. Our home is somewhat of a playground for us. My wife has a
flare for design and can visualize changes in her minds eye. I can
make it happen. Our skills compliment one another and we really enjoy
that time together. We are just finishing up a major kitchen
renovation we started in the fall of 2010! Because of my recent push
to see this project finished up I have not been getting to the gym on
a regular basis or getting out for my regular runs. A regular
exercise regimen has become an important part of my life over the
past decade. I'm missing it. That limited home time has seen me
sacrifice one thing I enjoy doing for another. That frustrates me.
Situations like this arise time and again for me.
Okay, so as drivers we
know we can't have it all. This profession requires that you commit a
large block of your time to the job. That's why it is so important
that we maintain the ability to decide for ourselves how we use that
time. I think the mandatory imposition of the half hour break has hit
a sore spot in this regard. It's politics, not common sense. It's
window dressing to satisfy the strong safety lobby that exists out
there but does nothing more than place an additional burden of
compliance on the driver.
As far as the stress I
feel goes, I know that for the most part it is self imposed. When I
stop thinking about all of the things I want to do when I get home
and bring my mind into the present moment I enjoy every minute I am
out on the road. When I am at home and put aside thoughts of the
limited time I have available and of all of the things I won't get
done and simply enjoy the present moment, again, I am able to enjoy
every minute of that time. That advice I give to myself appears to be
a simple and sensible solution. It's anything but.
No comments:
Post a Comment