Truck Drivers' Work - Feeling at Home on the Road

If you’ve chosen to be a haulier, it’s likely that you love driving and you love being on the road. Sitting in the comfort of your cab, a powerful engine beneath you and the countryside passing by, it's not hard to see why truck drivers' work becomes their passion. However, on long haul journeys everyone is susceptible to a touch of homesickness - a longing for their favourite chair, the sight of loved ones, and that indescribable feeling of 'home'.

While it’s impossible to recreate home life on the road, there are ways to feel a little better, and to give your truck some comfort and familiarity. Below are some ideas.

Good Seating

Few things remind you that you’re not at home more than physical discomfort. In a career where you’re likely to be sitting for hours every day, poor ergonomics can lead to more than just discomfort. Physical injury is not unknown among those who spend long periods of time sitting down. For this reason, a proper seat cushion should be regarded as a vital piece of equipment for all truck drivers. Work may be a necessity, but it shouldn’t be painful or detrimental to your health if you can avoid it.

Bring Your Own Music

Nothing puts a music-lover in a worse mood than a ten-hour marathon of irritating club tunes. Unfortunately, with many contemporary radio stations, this is exactly what you get. Bring a stack of your favourite music with you on long trips, and if your vehicle has an auxiliary input, so much the better: bring an MP3 player and soundtrack your own journey.

Most truck drivers’ work takes them over long distances, often into other countries. This means that, even if you’re a keen radio listener, your favourite station may not be available for the entirety of your journey. Bear this in mind and stock up on enough music to keep you entertained.

Invest in a Fridge

There are various fridges designed for vehicular use, and it’s well worth sourcing one. Consider pairing it with a portable stove so you can enjoy homemade, if simple, food all through your journey. This is another comfort that can also be vital to maintaining good health; balanced, tasty meals can be preserved in the fridge or cooked fresh on the stove, ensuring that drivers can maintain a healthy diet throughout their journey, as well as decreasing expenditure on truck stop food.

There's No Place Like Home

Don’t be afraid to decorate your cab how you’d like. Pictures of family, things your kids made, and anything that evokes a fond memory or sense of happiness can make truck drivers’ work a little less lonely.

The life of a truck driver is one of freedom, independence and, ultimately great rewards, and adding these personal touches can make your working life even more enjoyable.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching truck drivers' work and to buy and sell road transport and haulage work in the domestic and international markets. Over 4,000 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.