Relationships are difficult as a truck driver. Constantly being on the road can bring hardship between partners, especially when you’re a parent as well. Life on the road can be lonely for both a driver and their family back at home. Both individuals in this relationship have a difficult role to fulfill.
Here are some ways to help cultivate a healthy relationship between you and your spouse and children while you are away on the road.
1. Spend As Much Time Together As Possible
This may seem like common sense, but one of the number one things that tears marriages and relationships apart is not spending time together. Being a truck driver makes this task even more strenuous. Here are some suggestions to maximize your time together while you are home.
Make sure you are dedicating a sufficient amount of time just to your spouse. It is exciting to spend time with your friends, but it’s important to make sure you and your spouse are getting the alone time you need. Studies have shown that it is ideal to spend at least 2 hours every focusing on your spouse for ideal happiness in marriage. This obviously does not work as a driver on the road, but that means when you are home, spending time with your significant other is the most important thing to do.
Another way to make sure you are spending time together is to plan dates with each other for when you are home. These dates don’t have to be big, fancy, or time-consuming! They can be little things such as:
- Going on a picnic together
- Order take out and have a movie night in
- Make sure to send the kids to their grandparents for the night!
This can be a difficult task for any truck driver but it makes your spouse feel special that you are intentionally setting aside time to be with them. You can even video call each other when you have spare time in the evening for a ‘virtual date’.
2. Learn To Communicate Effectively
Communication is key in every relationship, but it is even more important when you are consistently long distance. Try and schedule a block of time every day where you call your spouse and catch up with them. However, it is also important for both partners to remember not to bring up any big issues over the phone, as that can be detrimental to effective communication.
Remember to be honest with each other. Both individuals (the driver and the spouse at home) often feel under-appreciated and lonely. This is completely normal since neither partner is there to support each other during tough days. Make sure that you are being honest, and sharing all the good and the bad that is happening from day to day.
Each partner has an important role in the relationship so it is important to listen and be supportive.
Open communication is important in both ways.
3. Trust is Important
Couples either trust each other or they don’t. Trust is key in every relationship, but even more so when you are away from your spouse for long periods of time. It is important to trust your spouse!
For the stay at home partner, have a hobby or something to do to help keep you busy. This way you aren’t driving yourself crazy thinking about your driver and what might be going on. Imaginations can run wild!
For the drivers when you have spare time on the road – call home, watch TV, or read a book. These are all good ways to keep yourself occupied.
You already have to have a high amount of trust when you’re in a relationship with a trucker, otherwise, the whole relationship will go downhill quickly. Trusting your truck driver is important, and any feelings of mistrust you might have towards them will only grow while they are on the road.
Closing
Never stop working on your relationship. Being in any relationship is hard, but it is especially hard if you are in a relationship with a truck driver. It’s important to value and trust your partner and work through the distance.
The trucking life can be hard and lonely – for both the driver and their partner. Here at FCC, we value our drivers and their family! We work to get you home every weekend and to prioritize your relationships! Consider driving for FCC today.