Driving

Life on the road is not always easy, but it is also something special. Being a truck driver means spending many hours behind a steering wheel and traveling through long distances. Sometimes people think this job is simple, but they don’t really understand how different it is from normal work. In this essay I want to talk about the reality of truck driver life — the hard parts, the good moments, and what this job means for me.

As I mentioned above, this job has a lot of challenges. Probably, the biggest challenge for me is that I don't feel like I live in my home with my family for long periods. Sometimes I feel that when I'm at home I'm like a guest. I forget where some things are and, it's the worst, I don't see how my kid is growing. Every time I come home I feel that he has changed and I'm upset that I don't take part in his growth. My wife also needs help and support which I can't give to her because I can be 2000 miles away.

Another hard part of this job is that every day you're in risk and stress on the road due to different weather conditions, changing circumstances and environment, and delivery deadlines. Even though there are strict hours of operation rules in Canada and the US, I have a lot of shifts when I have slept only for 2 or 3 hours and every day you're behind the steering wheel for 11-13 hours. A lot of people argue that it's simple. You're just sitting and looking in the window, but in fact it's a lot of tension, concentration and stress. Also, you haven't any stable schedule for resting and eating. One day you can rest from evening to morning, and the next day the situation turns upside-down. And this stress and lack of sleep are literally killing you slowly and gently. Health and relationships with family are slowly becoming worse and worse.

On the other hand, this job has a lot of advantages. First of all it is a good opportunity to earn enough money and be sure that your family has everything they need. In my opinion, lack of money has much worse consequences for you and your family than lack of sleeping. Also I can say that the big reward of this job is this amazing feeling of freedom and independence on the road. You're driving 110 km per hour at the 23 meters and 50 tons truck and you're the real king of the road. And these long trips have their own unique vibe. And if I spend more than a week at home I feel that I need to be on the road again and I need to feel this vibe.

For me, truck driving is not just a job but also a part of my identity. Even with all the difficulties, I feel proud of what I do, because I know that my work really matters. Every day I deliver fuel, food, and other important goods that people need. It gives me a sense of purpose. At the same time, this job taught me to value simple things: a quiet evening at home, a dinner with my family, or just playing with my son. These moments became more special, because I don’t have them every day. And even though life on the road is hard, it also made me stronger and more responsible.

To sum up, being a truck driver means facing many challenges, such as stress, long hours, and time away from family. But it also brings real rewards: financial stability, independence, and the unique feeling of freedom on the open road. This job is not for everyone, but for people like me it becomes a lifestyle. Life on the road is tough, but it is also meaningful, and I wouldn’t change it for anything else.