Embarking on a journey of love with a long-haul trucker is a unique and thrilling adventure. In this guide, we’ll explore the ins and outs of dating a long-haul trucker, offering tips, insights, and advice to help you navigate the road to romance with someone whose life is spent on the open highways. From communication strategies to making the most of the time you have together, we’ll share valuable insights on how to date a long-haul trucker and build a strong, enduring connection amidst the miles.
Is it possible to date someone who’s always on the road?
Dating a truck driver is like engaging in a long distance relationship for the most part. I know, because I live with one…when he’s home for two weekends out of the month, that is. While regional truckers do stay closer to home, to make the big bucks, most truck drivers go “over the road” – which means that they’ll drive across state lines for weeks at a time. The money is what led my boyfriend into trucking, but he must sacrifice time away from home in order to make such financial gains, which is challenging for a couple in love.
And yet, though dating a trucker can be tough, it isn’t impossible. Here’s how to make it work:
Technology Time
Dating a long distance hauler, you’ll need to get creative with your communications. Simply meeting up for dinner and a movie isn’t possible, obviously, but it’s important to keep the romance alive while they’re on the road.
Thank goodness for technology! Most truckers have smartphones, laptops, or tablets, so find ways to connect using all of these methods:
- Utilize texting to frequently send short messages, video clips, or photos of your day.
- Truckers have access to Wi-Fi at truck stops, so schedule some FaceTime, Google Hangouts, or Skype video calls for the two of you to virtually connect.
- Write emails, and expect him or her to reply when they can, which might take a few days during busy seasons.
By incorporating alternative technology, you’ll free up phone lines, which is important for a working trucker: For starters, truck drivers are required to go hands-free when driving as a safety precaution. Secondly, sharing something over the web gives the recipient the freedom to respond on his or her own time.
Considering the busy schedules all truck drivers face, this will prevent you from overwhelming your partner, which can be a problem in any relationship.
Communication is Crucial
Expecting your trucking partner to call every time he or she takes a break is a recipe for disaster.
However, the rules of communication differ when dealing with someone working away. For example, because my boyfriend and I are in a long term, committed relationship (last time he was home, we were picking out engagement rings!), we have made the decision to talk every evening before he turns in for the night, even if it’s only for five minutes. Sure, sometimes those conversations are about nothing but the weather, road conditions, delivery experiences, and what he ate for dinner – but trucking is a lonely life, and those who work on the road need someone to talk to about even the most mundane daily details. While the subject matter might not always be enthralling, scheduling a certain nightly/daily call is a great way to remain emotionally connected, and to keep your trucker boyfriend or girlfriend in good spirits when loneliness or depression sets in.
Making Moments Count
When your dating partner is home from the road, you are likely to want to spend every moment with them. It may be tough, but try to back off a little. Your partner is tired from working so hard for the past few weeks, and he or she will need a chance to settle in, find a center, and unwind. Instead of pressuring your partner to spend all of his or her home time with you, plan a couple of extra special dates out together. This will help you to both have a memorable experience while reconnecting and bonding.
Remember this as the key to dating a trucker: it’s not the number of moments – but the quality of those moments you spend together. If you can remember this and live by the rule, then you might just have found a lifelong partner.
