A Guide to Work-Life Balance as a Truck Driver

As with any career, a healthy work-life balance is important to a trucker’s quality of life. Though a career in trucking can offer many benefits—great pay, job security, opportunities to travel, and more—it can also present challenges to that work-life balance. Long hours, sedentary work, loneliness, and stress all take their toll.

November 1, 2023 | Trucker

By: Cliff J.

I bring over 30 years of trucking industry experience to Acuity. I worked my way up from driving to managing the safety operations of a transportation company, culminating in owning and managing my own regional trucking company. My main goal at Acuity is to help you, the motor carrier, the owner/operator and the driver better understand the insurance industry and help shape Acuity’s products and services to better meet your needs. I regularly provide ongoing trucking training to Acuity employees to help them understand the unique needs of those in the trucking/transportation industry. With over 30 years in the transportation sector, as both a company driver and as owner and manager of a trucking company, I have first-hand experience that helps me understand the challenges truckers’ face, and detailed knowledge of transportation regulations. My experience coupled with a background in insurance loss control can help answer and provide solutions to any issues that may arise.

Fortunately, there are many ways to enrich life on the road:

Technology. Use technology to learn about a subject of interest. Movies, audio books, podcasts, and YouTube can provide both entertainment and a wealth of knowledge about anything from health and fitness to the latest information about the James Webb Telescope project.
Nature. Being a truck driver does not necessarily mean you’re always tied to your truck. If security and time allow, rideshare services like Uber or Lyft can make it easy to explore your interests. Parks, zoos, museums, and even gyms can be within reach. While on the road, I once spent a day at the Kennedy Space Center.
Health and Cooking. Truck technology has made it easier to explore your culinary talents. Today’s sleeper trucks fitted with inverters can run everything from refrigerators to microwaves and hotplates. Cooking your own meals can save you money and make it easier to eat a healthier, wider variety of foods, all while continuing to expand your culinary skills.
Sharing Memories. Documenting your memories from the road—whether you journal, take photographs, or run your own YouTube channel (while safely parked!)—allows you to keep and share your experiences and memories with those of your choosing.