I began my Over the Road driving career back in the late '70's. At that time, communication was limited to pay phones and the U.S. Mail. I remember how happy I was when truck stops started putting phones in restaurant booths. Of course, those phones had their own issues; but they were better than nothing.
Communication has always been an issue in the trucking industry. When I dispatched trucks, I always wanted my guys to call as often as possible. That was a pain in the butt for them but, since it was so hard for me to "reach out" to them, it was essential that they call often. Drivers talked to me far more, generally, than they talked to their wives, kids, friends and other family members. I'm a good guy but that ain't the way things should oughta be!
Having experienced trucking when communication was limited, the new technology - cell phones, satellites, email and even video calling - has offered the answers to so many issues. This stuff is the reason my blog exists. Still, even with all of the improvements, maintaining long distance relationships is an issue.
I hadn't really thought about it, before finding out about a web site called "Trucker Therapy", but, even though you may share a home with your spouse, the reality is that you're very likely involved in a long distance relationship. And that goes for your relationships with all your family members; brothers, sisters, mom, dad, etc., not to mention friends and co-workers.
In my estimation, if you can do something to improve the quality of your relationships then you should. Even though the avenues of communication have expanded greatly since the days when I began, the avenues that now exist are not without their issues. The guy's name is Buck Black - and there's a multitude of methods available for communicating with him. Give it a shot.
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