There are over 1,840 highway Rest Areas in this country and over 40,000 Truck Stops....

[A HERETIC I AM]

And in almost every single one of them, there are drivers who have parked and slept for the night, miles from home.

I'm fortunate these days that I am home almost every day, and just walked in the door (2:30 AM EST) after a short, 380 mile trip down to Melbourne, FL and back

Have a thought for all the dedicated truckers out there who spend holidays, birthdays, anniversary's and other family events on the road, so this country can continue to run smoothly.

Below is a photo I took earlier this evening at 11:20 at a rest area on the northbound side of I-95 near Mims, FL.

About 12 or 14 guys parked for the night on Christmas Eve. Tens of thousands of drivers are doing the same thing all over the country tonight. May they all get safely home to their loved ones.

[NJCher]

1. I hope

They had iPads or cell phones where they could be with their families, at least virtually.

There is no substitute for being there, however, and the fact that they stepped up is much appreciated on this end.

[A HERETIC I AM]

3. These days most do.

I hope They had iPads or cell phones where they could be with their families, at least virtually.

The number of drivers going down the road that do NOT have a smart phone of one sort or another is probably minuscule these days. In fact I attribute the almost complete falloff of CB radio traffic to the prevalence of these devices as well as GPS units.

So yeah, I bet most of them could Face Time with their families before hitting the rack.

[NJCher]

8. Speaking of

complete falloff of CB radio traffic

Do you remember that song from before cell phones—about CB radios? It was called “Convoy” and it was very popular. I think it was a number one song for a long time. It somehow captured the phenomena of the country being covered with truckers who spoke to each other on CB radio.

We got that there was a sense of community and camaraderie among truckers from that song.

[A HERETIC I AM]

13. CW McCall -

The song inspired the movie starring Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw and Earnest Borgnine.

Sorry to say, in my opinion one of the dumbest trucker movies of all time!

But yeah, the song and the subsequent movie sold a hell of a lot of CB's to the motoring public. I bought one myself! Installed it in a VW Rabbit I had.

I say the modern phones have had a hand in minimizing radio traffic because all the things you used to use the radio for can now be gotten in that one item, maybe two if you add a GPS.

I haven't needed to ask for "Local Information" in 20 years! Much less asked for someone's "20" or a "10-36".

The last time I had one mounted in a truck was over a decade ago and even then the traffic was spotty if not nonexistent. When you did hear someone talking it was either complete shite or two or three friends chatting away, and if they were smart they would move their conversation off the "Breaker Channel" (Ch. 19). It got to the point where I would ride down the road with the squelch turned up so I wouldn't hear anyone unless they were within a few hundred yards of me. Just too much nonsense.

I started driving OTR in 1987 and they were regularly used back then with lots of interesting and often funny traffic. I had one in the trucks I used to drive on Motor Racing up into the 2000's, but as time went on, it was turned on less and less. Then it turned into mostly nasty, pointless crap. So the only times I would turn it on was to find out what that holdup was or what was the best lane to be in, until I realized even that was pointless.

I haven't talked on regularly on a CB in, as I said, well over a decade.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

23. I hear ya,

the only reason there are CB radios in my trucks is just in case the cell phones go down, which has happened a couple of times, to be able to still communicate, other than that, mine stays off.

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. In areas that are remote or sparsely populated...

I would absolutely have one. My firm sent me up to Alaska in 2022, once in July to Anchorage and again in November to Fairbanks. If you're running out of town, then absolutely put one in the truck. In fact, most of the guys running the "Haul Road(s)" use a VHF band radio so they can get out further. If you're running up to Deadhorse/Prudhoe you absolutely need a VHF rig. I never got up there (thankfully!) but I did run south down toward Anchorage on snow covered roads, but since I was there temporarily, I still didn't have a CB. The traffic on Alaska Rte 3 is a lot more frequent than on the Dalton.

Same with places like Montana, North Dakota, the far north of Minnesota and Wisconsin, UP of Michigan, etc. If it's a long way between towns and no interstates coupled with spotty or no Cellular signal, I would absolutely have a radio in the truck.

Here's a TikTok I did at the swap point when I was running south from Fairbanks. VERY lonely place! ;

https://www.tiktok.com/@the_schmingster/video/7237639530872917290

That location is here.. 177 miles south of the Fairbanks sorting center

[MarineCombatEngineer]

26. Never taken nor received a load into or out of AK.

From the video posted, it does look very lonely.
I tend to stay within the lower 48 and try to do the I-5 corridor exclusively if possible, my other driver likes to do the coast to coast runs, but on occasion, I'll take a load out of my comfort zone if she can't.

[PCIntern]

32. Wish I had a CB when I was commuting to

North Central PA from Philly, leaving at 2:30 AM. Desolate on the Tpke and Interstates -one time while I was gassing up, a State Trooper pulled in, said he’d seen me over the weeks in my old car, and told me that if my car ever breaks down, move away from it and only come out into the open if it’s a police car or a tow. He said people were routinely disappearing on I-80. He was not joking around.

[soldierant]

44. I remember that one and

I also remember a companion piece called "Reddy Bear." Anyone besides me remember that one?

[FemDemERA]

46. You mean Teddy Bear? I Cry every time :-)

https://m.

[LoisB]

2. Thank you for pointing this out. We tend to take so much for granted.

[Skittles]

4. when I was on a TDY for my IT job

I spotted a trucker hopping out of his truck first thing in the morning and stretching in icy cold Wikes-Barre - I chatted with him a bit, then invited him to join me for a buffet breakfast at the nearby hotel I was staying at. Besides being great company (loved his road stories), I marveled at how much he was able to eat - he pretty much sampled everything they had!

[Hekate]

5. 🎄Safe Travels, All 🎄

[state of stupid]

6. I feel ya man

While the song is about a band's life on the road every time, I listen to it I think of every
driver that life.

[OldBaldy1701E]

37. My first three bands did this tune! (n/t)

[state of stupid]

7. sorry about typos

Every driver who lives that life.

[A HERETIC I AM]

14. No problem. It's easy to edit your posts...

At the bottom right of your post there is a green rectangular box that says "Options". Click that and you'll find the Edit feature ( "Edit This Post" ). You can go back and fix typos, add photos or videos or completely rewrite your post if you want.

[Grumpy Old Guy]

9. My nephew was an OTR trucker.

Sadly, he died way too young, forty four years old. The stress was too much for him.

[Captain Zero]

12. Stress with a poor diet and lack of exercise out on the road

My cousin was about 47. Gone too soon.

[A HERETIC I AM]

15. Woah!

That is way too young. No job should kill you that quickly.

I'm sorry for your loss.

[2naSalit]

10. And every one of them...

Is packed nearly every night.

Sending out good vibes to those road warriors not home for the holidays. I spent more than 15 Christmases on the road, you can find fun things to enjoy the day but it's nothing like being home.

Merry Christmas, A HERETIC I AM!!

[A HERETIC I AM]

16. Merry Christmas, 2na!

I've been with this firm 11 years now and I think I've been home on Christmas day maybe 4 times. Same with all the other holidays. I think I've had 2 Fourth of July's at home, maybe 3 New Years, etc. etc.

Stay warm out there!

[2naSalit]

19. Thanks...

But it is warm, It's over +40F and drizzling. Might turn to snow later but we'll just have minor amounts on the ground everywhere below 8,000ft, which is not good. At least they didn't have to cancel the ski festival in West Yellowstone again this year.

Have great home-for-once holiday! I have a few gifts to open and too much cake and cookies within reach!

[markie]

11. so nice and

thank you from the daughter of a (6 years now gone) truck driver...

?si=LR3giJksG-yDWNFK

[2naSalit]

20. Nice rig!

I drove a few like that, he had a pretty nice set up and a little bling.

Merry Christmas!

Oops! I just realized that's an album cover! I still mean it, have a great day!

[pfitz59]

17. Trucking songs

[A HERETIC I AM]

18. Now THIS is a trucking song;

"Ya wanna screw that thing back on, Earl?

[NJCher]

27. My friend wrote that song

Chip Davis.

Went through the whole overnight sensation experience with him.

He didn’t have anything to do with the movie, though.

[Happy Hoosier]

45. Love Chip's Mannheim Steamroller stuff

Of course the Christmas stuff, but a lot of the other stuff too. Went to see him in concert once some years ago. If you’re still in touch , pass on a sincere thanks from a fan!

[Liberal In Texas]

21. You guys do jobs I would not want to do. Happy Holidays to you

and to the other road warriors out there.

[A HERETIC I AM]

25. Thanks very much.

Merry Christmas.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

22. I'm pretty lucky in that I own my own trucking company consisting

of 2 trucks, 2 drivers, myself being one of them, my agent and my accountant, so both of us are home for the holidays while the trucks are getting a well deserved break, B service and a deep cleaning.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all the truckers out there who aren't able to be home.
Keep the wheels between the lines, the rubber side down and don't feed the bears.

[NJCher]

28. You then have a degree

Of control. Good for you!

[DENVERPOPS]

33. Hey MCE

Have a nice Christmas, and with any luck, a happy and prosperous New Year........

Take care of you, and yours!!!!!!!!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

34. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year to you and your family.

[WestMichRad]

29. A big Thank you to all the drivers out there

… who keep our country running smoothly. I appreciate you! Merry Christmas and safe holidays!

Here’s another truckin’ song.

&pp=ygUSd2lsbGluIGxpdHRsZSBmZWF0

[SunSeeker]

31. Great song.

"Driven the back roads so I wouldn't get weighed."

[NoMoreRepugs]

30. Essential workers. Should be treated as such.

[ProfessorGAC]

35. My Dad Was A Driver, But Not OTR

He delivered milk to the supermarkets in an IH rig with a cooler trailer.
But, the most distant store in the chain was only around 45 miles away, so he was home every night.
He didn't have to do the things you describe. No sleeping in the truck. No being gone on the holidays.
He was a Teamster so he made a good living, plus the sacrifices weren't huge.

[littlemissmartypants]

36. Two of my three grandfathers were

Truck drivers. Also, as a traveling health care provider, I had cell phones for every carrier and a CB radio.

No one wants to get lost in the swamp and not be able to reach a patient or emergency services.

I was a girl scout. I know what "be prepared" means.

Great post, A HERETIC I AM. ❤️

[bsiebs]

38. Mama Hated Diesels So Bad.....

[Callie1979]

39. No way I could ever maneuver one of those trailers in a city!!

Much less a parking lot

[Ruby the Liberal]

40. Merry Christmas Heretic

May everyone on the road get home safely to their families.

[A HERETIC I AM]

42. Thanks. Same to you and yours.

[LogDog75]

41. Never drove a big rig

But the owner of a trucking company offered me a job after I got out of the AF. I was loading our field hospital, on aircraft pallets, on his flat bed rigs with a 10K forklift. We were shipping it to another base for a field demonstration. He asked me which pallets should be loaded first and after consulting my sheet of pallet heights and weights I proceeded to load the rigs. As we were tying down the last of the pallets he asked me when my enlistment was up and said he'd hire me. I was in my 12th year and I told him I'm staying at least 20 years.

I admire truck drivers, not just because of their skills, and others whose jobs we rarely see or consider. They help make our lives easier for us by supplying the products and services we can't do ourselves. I tend to remind people how interdependent we are to everyone else. For example, the clerk at the gas station who accepts deliver of gas from the driver of the gas tanker who picked up the load at the refinery produced by refinery worker from the oil produced by oil well operators who can do their jobs because the people who build and maintain drilling rigs made from the metals other produced at manufacturing plants from the raw metal ores dug by miners, etc... Everything is interrelated and interdependent.

In the late 70s at Myrtle Beach, SC, rock-n-roll legendary D Dick Biondi, had a morning show and one of the things he did every morning was to recognize and thank the men and women who worked the overnight shifts. People like doctors, nurses, police, fire en, waitresses, clerks, etc.. These are people who are "invisible" or are taken granted for by the rest of us.

[A HERETIC I AM]

43. The gig I have is mostly night work.

The US Mail moves at night, for the most part. Certainly it does for distances shorter than 500 miles, anyway.

In the last 11 years I've worked more days that started after 5 PM than I can count.

The rest of your points are well taken. People don't really know how much goes on while they're sleeping.

Take Manhattan, for instance. Almost all the restaurants, bodegas and other retail stores get their deliveries in the wee hours. The side streets are packed with straight trucks and tractor trailers delivering what it takes to keep a major city fed and clothed. The fish, produce and meat markets in most major cities open at 2 or 3 in the morning. The guy delivering to your local convenience stores do that work at night. Thousands of drivers across the country have the keys to the back doors of Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King's, etc. and put their product in place mostly at night.

I've only hauled "dry freight" and cars in my career, never foodstuffs, but those guys I mentioned above bust their asses to keep us all fed.