Do you love your work as a professional driver? Do you find it hard to be away from friends and family for long periods of time? For over-the-road drivers, staying in touch with loved ones can be one of the hardest parts of the job. Thankfully, technology is making this easier than ever before. Make life away from home a little bit better with our tips for staying in touch while on the road!
Communication Apps
Talking on the phone is nice, but there’s nothing quite like seeing the faces of your friends and family. Video chat apps like FaceTime, Zoom, or Google Duo are great, allowing you to talk one on one while also seeing facial expressions and showing your surroundings rather than just describing them.
When there isn’t time for an entire phone call, social media is a great alternative. Social media gives you the chance to share your journey and updates with a larger group of people in a quicker way.
Keep an Ongoing Group Message
According to the Pew Research Center, 7 out of 10 Americans reported that texting and group messages helped them to stay connected with friends and family.
Keeping an ongoing group chat is a great way to stay in touch while OTR. This can be a regular text message or in an app like GroupMe. The nice part about texting and group messages is that you don’t have to worry about arranging people’s schedules. You can share pictures and send a quick message whenever you need.
Schedule One-On-One Time
Spending one-on-one time with loved ones is an important aspect of fostering healthy relationships. When you’re away from home for long periods of time, time spent together becomes even more valuable. With this in mind, be sure to set aside specific potions of time for people. This could be an hour each week or a video chat during dinner so that your daily routine isn’t disrupted. Whatever you decide, be sure to stick with it!
Send Snail Mail
With the rise of technology, we’ve gotten away from sending “snail mail.” While it takes longer to be delivered, it feels special when we get something in the mail from a loved one. Most truck stops carry postcards and stamps, so you can send ones that are specific to where you’re visiting.
Looking to finish your route and get home to those you love quicker? United Truck Driving School offers 3 Time Management Tips to help you be more efficient!
Updated August 2023
