Jodi Hasson’s truck-driving husband is going on the road, but not across the country. He went to Iraq in January for a one-year contract with KBR Industries to transport army supplies from base to base across Iraq and Kuwait.
“This way, he can do his part to help out,” says Jodi, 27. Her husband, Bryan, is restricted from joining the military for medical reasons, she says, but he wants to help any way he can.
The Hassons agreed that a year would be long enough for him to be away from home. Prior to accepting this job, Bryan was home every weekend in between his runs. Now, he will be home for three 10-day visits over the next year.
To cope with her husband’s absence, Jodi has started an e-mail chat at truckerswfe@ yahoo.com for those who are going through the same ordeal.
“I have a wonderful support group of family and friends, but they can’t really understand my situation,” Jodi says.
Jodi has two people to chat with so far: one woman whose husband was in training with Bryan and another who is an employee of KBR already overseas.
“But I want more people who are in my situation,” Jodi says. “There were 900 [drivers] finished with their training and 635 in training with Bryan.”
When Bryan finished his training he left America and left his wife and 9-year-old daughter at home in Maine.
When Bryan is not driving loads from base to base, his knowledge will be put to use in other ways. According to Jodi he might have to stock shelves, work in a warehouse or do other jobs a trucker can do.
At first, Jodi was concerned about Bryan’s safety, but she is now at ease. “If there is any danger, they are the first to be taken out of the situation,” Jodi says.
Although Bryan didn’t take this job strictly for financial reasons, it was a major factor in the decision. “This will financially put us in a much better place than we are now,” Jodi says.
Bryan can make up to $80,000 per year, which is a significant increase from his pay in Maine.
He heard about the job from a mechanic friend in a nearby town. It was a mutual decision between Bryan and Jodi for him to accept this position. He applied more than a year ago and received further instructions in October of last year. After getting his hazmat license in December, his application was marked “hired.”
Jodi is still looking for people in her position and hoping for contact through her website. “We are support for each other,” Jodi says.
