Holidays on the road

user-gravatar Headshot

15We’ve shared stories of such here from time to time. Suffice it to say that for many a driver, holidays away from home are a common occurrence. That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s all bad.

The Rand McNally company recently surveyed more than 800 professional drivers about how they celebrate holidays, finding that almost a third do things such as decorate their rigs, connect with family via phone/computer links and find quite a lot of the best bit of camaraderie among fellow travelers on the roads — specifically, other drivers around the truck stops, and four-wheelers who have a better appreciation for how truckers influence their lives.

Here are a few of the stories of Christmas and Thanksgiving on the road that Rand McNally shared in a recent release: 

“Thanksgiving week I parked and noticed a vehicle and its occupants paying more attention to my rig than I was comfortable with, so I got out and stood in front of the truck with my arms folded watching them watch me. The driver pulled closer revealing a very excited two-and-a-half year old. His grandpa told me, ‘He LOVES BIG TRUCKS’. For the next fifteen minutes grandpa, grandma, his mommy and daddy enjoyed family time in my truck taking pictures laughing—all sharing an experience that makes the long lonely days of what I do, worth it!” shared Doug, from Columbia City, Ind. 

Often drivers are called upon, and willingly offer, to assist in an emergency. John of Daytona Beach, Fla. is a retired paramedic. On one run during the holidays, he came upon a car crash with a passenger in labor. “After I checked on her, I saw we only had a few minutes before the baby was born, and I let her know we were having this Christmas Eve baby right here. She gave birth to a beautiful little girl – Crystal Marrie, 8 lbs. 9 oz.”

Sometimes, drivers are witness to a certain miracle. Jeff from Idaho Falls, Idaho, thought he’d seen a disaster unfold before him. “An SUV went off the road in front of me in Idaho one winter night and rolled three times. I didn’t think anyone would survive but to my surprise and joy when I got to the car there were two college girls seat-belted upside down in the vehicle without a scratch on them. They were sisters on their way home for Christmas break. We got them out and kept them warm until the police and their parents arrived. It was definitely a miracle that they both survived.” 

Partner Insights
Information to advance your business from industry suppliers

Miracles can also be found in the simple and unexpected. “There is so much beauty in our country. Getting in to Salt Lake City, Utah seeing the mountains covered with beautiful snow is something that I will never forget,” said Salvador, of Laredo, Texas.

Rand McNally’s been sharing these stories via its trucking Facebook page. To read more or share your own, visit Facebook.com/RandTrucking

What’s your best story of Christmas on the road? 

The Business Manual for Owner-Operators
Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2022 edition of Partners in Business.
Download
Partners in Business Issue Cover