Researchers have recently discovered that solo, over-the-road life may have a negative effect on something many of us don’t give much thought to – mental health, leaving truckers to weigh the pros and cons of such a unique career path.

According to Business Insider, recently conducted research shows that strong, interpersonal relationships are a stronger indication of a person’s happiness and contentment in life than income, social class, IQ, genetics, or even standard measurements of health such as cholesterol levels. An increased risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia, and even common illnesses like a regular cold was found in people with poor social relationships.

Almost a third of truckers traveling over the road cite loneliness as a top health concern, listing it as a “significant issue affecting their mental health.”

“People that have 9 to 5 jobs take a lot of things for granted,” said 60-year-old Gary Artz, a trucker from Lubbock, Texas who agreed to share his over-the-road experience.

“They’re home at night, find out what the day events were. They’re home to go to the kids’ school functions, baseball games, football games, cheerleading, dance recitals — all them things like that that they take for granted and get to see. We, on the other hand, have to look at that little girl or little boy and tell them, ‘I’ll try to make the next,'” he said.

“I was never around for Father’s Day, birthdays, and most holidays,” explained 56-year-old Rob Shulin, another veteran trucker who agreed to speak about the pros and cons of over-the-road trucking.

“Now that I am home, my kids are grown and gone. A very lonely feeling indeed,” he continued.

“The bright side to the story is I was able to send both children to college, and they are happy and well adjusted,” Shulin countered, though the national average annual salary for trucking jobs only falls somewhere around $44,000.

Other truckers went on to explain how limited available time with their kids and family ensured that the small amount of time they did have together was spent making special memories.

“She [my mom] met me as I passed about 100 miles from her house, to drop off some food and see me while I got fuel,” trucker Rob, 52, explained.

“I visited for about 15 minutes. Then, I had to go. Because my drive clock was running, and I had 1,200 miles to go within 36 hours. And Mom got to drive 100-plus miles back home.”

Even through the hard times and brief visits, truckers are often hard-pressed to find a way to make up for the missing moments.

“I missed most of her dance recitals and soccer games, but we spent our days off together at a barn,” said 53-year-old Iowa-based trucker Rene Meneses, who has been driving since 1987.
“We had a horse. I rented a little farm,” he added.

“My daughter remembered the quality of time, not the quantity,” Meneses added. “We make the days special when we’re together,” he said – a mantra surely shared by many members of the trucking community.