Truck drivers deliver Christmas for all
DRIVERS
Christmas is a fun-filled favourite time of year for most, but for truckers it’s often a manic dash to ensure food, presents and essentials are delivered on time. A big thank you to all the drivers who keep on trucking throughout the holidays! Watch our festive animation, plus reminisce with RoadStars Dominic Newby and Tracey Martin, who take us through the times they were trucking over the festive period and their top tips on making the most of Christmas on the road.
Truckers keep on going.
While most people break up before Christmas, we know truckers have to keep on going through to the New Year.
Driver Tracey describes her shift pattern in the past, “I used to work for Tesco. They’d stop on Christmas Eve at about 10pm and start again in the yard on Christmas afternoon. I didn’t have children back then so it was okay.”
Although Christmas can prove a manic period for drivers, Tracey should finish before Santa this Christmas “I now work for a company that delivers Coca Cola – the last delivery will probably be about 6pm on Christmas Eve.”
Benefits of working abroad.
Working over Christmas isn’t all bad, as trucker Dominic tells us “Working abroad over this time means you can often end up having Christmas in the sun!"
He’s lucky enough to have spent a fair few abroad and recalled a particular Christmas where his wife joined him on the road. “We were lucky enough to end up having lunch at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Spain.”
Tracey has also spent time in Europe over the holidays and in particular recommended Belgium and Holland as enjoyable destinations, describing the local people as very friendly: “There’s not much going on for lorry drivers at Christmas as most places are closed and so the locals invite them into their homes.”
She also recalled a fun night in a Beefeater restaurant in Germany with other truckers from the EU, UK and Ireland.
Truckers are one big family.
The trucking community is strong, something Dominic has always appreciated when working a Christmas rota: “Truckers are one big family so if I happened across a truck stop at Christmas, eating together was always a nice thing to do.”
However due to changes in shopping habits, stores opening over the holiday period and a greater demand for commodities to be delivered more promptly, truckers are feeling the pressure.
Tracey has noticed the change of pace: “It’s work, work, work. The friendship on the road used to be so much more than it is these days. As much as you want to talk to people, you don’t have time.”
Keeping in contact over Christmas.
Most would agree being away from loved ones is the hardest part of working over the festive season. Things have changed over time, when once family may have joined drivers on their Christmas journeys: “It was better back then, as you could take your children with you,” says Tracey.
Yet, technology has greatly improved communication and it couldn’t be more necessary than at Christmas. Truckers away from their family and friends can still feel connected even thousands of miles away.
Dominic ensures he keeps in touch: “I would always phone my family if I was away over Christmas. Nowadays with modern technology it is so much easier to stay in contact with family.”
Top tips for making the most of Christmas.
Stuck on the road this Christmas? Dominic and Tracey give their top tips for making the best of it.
“Take plenty of food and drink, also before you leave, check there are facilities available at your destination – a number of places close over Christmas,” recommends Tracey.
Whilst Dominic simply tries to keep a positive attitude: “Embrace the people you meet over Christmas. Working over the Christmas period doesn’t have to be as awful as it sounds.”
We wish every trucker a wonderful Christmas and hope they can enjoy the holiday period, wherever they are.
Spending Christmas on the road?
Share your story or any special festive trucking memories with your fellow RoadStars below.
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