How do you deal with stress...

My biggest stress and only real stress was not getting properly paid for my time. The only way I was able to control that stress was to find a job that paid me for all my time. And I did. Since then I could care less about delays, it made all the difference for me.

 

Set goals and focus on them. I drive for a low-paying carrier that I have to remind weekly that I run legal. My goal when I first started here was to only stay here until I became debt-free and that's what I focus on and I am $2,000 away from that so they can throw whatever they want at me and I'm just going to smile all the way to the bank.

One of the keys is to recognise and then minimize stress. I NEVER drive stressed. I pull over and chill. I stay off the cb if there's stuff that's bothering me on it. I plan runs to try and get parked early or I use paid parking. When I start my day I usually know where I'm going to end it so I have the entire day to plan for situations that may arise.

If I have a grouchy customer, it doesn't matter. They get a smile and a handshake. Both go a long way into mitigating any situation.

Horrible traffic, accident, both. Turn the cb off, turn the radio on and relax. You'll know what lane you need to be soon enough without asking 700 times. My gps warns me of traffic 50 miles away and I always snal Google maps traffic before I enter any major city.

Parking? I try to have multiple spot in mind. If I find any secret spots, I dont advertise them, especially on trucker path. This is nothing more irritating than a jerk who posts a good spot in an area with zero known parking. So that when you show up theres 5 trucks there, complete with pee bottles and poo bags.

Always take time for you. A few minutes to yourself is usually all you need to hit the stress reset button or at least drop it to much lower levels.

All this being my opinion, of course

 

For me it just got easier after half a year or so. Driving just becomes a routine

 

True. Not too much gets to me now.

 

Develop a new and improved level of patience (gets easier as you age past your teens and twenties), and develop good driving skills (maneuvering, backing, managing your time, etc) ... 50% of your stress issues will go away. The other 50% is varied according to the individual and their particular life situation and circumstances outside of the job.

 

If you can't handle the stress, then trucking is NOT for you. Time to quit before you HURT yourself or an innocent person. I myself have adjusted to it, 37 years later and still adjusting.

 

Jack Daniels and a daily screaming fit...

Not really. For me it's exercise. I'm a flatbedder so I've got a gym right behind my bed. If I'm on a long haul and don't have deck work that day, I find a way to get in a little sweating. Works for me and it really makes a difference not only physically, but mentally as well.