Today is Valentine’s Day and as truck drivers there is a good chance that you will miss it. If the fact that you will be on the road bothers you on this day will depend on how long you have been together with your significant other and how important you feel this day is to your life. Some people find this a really big deal and if you miss it can be very disappointing. Others are like myself find Valentine’s Day just an excuse for flower shops and candy stores to make more money and will go out of my way not to do anything on this day. My wife has been told that this will happen as I am totally opposed to the commercial side of the day. Then there is the group of people that feel Valentine’s Day could come or go and their day wouldn’t change at all. Deciding which group you fall into is totally your decision.
Where the trouble starts is when you phone home to talk to your partner and they say, “Happy Valentine’s Day, I got you a special gift.” You now go into panic mode because you didn’t buy anything and was hoping they had forgotten. All the miles for the rest of the day will now have you thinking of how you can make it look like you had something planned all along. What do you do?
Here are 3 steps making it look like you were already prepared.
Step 1-Answer properly!
The first thing to do when on the phone and you aren’t prepared is to act like you are prepared. Answer back with “Happy Valentine’s Day” and follow with I have something for you too, but it’s a surprise and I will give it to you when I get home. This will give you hours or days to get prepared depending on your trip.
Step 2-Put your thinking cap on!
At this point try not to panic as that will cost you more. If you were 
to panic and send flowers home right away they will cost you an arm and a leg. Picking your significant other a hat from the truck stop possibly won’t go over as well as you wish either. Getting creative about what to give is a matter of knowing your partner and thinking about the bigger picture. If you are on the road all the time then time may be the biggest gift you can give, even if it is after the actual day. Most people will move the the romantic time of the actual day to another day when it falls during the week, so this works perfect for you.
Step 3-Make it Personal!
Step two just gave you some time to gather your thoughts. Step three is about making it happen by making it about the other person. If you can pick up a small gift while on your trip this will make it seem like you were planning things all along. But really make it special when you return home. Carve out time for a special dinner, date night, or some other idea to spend time together. Even a pizza can be special if thought has been into the importance of the evening. I am sure whatever you decide will work for you. Oh by the way, “Happy Valentine’s Day!”
This stuff isn’t taught in truck driving schools because they focus on what’s important for the job. If you are looking for certified truck training the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario is a great place to start. You can learn more about them at www.ttsao.com
About the Author
Bruce Outridge has been in the transportation industry for over 30 years. He is an author of the books Driven to Drive and Running By The Mile, and host of The Lead Pedal Podcast. TTSAO also known as the Truck Training Schools Association of Ontario has certified member schools in the truck training vocation ensuring quality entry level drivers enter the transportation industry. To learn more about the TTSAO or to find a certified school in your area visit www.ttsao.com