Being a truck driver implies, in some cases, being far from home and the loved ones. To overcome this difficult situation, L.O.A.D.S. offers support to drivers, relatives, or other people who is affected by the solitude that this career may involve.
L.O.A.D.S. or Loved Ones And Drivers Support is an organization founded in 1992 with the purpose of offering emotional support to those families belonging to the truck industry. According to L.O.A.D.S., their meaning is to help a forgotten group deal with relationships characterized by being long-distance. This situation affects not only the driver but their whole environment. Think about a special day or holiday in which the driver is miles far away. A date that is intended to be celebrated becomes a sad day in which the absence of the driver is more noticeable.
Besides giving emotional practical support, they offer useful education and understanding for those involve in a trucking relationship. All this help focuses on dealing with isolation, sadness, frustration, loneliness, among others, feelings that derive from long-distance relationships. L.O.A.D.S offers a great circle of friends who understand what the truck career involves. Their objective is to make you feel as at home being understood by other people that is facing or have faced similar situations. They take advantage of the media and its characteristics (availability, confidentiality and velocity) to increase the awareness of the public opinion about truck drivers and their concerns.
Pay attention to what Bill Woodhouse, a truck driver, said: "This life we lead is a demanding one, there are few who can deal with the stress and for those of us, who have the support of another, we know our lives have been blessed".