Behind the Driver
Rewa Stack tells us what its like to be a wife to a truckdriver and a stay-at-home Mom.
This month, we are excited to introduce Rewa Stack, the newsletter's first guest contributor. As wife to Mercer owner operator, Andy Stack, and mother of two, Rewa knows what it's like to raise a family in the trucking industry. Each month, she will share her experience as the woman behind the driver.
Hi. My name is Rewa and I am wife of Mercer driver 8220, Andy Stack. We have been with Mercer for 3 years. and my most favorite thing about Mercer is that we get our money quickly!! Gotta love that!! We live in rural South Carolina and have two boys, Nathan (14) and Aaron (11). I am a stay-at-home spouse who tends to the truck accounts, and I also home-school our boys. The home-school adventure just began this year. I am also a moderator for a wonderful site (www.loads.org) created by Kathy Harders called L.O.A.D.S. (Loved Ones and Driver Support). LOADS helped me find other trucking spouses that can relate to the trucking life.
Our days are fairly typical. Morning quiet time, a nice long walk, breakfast, school, lunch, a little more school plus whatever chores need doing. On non-typical days, it gets really fun around here. Those are the days I must fit in all of the typical stuff plus all of the unexpected hoopla … And let me tell you - a record breaking roller coaster doesn’t have a loop or downhill run as crazy or heart-stopping as I do. Maybe I'll tell ya’ll about those non-typical days later on … just make sure ya have your belts on tight!!
My husband stays gone for about eight weeks at the time. To some, that may sound awful but it works for us. Plenty of phone calls help ease the lonely times. We make it a point to talk daily, and of course the boys both get one-on-one talk time too. We've shared everything over the phone. I think the hardest thing we have done was back in August when my Dad passed away. Andy was in CA and I needed him home ASAP (I knew it was gonna take a couple of days), but his new coordinator kinda missed that point. We worked through that and he got him home (thanks Kev!!) in time to hold me up during the worst time of my life.
A trucking family faces all of the ordinary things life can throw out, but then we also get deal with the all important issues of slow freight, higher fuel prices, more regulations and my favorite - a total lack of understanding on the average Joe’s behalf. Regular nine-to-fivers that aren't associated with the industry really have no clue as to what it takes to get a load from point A to point B. Sometimes I think they think that their food and such just gets dropped into stores by storks! Oh wait, they do the baby thing so, hmmm …
The best advice I could give newcomers to the industry…
For the spouse of a driver, I’d say “Never believe he is coming home until you see the whites of his eyes.” Things can and will go wrong and certain circumstances may hold the driver up. Unload times can get messed up, traffic snarls caused by accidents or construction and breakdowns can and will occur. Also, if you call your driver and he doesn’t seem “into the conversation,” don’t get upset. Just take into consideration he is working and ask him to call you when he stops. Also remember that not all cell phones work in ALL areas, so if he doesn’t answer don’t worry and don’t keep calling. He’ll call you as soon as he can.
For the driver himself, I’d say keep the shiny side up!! Also, remember that the family back home does have more to do than sit by the phone all day. So if you call and can’t get them, don’t fret or worry. Just try back later at a time when you KNOW without a doubt they should be home.
For both sides, I say TRUST each other!! If you have doubts about anything TALK it over, but remember to TRUST in all things!!
Looking forward to joining you again soon!!
Rewa
Hi. My name is Rewa and I am wife of Mercer driver 8220, Andy Stack. We have been with Mercer for 3 years. and my most favorite thing about Mercer is that we get our money quickly!! Gotta love that!! We live in rural South Carolina and have two boys, Nathan (14) and Aaron (11). I am a stay-at-home spouse who tends to the truck accounts, and I also home-school our boys. The home-school adventure just began this year. I am also a moderator for a wonderful site (www.loads.org) created by Kathy Harders called L.O.A.D.S. (Loved Ones and Driver Support). LOADS helped me find other trucking spouses that can relate to the trucking life.
Our days are fairly typical. Morning quiet time, a nice long walk, breakfast, school, lunch, a little more school plus whatever chores need doing. On non-typical days, it gets really fun around here. Those are the days I must fit in all of the typical stuff plus all of the unexpected hoopla … And let me tell you - a record breaking roller coaster doesn’t have a loop or downhill run as crazy or heart-stopping as I do. Maybe I'll tell ya’ll about those non-typical days later on … just make sure ya have your belts on tight!!
My husband stays gone for about eight weeks at the time. To some, that may sound awful but it works for us. Plenty of phone calls help ease the lonely times. We make it a point to talk daily, and of course the boys both get one-on-one talk time too. We've shared everything over the phone. I think the hardest thing we have done was back in August when my Dad passed away. Andy was in CA and I needed him home ASAP (I knew it was gonna take a couple of days), but his new coordinator kinda missed that point. We worked through that and he got him home (thanks Kev!!) in time to hold me up during the worst time of my life.
A trucking family faces all of the ordinary things life can throw out, but then we also get deal with the all important issues of slow freight, higher fuel prices, more regulations and my favorite - a total lack of understanding on the average Joe’s behalf. Regular nine-to-fivers that aren't associated with the industry really have no clue as to what it takes to get a load from point A to point B. Sometimes I think they think that their food and such just gets dropped into stores by storks! Oh wait, they do the baby thing so, hmmm …
The best advice I could give newcomers to the industry…
For the spouse of a driver, I’d say “Never believe he is coming home until you see the whites of his eyes.” Things can and will go wrong and certain circumstances may hold the driver up. Unload times can get messed up, traffic snarls caused by accidents or construction and breakdowns can and will occur. Also, if you call your driver and he doesn’t seem “into the conversation,” don’t get upset. Just take into consideration he is working and ask him to call you when he stops. Also remember that not all cell phones work in ALL areas, so if he doesn’t answer don’t worry and don’t keep calling. He’ll call you as soon as he can.
For the driver himself, I’d say keep the shiny side up!! Also, remember that the family back home does have more to do than sit by the phone all day. So if you call and can’t get them, don’t fret or worry. Just try back later at a time when you KNOW without a doubt they should be home.
For both sides, I say TRUST each other!! If you have doubts about anything TALK it over, but remember to TRUST in all things!!
Looking forward to joining you again soon!!
Rewa