Life of a Trucker- Never Ending Journey of Misery

The Qualifications are not very rosy - Illiterate, Low self- esteem, addicted to drugs, struggling to cope up with deprived sleep, Long hours of labour coupled with a thankless Job and confined to a 4 feet x 2 feet Cubicle aptly describes the job of a trucker.
The truck driver has his job well defined and cut out to carry the cargo safely to its pre-determined location always vying with the limited time frame that has been allocated to him.
The Trucker has very little say in arguing with his bosses while determining the load to be carried in
his dilapidated ,outdated and un-serviced vehicle which often results in accidents most of which are fatal. The irony is further deepened with the fact that though the merchandise is insured to the hilt the trucker and his family are left at large to fend for themselves and seldom get any compensation.
The trucker is subject to the mercy of the portly cops who mercilessly beat them at the earliest available opportunity at secluded corners if they refuse bribes at check-posts.
The quality of roads available in the country is mediocre at most places which is one of the prime reasons for delays in goods reaching the final destination and on most occasions it is the trucker who has to bear the brunt of ire for no fault of his.
Driving on long monotonous routes these drivers have no one for company except for his obsolete Radio blaring on songs at full volume to keep him awake from the potential danger of any collisions Many of them are also addicted to cocaine as it prevents them from falling asleep and in the long run due to the prolonged use it causes multiple ailments often culminating in death.Further hobnobbing in red light areas to ease their tension and release the pent up sexual urges thrusts them into the fangs of HIV/STD's shortening their already reduced life span.

The Truckers dilemma and their plight was well highlighted and shown on Discovery Channel a few days back and made me change the age old perception rooted in my mind.
I wish to thank the DISCOVERY CHANNEL for opening my eyes to the grim reality of the truckers.
We seldom recognise the efforts of these unsung truckers and often use cuss words when they cross our paths on the roads especially when we are in a hurry.
What we don’t understand is that they too have a job on their hands which is very energy sapping and thankless and they are the life-line or distributors of the products we need to run everyday life in a smooth manner.
Despite the odds heavily staked against him the sheer resilience and the will to survive amidst all the misery and the penury stands out and my heart beats out to this fella.