(Tiffany Goodwein/ CHAT News Today)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Life on the road: Trucker talks life behind the wheel amid COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 5, 2020 | 7:25 PM

MEDICINE HAT– From dawn to dusk, their wheels are turning. Their role is key to keeping the supply chain moving by hitting the road and delivering goods.

But with unprecedented times comes unprecedented challenges.

Truck driver Dwane Mclaren has been in the industry 22 years travelling throughout Canada and the U.S delivering agriculture products.

“This is above and beyond what we’ve ever experienced I think.”

“There’s not as much places for us to stop, use the washrooms, places to get showers and food is getting trickier and trickier,” he said

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Travelling up and down Canada and the U.S, as part of his regular run, Mclaren said finding a place to do these basic necessities is daunting.

“ Regular places that you would stop at are closed. It’s really hit and miss in the provinces and states as to who is closed.

Regulations banning in house dining has meant fast food is drive-thru only, an inaccessible feat for drivers in big rigs. While some fast-food chains have allowed truck drivers to order straight from the window others have outright prohibited it, according to Mclaren.

Meal time for drivers is also a time for truckers to unwind after long hours on the road but the closures have meant more time in their vehicles.

“There’s no get out of the truck, get away from the truck, and get the truck out of your head,” Mclaren said.

But while many restaurants and truck stops have shuttered their doors, others are doing what they can to provide support.

Emme’s Esso Truck Stop in Bassamo is open 24 hours and provides showers, laundry and hot meals for truckers. Flying J in Medicine Hat also provides a similar level of service.

“ Right now this is what is going to keep our country going is our truckers so we’ve always been for our truckers but now we’ve tried to step up,” said Tanya Graham

“Until the government tells us otherwise we have chose to stay open, fully functional. We just go through the precautions of all of the deep cleaning and sanitizing. We only have one shower but it is always available to out truckers free of charge,” she said.

A trucker fiancee herself, Graham hears about the challenges drivers are facing regularly.

“It makes me kind of angry that people are treating anybody like that. We’ve had people come in here that haven’t been able to go the bathroom since Jasper.”

“That’s not how Canada should be run. If your business is open, your washrooms should be open at least for people. How are they supposed to wash their hands if they can’t use a washroom facility?”