California truckers rely on long phone calls to ease isolation on the road

Truck driver Gurinderjit Singh, based in Fresno, California, spends up to eight hours a day on a headset while hauling freight. He describes the practice as a “call of empathy,” a ritual that helps him stay awake and reduces stress, loneliness, and mental‑health strain common among long‑haul drivers.

Drivers keep one ear free to comply with state laws that prohibit handheld phone use, but the habit still raises safety concerns because any distraction can affect control of an 80,000‑pound vehicle. The California Department of Motor Vehicles evaluates drivers’ physical and mental health during license renewals, yet the state has not conducted a statewide study of truckers’ mental health nor provided a rehabilitation program. Drivers must seek private legal help if a mental‑health issue threatens their commercial license.

The phenomenon reflects a broader lack of institutional support for the mental‑well‑being of U.S. truckers, despite growing recognition that isolation and long hours pose significant risks to both drivers and highway safety.