When Home Feels Far Away: A SAP’s Perspective on the Holiday Challenges Faced by Rural Truck Drivers
The holiday season in America tends to be painted with warm colors and comforting imagery—festive lights in town squares, families gathering around tables, children opening gifts under decorated trees, and people slowing down to appreciate the warmth of the season. But for thousands of truck drivers living in rural parts of New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, and Texas, the holidays look and feel nothing like this.
Instead of gathering with family, drivers often find themselves hundreds of miles away. They are surrounded not by warmth and laughter, but by the dim glow of dashboard lights and the endless stretch of winter roads. This reality adds to their stress and isolation. In some cases, it also creates the need for support, such as SAP evaluations.
As the rest of the country celebrates, drivers are hauling food, fuel, packages, livestock feed, propane, holiday merchandise, and essential winter goods to the communities that depend on them. They often sacrifice their own emotional needs in the process.
The Weight of Rural Isolation and Holiday Demands
For rural drivers, this sacrifice grows heavier. They deal with isolation and exhaustion. They also face a deep emotional disconnect. These struggles get worse during the holiday season. The pressure creates a heavy inner world. Many drivers cope with it quietly. They may turn to alcohol or substances. This is not from recklessness. It is often a way to ease the weight they carry.
Drivers in towns like Farmington and Deming in New Mexico, Winslow and Yuma in Arizona, Pierre and Watertown in South Dakota, and Odessa and Alpine in Texas return home from long trips. These rural communities may feel peaceful in the summer. In winter, they can feel painfully empty. The silence of rural life can be intense. Holiday workloads add even more strain. Together, these pressures deepen loneliness, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion. Drivers rarely share these feelings openly.
Unlike many professions, trucking does not pause for the holidays. In fact, the season demands more from drivers than any other time of the year. When most families are preparing holiday meals or attending church services, drivers are navigating icy highways through the high desert of New Mexico, crossing windy plains in South Dakota, climbing snow-covered routes in northern Arizona, or hauling goods across West Texas. There is a profound emotional tension between the world that is resting and the world drivers inhabit—a world that demands constant vigilance, long hours, and the ability to keep moving, even when the body and mind crave connection. This mismatch leads many drivers to feel as though they are living in a separate universe from their families, friends, and communities during the most sentimental time of year.
The Emotional Toll of Rural Isolation
The emotional toll is not only about missing celebrations. It is about the missing moments they cannot get back. A driver hauling freight through Amarillo may learn through a text that their child performed in a concert they could not attend. A driver returning to Gallup might arrive home days after Christmas. The presents are already opened, and the excitement has faded. A driver finishing a long loop through South Dakota may come home to a decorated but empty house. The holiday meal is long gone. These experiences create small but accumulating losses that are felt deeply. For many, the emptiness that follows these moments becomes the start of emotional withdrawal—withdrawal from traditions, from people, and sometimes from themselves.
It is in this emotional space that alcohol and substances sometimes enter the picture. For rural drivers, substance use rarely emerges from a desire to escape responsibility. Instead, it develops quietly as a coping mechanism—a way to soothe emotional pain, to unwind after long hours of tension on winter roads, or to fill the void created by chronic loneliness. For some, a drink becomes the only moment when their mind feels quiet. For others, the substances provide temporary energy, relief, or an emotional buffer after returning home to a season they barely got to participate in. And because many drivers come from rural communities where stoicism and toughness are deeply valued cultural traits, they often hesitate to talk about their emotional struggles openly. They are used to “getting through it,” to believing that expressing stress is burdening others, or to telling themselves that they simply need to push harder.
But no one—including truck drivers—is designed to carry emotional weight without release. No human being can endure constant pressure, isolation, and disruption without support. Drivers deserve connection and compassion, not judgment. They deserve understanding rather than assumptions. They deserve to feel like their emotional needs matter, too.
How Drivers Can Be Supported at Home and in Their Communities
One of the most powerful forms of support drivers can receive comes from family. When drivers return home, even for a short window of time, family members have the opportunity to create spaces where drivers feel seen and welcome—not pressured to “shake it off” or dive immediately into holiday cheer, but invited to talk, rest, and reconnect. Families can significantly help by being flexible with holiday traditions, choosing to celebrate early, late, or in creative ways, so drivers never feel left out simply because they were on the road during a specific date. More importantly, families can normalize emotional conversations. Instead of asking quick questions like “How was the trip?”, they can ask, “How are you feeling? What has this season been like for you?” These deeper check-ins show drivers that their emotional world matters and that they have a safe place to share what they’re going through.
Communities also play a profound role. Rural towns in New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, and Texas often have strong senses of identity, history, and pride, but their holiday events sometimes unintentionally exclude those who cannot be present due to work. When communities create flexible, early-season, or multiple small celebrations, drivers are more likely to attend. When local churches or community centers send out holiday meals, gift bags, or even handwritten cards to drivers’ families, it sends a message that drivers are valued members of the community. And when community leaders acknowledge drivers publicly—whether in a local newspaper, a radio mention, or a Facebook post—it reduces the feeling of invisibility that many drivers experience during the holidays.
Support can also come through healthy coping strategies that help drivers regulate their emotions, manage stress, and protect their mental well-being on the road. Because drivers cannot always attend regular therapy appointments, tools like mindfulness recordings, guided breathing exercises, stress-reducing podcasts, and short movement routines can make a real difference. Small habits—like stepping outside the cab for fresh air, keeping a journal to process emotions, or listening to grounding exercises—can serve as healthier alternatives to numbing feelings with substances. Peer support, whether through online groups or phone check-ins with other drivers, also offers a powerful connection. Drivers understand each other in ways outsiders cannot, and shared empathy can reduce the sense of being alone.
How Employers Can Make a Meaningful Difference
Employers can contribute by building a culture that prioritizes drivers’ humanity over their output. When leadership takes the time to check in with drivers, not just about schedules but about their lives, drivers feel more supported. When companies acknowledge the difficulty of holiday routes and express genuine appreciation, it lifts morale. When dispatchers encourage drivers to take breaks, rest when needed, and choose routes that keep them closer to family when possible, it reduces burnout. And when employers communicate openly about wellness resources and normalize conversations about stress and emotional health, drivers feel permission to take care of themselves.
Support also looks like compassion around substance use. Not shame. Not secrecy. Not fear. Drivers need spaces where they can talk about how they’re coping without feeling judged or dismissed. Families, employers, and peers can gently ask, “How are you doing with everything lately? What’s been hardest?” These questions focus on the person, not the behavior. They open the door to healthier decisions and reduce the need to hide struggles behind substances. Support means building trust—not through confrontation, but through consistent presence and understanding.
Advocacy for drivers means recognizing the emotional load they carry during the holidays and responding with intentional kindness. It means encouraging communities to include drivers in holiday traditions, recognizing their sacrifices publicly, and creating safe places for emotional support. It means educating families about the pressures drivers face and reminding them that connection—real, supportive connection—can be a protective factor against substance misuse. It means reminding drivers that their feelings are valid, their well-being is important, and they deserve help during the holidays just as much as anyone else.
The Hidden Layers of Holiday Stress
The truth is that rural truck drivers hold our holiday season together. They are the reason grocery stores stay stocked, gifts arrive on time, and communities have the resources they need to celebrate. They give up time, memories, and connection so that others can experience joy. But they should not have to sacrifice their emotional health in the process. They should not be left alone to cope with stress, pain, or substance use without support. The holidays will likely always be a busy season for trucking—rural America depends on drivers more than ever this time of year. But we can change the emotional experience of drivers by offering compassion, presence, flexibility, and understanding. We can remind them that they are not invisible. We can help them build healthier ways to cope. We can show them—through words, actions, and support—that their well-being matters. And in doing so, we create rural communities that don’t just benefit from drivers’ labor, but also honor their humanity.
In addition to the emotional strain drivers carry, the holidays often bring up complex personal reflections that deepen their vulnerability. Many drivers talk about feeling caught between two worlds: the fast-paced, high-pressure world of the road and the slower, intimate world of home that feels farther away every year. When they walk back into their houses in rural communities, they are not just returning from a job—they are returning from isolation, stress, and the relentless forward motion of long-haul life. The transition back into family life can feel awkward or rushed, leaving them unsure how to re-engage with the people they love most. This tension often makes drivers feel misunderstood, not because their families don’t care, but because the demands of trucking are hard to articulate unless someone has lived them.
How Weather and Unpredictability Affect Drivers Emotionally
Drivers in rural areas also struggle with the emotional impact of weather-related unpredictability. A sudden snowstorm in South Dakota or northern Arizona might cancel a route and give them unexpected time at home, but just as often, it traps them on the road longer than expected. Winter storms rarely affect highways evenly; a clear stretch in Texas can quickly become a sheet of ice in New Mexico or a whiteout in South Dakota. This uncertainty builds anxiety and creates emotional exhaustion—not only from driving in dangerous conditions but from the constant fear of being delayed and missing more moments with family. When drivers repeatedly experience these disappointments, substances can become a tempting way to soften the impact of yet another holiday spent apart.
Social Pressures
Another layer of holiday struggle comes from the social pressure drivers face within their own communities. In rural areas, gatherings often revolve around food, drink, and celebration. Drivers may come home from grueling shifts and feel both the desire and the pressure to join loved ones in a shared drinking culture, even if they are emotionally drained. Rural communities across New Mexico, Arizona, South Dakota, and Texas often pride themselves on togetherness and tradition, but the pace of trucking life doesn’t always match the pace of community life. This mismatch can make drivers feel like they are always catching up, always missing something, always half-present in places where they want to be fully engaged. Drinking or using substances can become a way to feel temporarily “in sync” with the environment around them.
Supporting drivers also means expanding our understanding of what stress looks like in the trucking world. Many drivers don’t express their emotions verbally; instead, stress shows up in irritability, withdrawal, sleeplessness, or a sense of numbness after long hours on the highway. Loved ones who learn to recognize these signs can intervene early with compassion. A simple gesture like preparing a favorite meal, creating a calm home environment, or offering space to rest without expectations can provide drivers with the grounding they desperately need. Emotional support is not just about conversations—it is about intentional acts of care that remind drivers they are valued.
Community Expectations
Communities in rural states can make a real difference. They can build programs that acknowledge the demands placed on drivers. Early holiday celebrations can help. Delivering meals to drivers’ families can help too. So can drop-in mental wellness sessions or appreciation cards signed by local children. These gestures bridge the emotional distance many drivers feel.
Partnerships between trucking companies and community groups can also help. Together, they can create wellness programs designed for drivers. These efforts foster belonging and reduce the emotional isolation that often leads to substance use.
Supporting rural truck drivers means seeing the depth of their sacrifice. It means responding with empathy, creativity, and presence. Drivers are not just moving freight. They hold together the fabric of holiday life for millions. Their emotional world deserves attention, respect, and active support from families, employers, and communities.
How SAP Evaluations Support Drivers Who Are Struggling
For some drivers, the weight of holiday pressure, isolation, and emotional strain becomes overwhelming, and substance use may escalate to a point where help is not just beneficial—but required. When a driver faces a DOT violation or finds themselves relying on substances to cope, a Substance Abuse Professional (SAP) evaluation can be a turning point rather than a punishment. SAP evaluations are designed to offer structured, compassionate support that helps drivers safely return to duty while addressing the deeper emotional challenges behind their substance use.
A substance abuse professional’s role is not to judge, but to guide. Through a confidential evaluation, individualized recommendations, and follow-up care, drivers receive a path forward that prioritizes both safety and well-being. For rural drivers especially—those who often feel forgotten or alone during the holidays—SAP services provide a lifeline: a place where their struggles are taken seriously, their story is heard, and their healing matters.
Getting back on the road isn’t just about meeting DOT requirements; it’s about giving drivers the tools, support, and understanding they need to move forward with confidence. SAP evaluations remind drivers that one hard season does not define them—and that help, hope, and recovery are always within reach. Reach out to Purple Path Counseling for support.
Find Compassionate Holiday Support for Rural Truck Drivers With SAP Evaluations in New Mexico
If the holidays feel heavy and you’re ready for real support, SAP evaluations in New Mexico can help you take the first step toward stability and healing. You don’t have to navigate stress, isolation, or substance use alone—there is guidance available from professionals who understand the weight you carry. Reach out to Purple Path Counseling today and find a path forward that honors both your work and your well-being.
Begin your SAP Evaluation with a trusted DOT-qualified professional.
Navigate the holiday season with support!
Additional Services Offered at Purple Path Counseling
Along with providing SAP evaluations, Purple Path Counseling offers a wide range of services to support individuals, couples, and families through many of life’s challenges. Our clinicians work with adults facing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, major transitions, and addiction, and we also offer couples therapy to help partners communicate more effectively, rebuild trust, and feel more connected. We provide Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) for those recovering from high-stress or traumatic events, as well as specialized perinatal mental health care for clients during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Group offerings include support for maternal mental health, trauma healing, anxiety, and addiction. In addition, our team conducts thorough disability accommodation assessments for school, work, and housing to ensure clients receive clear, ethical, and supportive documentation. For continued learning and insight, we welcome you to explore our blog, which features ongoing resources on mental health and emotional well-being.
About The Authors
Dr. Stephanie Marie Kinney, Psy.D., LMFT, PMH-C, SAP, and Dr. Tia Brisco, Psy.D., LMFT, SAP are licensed marriage and family therapists at Purple Path Counseling, where they work with individuals, couples, and organizations seeking growth, healing, and meaningful personal change. As Clinical Director, Dr. Kinney draws on more than a decade of experience supporting clients through perinatal mental health concerns, substance use challenges, relationship issues, and major life transitions. Her approach is trauma-informed and blends CBT, mindfulness practices, and person-centered care.
Dr. Brisco oversees Clinical Operations and specializes in workplace mental health, organizational well-being, and SAP evaluations, offering practical and compassionate guidance that strengthens both emotional health and professional functioning.
Together, they foster a supportive environment built on deep clinical knowledge and genuine care. Both providers are currently accepting clients for SAP evaluations as well as virtual therapy sessions.
