To our truckers : THANK YOU

We thought we knew what your work was like, we thought we knew the non-difficulties involved with driving – you just sit there and press on a pedal. We forgot the lack of sleep, the intense and unwavering attention needed to get things where they need to be, and the help you bring to motorists on all roads, in all weather conditions. Not to mention being far from your families.

We thought we understood your place in the global supply chain, how important you are to the whole process of getting things from one place to the next. We thought that traffic in cities, and weather were your worst enemies – and then COVID happened.

While we realized how few of us are important, or even needed on site, all of a sudden, we finally grasped that you were part of the people we called ESSENTIAL. More so, we recognized that you were the foundation on which all other essential workers relied to do their thing.

When most of us were at home, protected and safe, you were dealing with the fallout from the pandemic; no places to eat or relieve yourselves, no time for rest – the hospitals urgently needed supplies. You answered the call ‘en masse’ and delivered.

When we were crying about not being able to walk on the street, you were dealing with different rules each time you crossed a provincial, federal, or state border. Once more, you didn’t complain, you hunkered down and got on with it, making sure that your neighbors had food, medicine, and anything else they needed.

When we transferred ALL of our shopping online, again you were there, bringing the superfluous, as well as, the necessary things to our postal services and directly to our doors.

When no one knew how to deal with the virus, what it really was, and its overall impacts, you were in the thick of it, taking risks in a dangerous time, for us; your co-citizens.

When the scientists couldn’t help, and the governments couldn’t aid, truckers were on the move, ensuring that hospitals, supermarkets, pharmacies, and others could continue to alleviate our feelings of insecurity and fear.

When scientists finally developed a vaccine, you again answered the call to unity and over 85% of you got your shots.

Never once did you let us down or consider your safety and health as more important than anyone else’s.

So, to you, truckers of the world and Canada, I say thank you. Without you, our scientists, doctors, and other essential workers would’ve been unable to do what we needed.

Thank you for your unwavering dedication to the well-being of everyone, regardless of political ideology and medical status.

I’m sorry that our governments (and a fringe of society) have decided that your contribution was not good enough, wasn’t needed, or even, wanted. I’m sorry that so many forgot what you do every day for all of us. I’m sorry that we decided the supply chain did not need you. I’m sorry that our governments are too cowardly to sit at a table and negotiate.

A year into the pandemic, we remembered you and said thank you a few times on Instagram or Twitter… and then we promptly forgot and decided that only health workers were heroic and essential.

I’m sorry that so few influential voices are speaking on your behalf, but I am not surprised. In Canada, the current PM has lost so many feathers through his demonizing and hateful rhetoric; his cowardice in refusing to speak to the people. Governments forget that they can be replaced as they are simply not THAT essential – I mean, Belgium didn’t have a government for over a year and it didn’t change anything….

So to our truckers, worldwide, my gratitude is unending. Thank you for giving us hope that maybe one day, the charter of rights and freedoms (at least in Canada) will finally be understood.

While I am personally free to auto-confine out of fear of my neighbors, I am not free to confine them because of that fear.

Once more, THANK YOU  Every step the way, you have supported us, it is our turn to support you.