A new survey of hundreds of truckers looks at how a career behind the wheel takes a toll on a driver’s romantic relationships.
On August 22, 2023, JW Surety Bonds published the results of a survey exploring the dating lives of 324 truck drivers. Seventy-seven percent of survey respondents were in a committed relationship, and 23% were single.
Overall, the survey found that the majority of truckers struggle with love due to their driving careers. See key takeaways from the survey below:
- 90% of truckers find it challenging to form and sustain relationships because of their profession.
- 2 in 3 truckers have ended a relationship due to the strains caused by their career.
- 62% of truckers use dating apps; Tinder is the most successful for meeting other singles.
- Truckers spend an average of 11 days per month with their significant other.
- 46% of truckers with children say they always or often miss important events due to being on the road.
- 42% of truckers believe they’ll be single forever.
- Nearly 1 in 3 have considered changing professions for the sake of their love lives.
On a positive note, 3 in 4 truckers who are in a committed relationship reported that being in a long-distance relationship while out on the road improved their communication skills.
Drivers in long-term relationships say that they worked to maintain their connection with their significant other by video chat (53%), sending gifts or care packages (45%), or sending racy text messages (42%).
Among single truck drivers, only 43% are seeking a romantic relationship. Those drivers who are looking for love mainly use dating apps (62%) and social media (53%) to find their next significant other.
See the full survey results here.