LOADS makes a significant difference in the long-distance relationship.
Here you can read testimonials from our members or share one of your own!

"MaMa LOADS"
...written by Truck Driver Bill Woodhouse 1997

This life we lead is a demanding one, There are few who can deal with the stress, And for those of us, Who have the support of another, We know our lives have been blessed.

But in the times, When nothing seems right, When your life feels flat as the roads, There will always be someone, Just a phone call away, Affectionately called MaMa LOADS.

In the years we've been friends, For me she's been there, Relieving the road burn and stress, And next to my wife, She rates a close second.

Thanks MaMa, you're the best."

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Rikki, UK...

LOADS...Is a community that spans the miles, eats the distances and disregards the differences..

LOADS, relies on its members to exist, and exists solely for its members

LOADS, Exists because the hearts of its members beats within it, without the love and understanding that it's individual unique members provide LOADS would just be a web site, not the living, breathing, loving organization we are so proud to be a member of!

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Dianne L.- California, USA...

LOADS, an acronym, means just what it says, of course, but it goes deeper than that. We join the organization and being to understand that we are not alone no matter what may be going on in our lives. There is always someone in this group who understands or can empathize. Great advice is given and lots of encouragement is provided when things aren't going so well.

With LOADS I have a family of folks who really do understand the frustrations of being a trucker's wife. If a person is new to trucking, LOADS is the place to get a very good knowledge of the lifestyle and other aspects of trucking as an industry and as a career choice.

I came to LOADS when hubby started CDL school and now that he has completed his first year, even he says that LOADS is probably the best thing that happened to both of us. You all are great!

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Nancy W.- Ohio, USA...

We at home learn to cope - we learn how to change light bulbs, remove stitches, unclog toilets, attend in-law family affairs with smiles on our faces. We sometimes spaz - the stress of juggling home and family and jobs while trying to be supportive of the one on the road does build up, does seek release. Then, we turn to LOADS and we get through that moment's crisis. Or, when there's no one to crow to about a child's accomplishment or our own accomplishment, we turn to LOADS. We scream, cry, vent, laugh, hug, love -each other - through LOADS. As "our" driver handles his lifestyle, his career, his life's calling - we carry the rest of the load, by being part of LOADS, by being able to share our side of the lifestyle with others, who are just like ourselves.

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Susan G.- USA...

LOADS is a place I can come to for advice, friendship & to let off steam. I like knowing that others go through the same problems, ect. that I go through. Being a SAHM with little children being able to turn to the LOADS group has really helped me a lot. I have found it to be a very supportive group & someone is always there for you when you need them.

There are people from all over the world but we all have the same thing in common---Trucking. No one else really knows what life is like as a trucker or being married to a trucker than someone that is doing the same thing. I'm so thankful I found LOADS & became a member of the group of such loving & caring people. To me it is my Home away from home.

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Bridgett G- Ohio, USA...

LOADS has saved me. I had no idea how I was ever going to cope with the life that was facing me. I was scared, lonely, confused and even depressed that my husband was "leaving" me and the children behind to pursue a career in trucking.

Then, very late one night I was searching my computer for trucking information. And there it was..... a link to LOADS. I read the home page and decided to peek in on the message boards. There hasn't been a day since that I have not come back. The welcome and friendship so happily dished out to me was overwhelming. I instantly felt at home. My attitude seemed to change and I realized I WAS NOT ALONE. I was able to start adjusting to my new life, and even came to be proud of the fact that my family is now members of a very special group of people.....a truck driver's family.

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Myra H.- Illinois, USA...

What can I say to put how I feel about LOADS into words? It is my heart and soul,, my life support and my best friends in the whole world.

In June 1999, I was job searching for my husband Edward due to a lack of revenue with the company he was with and our life in shambles before us. I was stressed, Ed was stressed , our marriage was stressed. While searching, I stumbled across a group called LOADS ( Loved Ones and Driver Support ) and got signed up to look at their Forum. I never knew there was a such thing as a trucking support group, plus I was very new to the internet.

I lurked for a few weeks and then got brave enough to post something.. Scary at first but after the first responses and about a week, I felt like I was at home. Everyone was so helpful and supportive with my situation. No one judged me, just tried to help me in anyway they could.

Next, I got brave enough to go to Monday night Chat. Doublely scary, I was actually interacting. I used to be scared of my shadow, but that didn't last long either. Soon I was sole owner of the Red Crayon, handing out Depends for people laughing so hard, and using my Duct Tape and Super Glue to help keep people from being knocked offline out of the chat room by their servers. I never had so much fun in my life.

I got the honor of meeting my dear friends at the Louisville Truck Show for 2 yrs in a row and first hand experience LOADS. This was an eye-opener for my hubby who thought that all we were was a big hen party. We got back from the show and all he could do is tell all of his friends about us and how we were so close from just being internet acquaintances. He had the time of his life there. Then he found out we also did things like wrote letters to the paper for Truck Driver Appreciation Week and protesting the Gas Prices. I had articles published both times. What a thrill. My name was the first thing on the front page of our paper for the Gas Price Article. It said " Myra H. is not an economist, but she is a Truck Driver's Wife " This was one of the proudest moments of my life, thanks to the support of my friends at LOADS.

So I welcome all who want to come and join us.. We are Family.. I've Got All My Brothers and Sisters and ME

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Cheri S.- MA, USA...

When my husband started driving OTR, I was devastated! I tried to be supportive for him, but inside I felt betrayed and abandoned. I thought my husband didn't want to be with me, so he got into a truck and left. I suddenly found myself alone with two teenage boys who were out of control, debts piling up that were choking me, and self-esteem that was plummeting faster than a roller-coaster.

Then, I found L.O.A.D.S. Right away, I felt at home. I felt that these faceless people actually listened, cared, and, most importantly, understood! The founder, Kathy Harders, became a guardian angel for me, and L.O.A.D.S. became my lifeline. Her words were comforting, her attitude was honest, and her encouragement unfailing. She helped me to see that my husband hadn't left me...he was simply trying to support his family doing something he enjoyed - driving. She and L.O.A.D.S. not only saved my sanity, they probably saved my marriage as well.

In the last few years, L.O.A.D.S. has become much more than my support group - it has become a surrogate family for me. I know that any time I have a problem, even if it doesn't involve trucking, someone will have some words of advice or comfort, or at the very least some very big cyber-shoulders for me to cry on. Just like a real family, I can be away for days or weeks, and know that when I return they'll still be here for me, just as if I'd never been away, and I'll always be there for L.O.A.D.S.

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Sheila S.-Florida, USA...

"My husband introduced me to LOADS just before he returned to driving OTR. He had been a member of a drivers message board and while surfing one night, he happened upon the LOADS. link. Words cannot begin to express how glad I have been that he told me, "Why don't you check this place out, dear?"

LOADS has been a Godsend to me during the time my husband has been driving. The friends and family I have inherited through LOADS has helped me to find self-esteem when I didn't think I had any, given me support to begin new endeavors in my life and allowed me to share my angry moments, sorrows and joys over being a "married, single parent."

I strongly encourage anyone looking for understanding, support, love and companionship to join our family at L.O.A.D.S....they won't be sorry they did.

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Jan A. - USA

Life before LOADS is something hard for me to describe. I was lost, lonely and just felt out of place. I was living a lifestyle that most everyone around me wasn't. I felt betrayed because my husband left the kids and me every week. Sure he was home on the weekends (at least one day of it anyways), but that wasn't enough. I had no one to talk to that understood how I felt. Most of my friends were married and were busy living their own lives with their family. I felt trapped and isolated to the outside world. I hated being left to run the house and have all the responsibilities thrown upon me. I was for the longest, the type of person that had to be told what to do and what time it needs to be done and so on.

After many, many years of feeling such hatred toward just about everything, my husband came upon LOADS and told me I should check it out. He thought that if I got more acquainted with the trucking industry and possibly understood what he really does and what goes on and met other people going through the same things in life that I wouldn't make his life so hard for him.

Since coming to LOADS, I no longer feel lost or out of place. I feel like I have found my missing link. I have so many great friends here, friends that really care about me. LOADS has helped me so much that words just can't describe.

I still have my worries while he is out on the road, I wouldn't be normal if I didn't. But I know I can count on my LOADS friends to help me get though the tough times. We are more than a support group?we are a family.

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Randi S.- California, USA

LOADS, that pretty much says it all. What an incredible organization of friends, family and loved ones with trucking in their blood. This is the first place I came to when I got my computer 2 years ago. It was actually the main reason I bought a computer. I needed somewhere for me. Somewhere that I could go to where others could help me adjust to the lifestyle I was entering into.

Without the love, support, advice and laughs this special family had given me, I would not have been married. I didn't think I would be able to handle my life without my husband by my side. These friends encircled me with love, respect and encouragement. They helped me to believe in me, in the trucking lifestyle and in my husbands' career.

Please join us and feel free to call us your home as well.

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Shawna- California,USA

About 12 months ago as my husband was searching the net he came across a trucking forum and would go on occasionally to read what other truck drivers were saying about the truck industry. One day while he was out I decided to check out what he was reading about and I found LOADS - it has saved my life. I do not go on every day like a lot of the members but when I feel like I want to scream I can go there and I still get the love and support from the members asking me how I have been and that they missed me. It makes me smile so deeply inside. I do not have many friends, (with two special needs children who has the time?) But even though I have never met any of the women on LOADS, I feel like they all are part of my heart and I love each and every one of them.

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Joyce N.- Wisconsin, USA

When I first heard of the world of truck, I was living in California and my future husband was in Wisconsin. We got married and boy did I have an "eye opener"

We lived in the truck for the first 3 months of our married life, I really believe that is what they call "make it or break it time" - we made it. It did help me learn a lot of what his daily life is like being a trucker.

When we moved into our first apartment, I loved it, a place to start our memories. Sadly, then came the first time he went out without me. Was I lost? Yes. Was I lonely? You bet. Did I cry a lot? Yes, I cried rivers. Then I found LOADS - a place where they knew what I was going through. They gave me words of encouragement, a shoulder to cry on, I knew I had found a home... a safe haven... someplace to share my feelings - the good - the bad or just being silly, with out being judged. A true feeling of home.

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Jennifer C.- Washington, USA

LOADS has helped me tremendously over the last three years. Six months after my marriage to a nurse's aide, I found myself married to a long haul trucker. I found LOADS by accident two years later and was amazed to find that other families were going through the same experiences. No one in my life before then understood the special circumstances and experiences that being a trucking family requires.

LOADS has given me a great outlet to vent my feelings and frustrations and also help others who are now going through what I went through by myself in the beginning.

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Kris B.- Ohio, USA

I've often said that going into trucking has been the hardest change my husband and I have ever made. I found LOADS during one of the toughest times of my husband's new career of driving over the road.

My friends on LOADS have been understanding, supportive, patient and reliable whenever I've needed them and for whatever reason. Whether we are laughing, crying, or even just blowing off steam, the LOADS group has been a big support for me. I've learned many valuable things from each person there. And I have to say, I'm sure that without my LOADS friends that the trucking industry would have been even harder than it is.

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