At a company in Wolfsburg, drivers are treated as superfluous. They are kicked out of the cabin during loading, but are not provided with any place to wait - no benches, no toilets, no shelter from the rain. A person is simply not needed by anyone.

I hit the road for the first time as a truck driver over 10 years ago. I was 26 years old then, with zero experience and a huge respect for the road. I remember my first load - northern Germany, a warehouse where there wasn't even a toilet for drivers. A lot has changed since then, but not everything for the better. Today, I have my habits, my routes, and my rules, but the lack of respect still hurts me. People only see the big truck, not the person behind the wheel. We live in these vehicles, we eat, sleep, and spend most of the week in them. And yet, we still hear that we are the problem on the road. I wish more people understood that without us, the shelves in the stores would be empty, and the economy would come to a standstill. This job requires not only a driving license but also humility.

After a long day of driving, I asked if there was a shower available at the depot in Belgium. I was told it wasn't for drivers. I ended up washing myself with a bottle of water next to my truck. What a disgrace in 2025.

I had to wait four hours at the RWG terminal in Rotterdam without access to a toilet. When I asked, I was directed to a portable toilet outside - filthy and full. We transport their goods, but we are treated like dirt.

Last night, I spent three hours in line at the ramp. Nobody offered us a coffee or a restroom. It's hard to maintain dignity when you're treated like an object. But I love this job. If people understood what life on the road means, they would respect us more.

I'm driving through Germany at night, the parking lots are full, there are no toilets, and the dispatcher is relentless. The radio is silent, only my thoughts are loud. Sometimes I dream of a regular job, but I know that this work makes sense. Someone has to deliver the goods. I just want a little respect - it's not too much to ask, right?