Part 8 – Smoking: Quitting While Quitting Alone: Beating Cigarettes Without a Support Crew

This is part 8 of a 8 part series on smoking. Feed back, personal experiences are welcome in the comments. Guest Post submissions are also welcomed.

Quitting smoking is hard enough when you’ve got people cheering you on. But for truckers—especially solo OTR drivers—it often means quitting alone.

No partner in the passenger seat. No family at the dinner table. No one nearby when cravings hit hard in the middle of nowhere.

But you’re not powerless. In fact, learning to quit on your own might make you stronger than you ever thought.

Here’s how to fight the nicotine battle when it’s just you, the road, and the wheel.

🧭 Build a Solo Quit Strategy

1. Talk to Yourself (Yes, Really)

When you’re driving alone, you become your biggest motivator—or your worst enemy. Say it out loud:

• “I’m doing this.”
• “I don’t smoke anymore.”
• “This craving will pass.”

Positive self-talk rewires your thinking. Sound silly? Try it for 3 days—you’ll feel the shift.

2. Make the Cab Your Quit Zone

Clean out all smoking reminders:

• Lighters, ashtrays, wrappers, cigarette packs
• Spray air freshener, wipe down the dash, wash your hands

Your truck is your office—make it one that supports your health.

3. Use Tech for Backup

You may be physically alone, but your phone can be your support system:

• Quit apps like QuitNow, MyQuitCoach, or Smoke Free
• Podcasts and videos about quitting and staying strong
• Join an online group or post in forums (like on TruckStopReport.com)

4. Check in With Yourself Daily

Ask: “How am I doing today?”

• Log your cravings
• Mark how long since your last cigarette
• Celebrate every smoke-free shift

Small self-checks build big resilience.

🛑 Deal With Loneliness, Not Just Nicotine

Often, smoking fills emotional gaps:

• Boredom = light up
• Sadness = light up
• Frustration = light up

Try these instead:

• Call a friend or loved one
• Record a short audio journal
• Practice deep breathing or calming music
• Reflect on why you wanted to quit in the first place

🎯 Create a Milestone Map

Being solo means you’ll need your own system of rewards.

• 1 day: favorite snack or hot meal
• 3 days: new phone app, playlist, or movie
• 1 week: buy something you’ve been putting off
• 1 month: something bigger—gear, hobby item, or day off

Visualize the reward. Work toward it.

Final Thoughts

Quitting alone isn’t easy. But you’ve done a hundred hard things as a trucker, and you can do this too. When it’s just you and the road, remember:

You don’t need a crowd to make a comeback. You just need the will to keep going.

If you’re quitting solo, share your story at TruckStopReport.com. Someone out there is riding the same road—and could use your encouragement today.