UNDERSTANDING A TRANSIENT LIFESTYLE

LEARNING ABOUT PEOPLE THROUGH OBSERVING THEIR ENVIRONMENTS

BACKGROUND:

While studying at the VCU Brandcenter I spent a week completing ethnographic research at truck stops across Virginia. Below is a short infographic highlighting some of the findings.

My classmate and I chose to study professional truck drivers for the following reasons:

1. It’s an industry that is essential to making our lives possible.

2. It’s a way of life that is often stigmatized and misunderstood.

3. It’s a profession that people believe is destined to go away.

PART ONE: THE PLACE

A PARADOXICAL LIFESTYLE

Truck stops are windows into a completely unfamiliar way of life. We had a deep curiosity for the transient lifestyle that supports the backbone of the American economy. 

Independently Confined

Trucking is a highly regulated, tightly controlled world populated by fiercely independent personalities. They can enjoy living on the open road if they allow themselves to be confined to a small box that's restricted to a single path. The same space that occupies your day is also where you recharge, blurring the lines between off and on duty. 

Stimulated Boredom

Staying awake behind the wheel is a matter of life and death. Like on a battlefield, it's a career that is defined by "hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror".  To be successful, it requires a complex blend of food, entertainment, stimulants, and most importantly, willpower. 

Uncomfortable Oasis

After a long day of solitude, truck drivers need human connection more than most. However, the truck stop is primarily designed for the machine, not the driver. The limited social space feels life an after-thought. Although it provides a the basic necessities to sustain a transient lifestyle, it offers simulated hospitality at best. 

TEAM:

Strategist - Erik Osburn