The Life Of A Trucker

[Todd Daehnert]

I started driving in 1983 my training was best the best kind the school of hard knocks. I never drove a tractor trailer I was given the keys to a older model double stick mack no power steering and told to be in Chicago in three hours I stopped at the first toll both in ILLINOIS to use the pay phone they had one the side of the of the road after you passed though the toll booth to get directions into the receiver, anyone that has driven for many years can remember the smell at the toll booth! I get two blocks from the place there is a low over pass I had to back up six blocks in noon traffic.(Rookie)

I owned and operated two trucks over the years and ended my carrier as a company driver.Over the years I pulled tanker with acid virgin product, rail trailer,flatbed oversize,reefer,and dry van.What ended my carrier?" poor health" Over the years I had neck tumors, Back problems and the final straw "heart attack" seven stints later the doctor puts me at a moderate work level, according to the DOT no more trucking! For a guy that has lived and raised two children on trucking acceptance is the key, I still have done that its funny when I was out for three weeks or more I wanted to get home! Now I would love to turn back the clocks and do things different.Being a driver is not a carrier its a lifestyle! I remember the places I have been the people I met and the truck stop talks about anything and everything, the state lines I crossed time and time again, and being the guardian angel for every four wheeler on the road. As you all realize I could go on forever telling stories of  The Life OF This Trucker.

My new lifestyle is the gift of passing it on my,past experience has offered me the gift of Chief logistics officer at USALOADS,LLC/ MYUSALOADS,LLC.This offers me the chance to work with my trucking family everyday. Give me a call anytime [phone] Ext-5

[dan bestfelt]

After I graduated from high school in 1971 I started at a company called Hostess Cake as a truck loader for the long haulers.I could,nt wait to turn 25 so  could drive a big rig for them.When I first started driving 32 yrs. ago there were no log books,weigh stations,dot physicals,no cdls.I had to have was chaufeurs license.Big trucks back then did not have power steering either.They had air steering.Now I,m retired from it because I have MS.I knew this day was coming.I went for my dot physical and I failed because I could,nt jog in plce without falling over.Oh how I miss you people.You all be safe

[Tommy Davis]

After getting out of the Airforce in 1979, I started my 30 year trucking.  As you I started with a cab over no power steering or A/C only 12 volt fans.  Remember in 1985 getting a Vovo White which had it all, thought I was on top of the world.  Alot of nice trucks since, but remember how I started in the Non CDL days as they thru me the keys too and how I was lost just trying to get down the road.  Back before the GPS and cell phones, you had to stop and get a pay phone to talk to the customer.  The younger generation has it nice now.  At the end, my wife and I road togeather, and really a nice life, I let her take care of the dispatchers.  It is a great life, and if you can do like we did, put everything in storage and live in the truck, till we retired and got us a house and enjoying traveling RV style now.  Thanks for the site   TWD

[Tim Russell]

If that is not a story about coming out on top then i dont know what is... love your short story driver...