Back before I was old enough to even tie my own shoes, I dreamed of driving a big truck when I grew up, just like my Dad. I am a third-generation professional trucker so it’s in my heart, my soul, it’s in my blood. It was what I was born to do and 25 years later, I still love it. I would sit for hours listening to my Dad talk about his family, his other family, the one that I wasn’t yet part of.
The family of North American professional drivers consisted of transport truck drivers and bus drivers. He spoke often of truck stops that had big round tables where truckers would sit together and have a home-cooked hot meal. Sitting down at one of these tables was like sitting down at a table with people you have known for years but you had never met them before. This was because they were all part of the same family.
They were all out there doing the same job and they all respected the hell out of one another. They helped their brothers in any way they could and worked as one team. They looked after each other and watched out for one another. They were all one family regardless of what company they were employed by or where they called home.
Now I say all brothers because that is what they were. We’re going back quite a bit here but there weren’t many women drivers to speak of back then. I know that there were some out there but you never heard about them. There certainly weren’t any women who were in the Teamsters union back then. When I first started driving in 1999, I could go for months before I saw another woman behind the wheel of a transport truck. Today I see several every day and I just love it but there still needs to be more of us.
When I mention the family to drivers now, they look at me like I have 3 heads and probably wonder what planet I come from. When talking with veterans of the road, they usually respond with something along the lines of “Oh that family, it’s gone now”. It’s not gone though. We are still out there and if you know what you are looking for, you will easily spot us on every highway and interstate.
It has indeed changed, hell everything has changed. There are no more round tables out there and the biggest truck stop franchises have all gone and replaced their restaurants with home-cooked meals to fast food places. That to me is going backward in terms of driver health and wellness but that is another page. Yes, you rarely see drivers hop out of their trucks and help another trucker. There is even a video of one male trucker trying to beat the hell out of a female trucker and even the person recording it does nothing to help her.
This kind of stuff breaks my heart. It makes me want to curl up in a corner and cry. Don’t tell me to suck it up and call me Buttercup either. This is not the way it’s supposed to be and it can’t continue like this. Those of us who remember the way it used to be out there on the road, have to lead this new generation of drivers towards the family. It needs to be revived. If we work together, the way we always have, we can make it shine bright once again.
Lead by example and others will follow. I will write several pages on driver etiquette, trucking 101, being professional, and driving like a pro are all planned and will be coming soon. Read through them and help me set an example for others to follow. If you see something happening that is not right, put your damned phone down and get involved. Standing there watching and doing nothing about it is condoning that kind of behaviour.
Physical violence is not acceptable, especially against someone you would obviously have no problem causing a great deal of harm to. No one should have to be fearful of violence while they are just trying to do their job. Violence should only be used if you fear for your life and need to escape a very bad situation which was not the case at this truck stop in the video.
I no longer drive a big truck. Sadly, my health causes me concern and although I maintain a full commercial license, I don’t feel it would do me any good to get back behind the wheel. I am much better going home every night to my own bed and medications. I am currently employed as a Driver Trainer at Highlight Motor Group in Concord, Ontario. I love my job as it allows me to pass along my knowledge, experience, and passion for trucking. I teach all of our new drivers about the family so never hesitate to ask one of my drivers for their assistance.
Be respectful, considerate, understanding, and tolerant of others. It will be less stressful for you as well. Let’s work together and make this whole industry better, safer, and more productive for all of us. You are my brothers and sisters and I depend on you to help me get my job done as safely and efficiently as possible. You can depend on me to help you do yours the same way.