Steven Zellers - The Truth about Trucking

Copyright 2007 All rights reserved. The material in this book may not be reproduced or reprinted in whole or part without the expressed written consent of Steven R. Zellers or Wordwizard Publishing.

The Truth about Trucking Index

Reflection...107

I am a trucker
and this is what it feels like to say Good-bye

I am a trucker. It is not my wish to go but that is who I am. The road is calling and I will answer, just not yet. The morning sun is starting to break while I watch you sleep. I study every curve of your face and feel your breath on my chest. Its almost time to go and I curse each passing second, not wanting to let go of this moment.

You stir and a feint smile forms on your lips as I pull you close. You are not awake but not asleep. You whisper a soft moan that sends the message load and clear, you feel it too. Your skin is electric against mine. I miss you already before I say the words I dread to speak." Its time, I have to go."

Your eyes open and beg me to stay. It is all I want but we both know I will answer the call. I am a trucker and the road is waiting. I kiss you tasting the warmth of your soul. I love you with all that I am but love is not enough. Bills have to be paid and deadlines have to be met. Love will have to wait.

I rise from our bed and get myself ready while you watch without saying a word. Your silence shouts your unspoken thought. "Dont go." If only it was that easy.

Its time. I love what I am but not at this moment. I dont want to speak the words so they go unsaid. One last kiss and I walk away without saying "goodbye." I am a trucker and the road is calling.
Steven R. Zellers

What is the truth about trucking? The truth is there are as many truths as there are drivers. There are over three million truck drivers in the United States and they all have a different version of the truth.

This book is about my truth. I have been a truck driver off an on for over 20 years and Ive seen a lot of miles. Ive seen good times and bad times on the road. Ive seen happiness and sadness. Ive seen joy and pain. Ive seen love come and go in my life. Ive gone to places I didnt want to go to and been forced to leave places when I wanted to stay. Ive seen beauty and tragedy. Ive seen great courage and immense fear. Ive seen wide open spaces and crowded cities. Ive seen this country from sea to shining sea and everything in between. I am a truck driver and I wrote this book so I could tell you the truth about the things Ive seen.

On a sunny day in 1986 I was a rookie truck driver on my way from Kentucky to Utah. I will never forget that trip. It was my first solo run in a tractor trailer. I drove with the windows down so I could feel the wind in my face. The road ahead was wide open. I was seeing the mountains for the first time. Their beauty and majesty literally took my breath away. There was no one watching over my shoulder and I had no time card to punch. All I had to do was drive my truck and I was getting paid for it. It was almost like a dream. I was young and had my whole life ahead of me. I was a truck driver and I was free.

Three months before, I sat quietly on the front porch of the hotel I was living in at the time. I was 22 years old and I didnt know if I would have enough rent money for the next week. Most of the time I didnt know where my next meal was coming from. I hated my. I had a construction job that I didnt like very much. I skipped work two days that week just because I didnt feel like going. It wasnt because I was lazy. Ive never been lazy. Ive always been an ambitious person. It was just time for a change. As a matter of fact it was always time for a change. I moved around a lot in those days; Town to town, job to job. My life had no direction. I think I was looking for something. But I didnt know what. I tried sales jobs. I sold everything from coupon books to vacuum cleaners to cars. I tried construction. I delivered pizzas. I worked as a grill cook . I worked as a sign painter and even washed cars. No matter what job I did, my heart just wasnt in it. I would get bored very quickly and quit or do something stupid and get fired. If I got fired I didnt care. Jobs were a dime a dozen back in those days.

I wanted adventure. I wanted something more than just a day to day or week to week existence. I wanted to know what was over the next hill or around the next corner. I knew without a doubt that there was something out there for me. But I didnt know what it was. When youre 22 years old and in that situation what do you do? Do you just keep moving around? Do you keep trying new jobs till you find one that fits? I honestly didnt know what to do. Luckily I was between girl friends and didnt owe anyone any money at the time. Basically what Im saying is I was unattached. I had no commitments and nothing to keep me in one particular place.

I saw an advertisement on TV for truck driving school. Why not? I thought. I made a few phone calls and off to school I went. It was that simple. There were no lightning bolts from God or magic fireworks that said this is your destiny. It was just a simple choice. Pick up the phone and make the call or dont. I did and here I am. At the time I had no idea what I was getting into. But everything I am told me that truck driving was the right choice for me.

Ever since I made that first phone call to the truck driving school my life hasnt been the same. I was no longer just some guy without a future. I had a career. I had direction. My life had purpose and meaning. I worked hard and turned the dream into a reality. Yes truck driving is just a job. Its the simple act of moving something from point A to point B and getting paid for it. But its much more that that. Driving a truck for me has never been about the destination. Its always been about the journey. I am a truck driver and I say that with confidence and pride.

I sincerely hope you enjoy The Truth about Trucking. In this book I will share my experiences, observations and opinions They are mine and mine alone. There are many things in this book that all truck drivers will not agree with but I think that many will. It honestly doesnt matter to me either way. This book is my truth the way I see it, and I am proud to share it with you.

If you are thinking about becoming a truck driver. This is what you can expect;

If you are not a truck driver and are thinking about becoming an over the road driver, my advice is be careful what you wish for. You just might get it. If you are absolutely positive that you want to drive a truck for a living, then continue reading and Ill try to give you an idea of what to expect. If you are not 100% sure then I suggest you throw this book in the trash right now and get your ass in college.

This section, or this whole book for that matter, is in no way meant to discourage anyone from pursuing a career in trucking. That is not my intention at all. My motivation for writing this book is simply to tell the truth about the trucking industry as I see it. The truth is, I see a lot of things wrong with trucking. Conversely there are many good things as well. Before I go further, let me say this; I love being a truck driver. I love the freedom and adventure the industry has brought me. But lets be honest here. Its not all milk and honey. Truck driving is not just a job. Its a lifestyle.

This section is specifically for anyone who is considering over the road truck driving as a career choice. If you make this choice you will be trading life as you know it for the life of a trucker. Life as you know it will cease to exist. You can say goodbye to many of the things you now take for granted. Things like your sleeping schedule or weekend poker games. Many of your personal relationships and friendships will fade out of existence. Anything you did on a regular basis will be interrupted and probably abandoned altogether. Being a truck driver, or even becoming a truck driver is not a part time thing. It takes hard work and commitment.

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