My Life as a Truck Driver: From Sons' Prompting to Years Driving

I began my trucking career in 1995 after constant persuasion by my sons. They had heard me talk about driving a truck for many years and knew that was a passion of mine. Finally, they both said, "Mom, stop talking about it, and just do it."

So, in June 1995 I applied to driving school and got my CDL. I was told by many people over the years that truck driving is a life style. I found out in a short period of time, they were right. It's in the blood. I know there are many drivers out there that are just that, "drivers". For me it came natural as with only a few. It's a very difficult road to travel and not every one can handle it. After I got my CDL, I went to work driving local for a small grocery distribution company. I drove a Freightliner cab over that was very rough riding. Since, in a cab over, you are sitting right over the engine and it has a short wheel bass, you bounce. It can be hard on your body. I did that for about four months and delivered within a 150 mile radius of my home town. I met a driver that use to work for an otr company and it sounded really promising, so I applied with them. I was hired and started my adventure traveling around the country.

I spent most of the first 2-3 years traveling to the north east. I saw my first autumn color changes in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts. The colors were brilliant and not like anything I had ever seen. I met people from all over the world at places I delivered and pick up from. Not once was any one I met rude in any way. I drove an international truck with plenty of room for every thing I needed. I know I had enough things on the truck that I could stay out for up to 4 weeks at a time. Lucky for me I was home every week to spend time with family and friends. I remember getting snowed in once in northern Virginia at a truck stop. I'd stopped the night before because the hwy had iced over. Latter that evening, I stepped out of the truck into over a foot of snow with ice underneath. The next morning I found out none of the trucks could get out of the parking lot. Trucks had been pulling in most of the night and with no places to park, they just pulled in and stopped. It took several hours for the plows to get the lot cleared so I could get out. It was slow moving, but all the drivers finally were able to maneuver out. It was interesting. All the drivers had collecting inside the truck stop watching the news for information on clearing the highways. What was funning about the hole situation was, the highway was clear and had been for several hours.

We just couldn't get out of the lot till they got it cleared and they couldn't do that till they had some of the trucks moved so they could plow. I guess I was there close to 14 hours. I managed to meet some very interesting people even though I think I was the only woman driver there. I remember how beautiful the snow was covering the mountains. It took me back to when I was little living in Colorado. Memories are the greatest thing we have to treasure. Until next time.