Hello

I wrote the following one day after being told at a truck stop that truck drivers were worthless, dirty criminals who ran around the country killing people. Of course the matronly women who told me this did not yet know that I too was a truck driver. By the time that I explained exactly who truck drivers were and what all we do, she had slightly changed her opinion, but just slightly. Sadly, these type of comments that we truckers hear are not isolated to that one woman; we hear this often, and what used to be a friendly wave from the public towards us has often turned into a one finger salute. Sad isn't it.
Open Letter to the American Public
We are American Truckers….we come in all colors, shapes, sizes and in both genders. You can identify us by the creases around our eyes from squinting to see far ahead down the ribbon of concrete that we live on for obstacles and situations that might save your life or mine, by the calloused hands we have from years of holding the wheel steady on all types of roads and in
all types of weather, and the pride in our smiles when once again, we deliver on time against all odds.
We are American Truckers…we give up much to serve you and our country…we rarely get home to see our kids grow up, we often lose the love of our spouses and partners who are left too much alone and we work long hard hours filled with danger at every turn. Without us you wouldn't have a house to shelter you, food to eat, clothes to wear, a car to drive or medicine when you are sick. Everything you have and use came by truck, driven by one of us. We are the back bone of this nations economy. We are American Truckers…3 million plus strong, the majority of us are decent, hard working, patriotic people who work under the strictest regulations in the country, laying our lives on the line every minute for little more than minimum wage for the hours we work. Yet, because of a few bad apples, we are reviled, hated, feared and used in yellow journalism to promote hidden and not so hidden agendas by you, the very people we serve...still we truck on. We are American Truckers…we are as important to the country's prosperity and security as any other public servant be it police officer, fireman or politician. We are proud of our jobs and our history which is rooted in the caravans of Egypt and the mule trains of early American history. We are America's driving force...We are American Truckers. |