Blue-collar Writing That Matters To Everyone
Especially writers — and other influencers
by Chris Dungan
I love novelty, probably too much. But I’m glad I notice it, the way the title of this article caught my attention in a publication where I normally turn for an admittedly contrarian take to mainstream media; Gord Magill’s “A Trucker’s Open Letter to DOGE’s Vivek Ramaswamy and Elon Musk” is distinctly unlike the academic tone of talking heads that political sources can’t resist. Its unapologetically partisan tone aside, it’s a refreshing reminder from a real worker in the field about practices that affect us all.
Sure, I was “tempted” to preface all this with due diligence by following through with independent research. Not only did I not know much about trucking, I had never heard of the author or anything else he might have written, and public pronouncements through the Web would surely reach many who knew more than I did about the details of what he claimed. But in such a vast world of specialization I was content to verily limit my role here; regardless of your thoughts on his beliefs on the many aspects of trucking he refers to, calling attention to them is enough for me here.
Partly I wrote this for other authors (a large audience on Medium), which made me think of the site’s ubiquitous controversial subject of AI writing. Maybe I should show more interest in that, but I trust those who do are in a better position to share their findings on how that kind of automation could contaminate this very human subject similar to ways the obsession with regulatory and technical fixes have dominated the trucking industry itself, as Magill asserts.
But the main reason this article grabbed my attention — among Blaze’s many dealing with current events — was that such a tangible subject could relate to far more people in a real way than could so-called loftier ones I had become familiar with. Not only is a relatable matter affecting the economy, the environment and foreign practices crucial for this, but I’m hoping it can refresh any stale divisive dialogues — whether your inclination is to throw your hands up at unfamiliar arcane details or claim study that leads alleged experts to double down in any direction. I have little reason to claim experience in the any subjects related in trucking or any business it affects…but I’m hopeful my desire to bring people together is stronger than the expression of any long-standing political commitments. And that my readers feel the same.
Magill lists an impressive resumé of writing credits; lest any praise of this author’s writing can strike those familiar with him as a backhanded slam toward the masses of others less articulate who diligently engage in manual work, I hasten to frame it as an unfavorable comparison that could be similarly applied to white-collar professionals as well, and would not hesitate to include myself. I cannot do justice to the corruption and waste he blames on regulators who handicap the delivery methods all of us (whoever we are) depend upon, given the governments and residents of countries who don’t labor under the costs and “noblesse oblige” in the service to the environment we share.
And maybe some of us who have demonstrated credibility in any solid intellectual matters can take inspiration to risk doing so forthrightly in a tangible matter for everyone, whatever our experiences have been.
Though the author repeatedly notes a lack of documentation of many issues he raises, he shares that a dealer and service center of his acquaintance estimates that 75% of their business is related to emission control service. Furthermore, these obvious costs of compliance aren’t the limited to economic or opportunity costs — or ecological ones, which can be the result of shorter engine life. (Obviously, any constructive consideration how transportation affects trucking can’t be based much on the political thoughts of anyone who claims slight and unassuming transportation experience.) On a larger issue, he quotes an MIT researcher as saying 40% of this country’s trucking capacity is wasted daily.
Magill acknowledges incompleteness in touching on such a multifaceted subject — even in such a fairly lengthy essay — but hope is to be found further in the reader comments at the end of the Blaze article. While I can’t of course vouch for them, there is a far higher percentage educating readers than venting the usual digs at distasteful politicians. Having read those of many Blaze stories and thereby knowing the usernames of many frequent commenters, I was surprised to see that habitual political readers shared their experiences as a driver and/or owner in terms of costs and helpful behavior of other truckers, and additional transportation information. (I’d like to take this opportunity single out reader Laura D. Williams, not only for her trucking experience, but for her numerous thoughtful posts on so many other articles, apparently feeling no pressure to be clever.)
Personally, I don’t know if or when my interest in the issues raised here will prompt me to learn more about them. But I’m glad to do my part to start the conversation, not expecting sound bytes from politicians from either side to do it justice. And being in the familiar habits of writing from psychology to spirituality and science, I look forward to Facebooking this reply with the hopes that the algorithm will call me to new attention, and I encourage others to try the same.
