As part of Ike’s analysis of the impact of automation on truck driving jobs, we’re profiling a few real truck drivers and exploring how their work may change in the future.
Don spent nine years as a long-distance trucker, but says he’d never do that job again unless it were for a lot more pay.
“I sacrificed time and place for money, which is what truckers do,” he says. “They sacrifice so much. It’s not that hard physically, but mentally and emotionally, it’s tough.”
Since May of this year, Don, 58, has driven local routes for a company based in Lexington, Kentucky. He works on call but gets a regular paycheck, and appreciates being able to stay closer to home, where he can spend more time with his family.
Don’s wife is also a trucker but was injured on the job a year ago after lifting a heavy piece of equipment. Now as she awaits surgery, Don is glad he’s freer to help take care of her. A typical trip might involve one to six deliveries, but he’s never more than 220 miles from home.
“There’s a lot of flexibility in this job,” he says. “If my wife has a doctor’s appointment, I just tell them I have to be off, and they figure it out. If you have a regular route you can’t do that.”
Don loves driving trucks and has hauled all sorts of freight, but has enjoyed transporting horses most of all. He and his wife once delivered a horse bought by the grandparents of a ten-year-old girl. Don still has a photo his wife took of the happy child walking off into the twilight with her new friend.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: It’s a lot less stress than long-distance driving, and you can see your grandkids growing up.
Q: What don’t you like?
A: It can be frustrating if you see something you want to fix, but you can’t. I see holes in the training where it could be better, but it’s a big company so it’s hard to hold people to a standard. For instance, the other day I got in a truck that was really messy, with bags of trash on the floor, and all I could do was just clean it up. I always make sure to leave the trucks I drive cleaner than when I got them.
Q: What do people misunderstand about your job?
A: Some people say they hate truckers. They may flip us off or cut us off — they don’t get that we can’t stop on a dime. They think we take up too much space, that we’re too noisy and we don’t get good fuel mileage. They don’t stop to think this country couldn’t run without truckers.
How we see Don’s job changing
It doesn’t. Instead, many over the road drivers may shift to roles like Don’s, and he’ll have a lot more volume of freight available for local driving, with automated trucks sticking to the highways.
Meet more truck drivers:
