The Economy's Dependence on Truckin'

For most drivers on highways in the United States, there is a negative impression of truck drivers - or at least their driving - but the importance of the trucking industry regarding the economy of the United States cannot be overstated.

Larry, a truck driver from Texas, said that "Nobody wants to follow a truck - they want to pass you - but then they do and just sit right in front of you going so slow it's stupid because a truck weighs more than a car - it takes longer to stop once it gets going - and you really don't want me on your bumper."

Without the miles put in every day by truck drivers, the economy would collapse. Robert, a truck driver from Oklahoma, stated, "Everything you own, build, drive, or wear - everything on the shelves has been trucked at some point in time."

Robert had some of the same ideas as Larry about problems on the highways regarding the mix of trucks and cars. Robert said, "Nobody wants to ride behind a truck, but they won't stay out the way, so when a trucker finally passes'em, all of a sudden they think we're driving like a bat out of hell."

Robert's chief complaint about trucking is "being on the road all of the time". In addition, he said, "It's a madhouse out here - regardless of the traffic. It only takes one maniac to cause problems for everybody on the road, and driving all day, it doesn't take long to find 'em."

Robert stated, "I was in Illinois a few days ago, and I saw a truck layin' in the river." He laughed with a tinge of disappointment and said, "I guess somebody drove it off in there somehow," then described how several large cranes were trying to remove the 18-wheeler from the river.

Despite being a truck driver, Robert admitted, "Truckers are driving just as bad these days - I can't make excuses for'em. Everybody is just looking out for themselves, whether in cars or in trucks - and that's the biggest problem out here for everybody."