Profile For Uncle Buck

One of my favorites is High Ballin’ with Jerry Reed. TV shows: Movin On and BJ and the Bear.

When you say village cop the first thing that comes to mind is a 70’s disco band.

I heard about this horrible incident yesterday as well. FYI Iowa changed the law last year to include any vehicle with flashers on. Should be common sense but we need a law for the people who don’t have any.

Like many of you on this site I too was bitten by the bug at a young age. I was influenced by an uncle who drove over the road and I honestly thought the guy hung the moon, and I still do. I can remember watching all the trucking shows on tv with such excitement. Moving on, BJ and the Bear, Highballin, Smokey and the Bandit, Convoy..... yes smokey and the bandit was a trucking movie and Jerry Reed was the star of the movie. I had a bunk bed in my room that was my cabover KW. I would climb up to the top of that thing grab the big steering wheel, turn my head to side to look out my mirror, and start going through the gears. My brother would be on the bottom bunk in his Peterbilt 359 and we would converse back and forth on our cb's. I also used to slowly stick a piece of cardboard into a fan, I could make it sound just like a jake brake. My mom thought I was crazy but it was really all I wanted to do when I was a kid.

I am currently not pursuing a trucking job but am patiently waiting for my second career to come about. Until then I'm just hanging out here learning a lot about the industry and what it takes to be successful.

One time I was on a road trip to Albuquerque to see a buddy of mine. I was on I-76 in Colorado and listening to CW McCall's Wolf Creek Pass. Low and behold there was the exit sign for Wiggins. I instantly started looking around for chicken barns for some reason.

Have your companies made any efforts in planning around potential traffic impacts from the upcoming eclipse? They are saying that anywhere near the path of totality there will be a major increase in traffic. I am traveling about an hour and half from where I live to be in path of totality when it happens. I am definitely staying off of the interstate though. I am afraid people will be stopped along the interstates, which is not the safest thing to do.

I understand you are talking about hauling oversized equipment of some sort, and I feel kinda dumb asking the question. But what does O/D and RGN stand for?

David,

I was in your situation 26 years ago. I wanted to drive a truck rather than go to college but my parents and my conscience told me I should go to school and get a degree. I was engaged when I graduated with a Civil Engineering degree and thought again about driving truck at that time. My fiancé was very supportive and said if you are going to do it, do it before we have kids. I ended up getting an Engineering job that has served be very well and I now make over $100k a year. I look back on it and truly believe I did the right thing. My wife and I wanted a family and I did not want to be stuck on the road somewhere while my kids were growing up. My oldest son just graduated high school and I can count on one hand the number of ball games and track meets I have missed during his middle and high school career. It truly depends on what you want in life. Do I still want to drive a truck? Absolutely. And I will when the time is right. I have over 20 years in as a civil engineer, with about 10 years until I can retire. I will be 55 at retirement and plan on starting my new career in trucking at that time. The thing is you need to think about what it is you want in life and shape your career around that. But whatever you decide to do, don't ever second guess yourself. Do it with confidence and do it to the best of your abilities and you will be successful at what ever you decide to do.

First off I'm 45 and have wanted to drive since I was a kid. I had a grand father that drove, uncles that drove, and now my dad drives for his retirement job. I however took the college route which was a good decision just not really what I wanted. Got married had 3 kids and doing to whole family thing. I have 20 years in as a civil engineer, so yes I am in charge of some of that annoying construction you all drive through. I have 10 years to go before I can draw a pension and my plan is to retire into trucking at 55. I've read on here about lots of guys and gals not starting until later in their lives. I am just patiently waiting until the day I am behind the wheel and seeing the country through the windshield of a big shiny truck.

My mom always told me to wear clean underwear in case you get into an accident and end up in the ER. She would flip out if she read this article. This gal could have used some good advice like that.