Truckers are some of our country’s most essential workers and keep us moving. According to the American Trucking Associations, there are about 3.6 million truck drivers in the United States of America. As National Truck Driver Appreciation Week approaches, many like Fox News, have decided to express their appreciation to truckers in different ways, and the best and initial way to do so is by recognizing all the hard work that they put in! They spoke to Guido Miller, a trucker from Iowa, about his different experiences in trucking and the benefits and challenges of the profession.
As reported by Fox News, “He immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1976, when his mother, a single mother at the time, married a U.S. Air Force serviceman. Miller became a U.S. citizen on September 13, 2013, when he was in his mid-40s, after about a year of preparation for the legal steps involved.”
Miller told them, “I started driving a truck in the late 1990s. Growing up, I remember watching the big rigs that traveled the highways. They always got my attention.” He expressed that truckers have always been important but have become more so during the pandemic during the supply-chain disruption. Miller appreciates all the memorable travel experiences it has brought him. He’s driven through 48 states and even Canada during his trucking career. Many, like Miller, believe that they most likely would have not seen or experienced the locations or places if it were not for this career choice in the trucking industry.
“There is a sense of camaraderie or brotherhood among drivers,” he said. “It feels good to belong. It is also appealing to be on your own out here, with no one looking over your shoulder — being independent and being your own boss.” Many truckers express their gratitude and appreciation for being part of a community that is bigger than them. They all go through experiences that only they can speak to and share as a community of truckers. With so much time spent in the rig, we have an unpredictable work schedule, as well as infrequent and limited time at home to spend with spouses, children, friends, and family.
Miller worked as an OTR truck driver for many years before joining a Tennessee-based dedicated carrier in 2004, primarily running Midwest regional freight for an Iowa-based customer. He serves the same customers on the same routes. He appreciates the efforts everyone makes annually to show their appreciation to truck drivers.
