I Was a Trucker's Wife

My Belgrade-News column, about how the recession and shrinking manufacturing base, is negatively affecting the U.S. trucking industry, is here.

In the beginning: "For four years, my husband Wid worked as an over-the-road trucker.

Like the fella in the Johnny Cash song, he’s “been everywhere, man,” criss-crossing the country umpteen times.

First he worked as a company driver for Covenant Transport (The back of every Covenant truck carries a sign reading: “It is not a choice. It is a child.”); next he was an owner-operator with Landstar Ranger.

Despite the dangers of sharing the road with texting teenagers and the onerous government regulations (Truckers are required to keep a daily log book, and random inspections are not uncommon.), Wid thoroughly enjoyed owning an orange, white, and green Peterbilt 387."

Hubby even gave his truck a name - El Don. The previous owner was a nice gentleman from Missouri named Eldon.