From Childhood Dreams to Diesel Power

Michael Mercier
“My dream job WAS driving trucks. I would pretend my dinner plate was the steering wheel and drive the whole house. After 35 years in a raised-roof twin-screw double-sleeper ten-speed, I still got chills walking up to it. Retired now and miss it, but no regrets.”

Randy Ewing
“‘Movin’ On’ was my favorite TV show as a kid! I always wanted to be a truck driver… so I became a truck driver.”

Christopher Todd Hester
“My dream was always to be a truck driver as far back as I can remember. I was obsessed with trucks as a kid.”

Britt Tikkun Olam Emanuel
“Driving trucks… There is a 1984 August issue of OVERDRIVE titled ‘Future Trucker’ written by 14-year-old me to prove it.”

When Trucking Was Plan B (or C)

Gil Nodrama Garcia
“Acquired a BS in Criminal Justice and was a State Police for six years. That was my dream job, did it, got a t-shirt, and lost it.”

Brian O’Valentine
“Forensics. I always thought it was super neat. Went to school for chemistry, but dropped out after a year. Then I got into trucking and enjoy it for the most part.”

Jessica Payne
“My first dream job was to take over the family farm when my dad retired. When I realized that wasn’t going to happen, I wanted to be a chef.”

Todd Lewis
“I had my dream job before my body gave out. Smokejumper for the Forest Service. There was never a bad day. Some days sucked, but never bad. Got to see some of the best of Mother Nature and got to see her at her worst.”

Service First, Trucking Later

Dennis Embry
“I was a firefighter paramedic for 20 years.”

David Murray
“I wanted to be a radiologist, but the Army said I was too young to get into the medical field (17). So I got into 64C20 motor transportation heavy and have been driving truck ever since—1976 to current.”

PL Parault
“Actually did both dream jobs. Hired on at the FD at 23. Had already been driving for a couple of years. Retired in ‘08 after 28 as a Driver/Engineer. Fourteen of those years were as a Paramedic. The whole time I was on the FD, I drove many different trucks on my off days—from dump ends to flatbed. I was blessed to enjoy both dream jobs.”

Family Tradition and Early Starts

JT Sauerberg
“Driving trucks. I come from a long line of truckers. Blood, sweat, and gears. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to get behind the wheel. Started driving at 9. By 13, I was moving trucks around the yard. By 17, I made my first full over-the-road trip from LA to Dallas.”

Karen S. Weaver
“I knew as a kid that I wanted to drive truck. I did it till my knees gave out. Then I became an instructor. I retired from that and now I’m the wife of a trucker.”

Ody G Dimopoulos
“My choices were very slim. My father owned a trucking company. I drove every summer when I was in high school and after school I broke down tires and fixed flats. Oh so fun.”

The Road Chose Them

Mark Mayhan
“I always wanted to drive a truck. When I was a little kid all I wanted to do when I grew up was drive a truck.”

Dalton Dixon Jr
“That was it. Just driving trucks. Started on flatbed at 17 and got my CDL the day I turned 18 in 1964. Not ready to give it up yet and just renewed it on my 79th birthday in May.”

Don R Johnson
“I was 3 when I knew I’d be a trucker. Thanks to my dad and uncle.”

Dianne Tuten
“It was always my dream to be a truck driver. I was always amazed seeing big trucks and knew this was what I wanted to do. So thankful I got to live my dream.”

Careers That Pivoted into Trucking

Robert Lipscomb
“Chef. I did it—cooked for some celebrities and government figures. Got tired of standing on my feet all day… switched to trucking.”

Monica Foss-Martin
“Train engineer or heavy equipment operator. Got charter bus driver. Forty-seven years and still driving.”

Arturo Cortez
“Mixed media artist. Counselor suggested I pick a trade because it’s a struggle to make a living as an artist. He recommended funding art as a hobby through a blue-collar job. I drive high side and low side end dumps in the demo industry and we still use 13- and 18-speed with stretched chassis.”

Still Chasing the Dream

Alex Lieberman
“Founder/CEO of a major corporation in gaming and eSports. But my company fell through. Working in trucking now, but I’m beginning to open a new business in eCommerce and hopefully beyond in gaming and eSports.”

Tatyana Khokhlova
“Have a farm growing tomatoes, cucumbers, fruit trees. I wanted to restore old furniture and make exclusive lampshades. I still hope to realize it in the near future.”

Paul Johnson
“Starship engineer. I want to start a language/STEM school with an aerospace R&D department. Using trucking to save up, then planning to move to Mexico for affordable education and eventually build that school.”

When Trucking Became the Dream

Fred Moore
“Driving a truck… so I guess you could say I was living a dream. Now I wish I could still live my dream.”

Cris Gerger
“Truck driver. It’s been my dream all along. I did it until I was forced to retire from it. I still wish I was out doing it. It’s the only thing I was good at.”

This collection of honest answers shows just how varied and winding the path to trucking can be. Whether it was a childhood dream or a late-career shift, many drivers discovered purpose and pride behind the wheel.

For some, trucking was always the plan. For others, it came after careers in firefighting, farming, forensics, or the military. No matter how they got there, they all found something real on the road.

Got a story like this of your own? Join the conversation in the Truck Drivers USA community—where real drivers share real stories every day. Whether you’re new to the road or a seasoned pro, there’s a place for you here.

The post Before the Big Rigs: What Truck Drivers Wanted to Be appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

Crysel, a proud member of WIT’s Class of 2024 Image Team, drives for Wilmington, North Carolina-based Chestnut Enterprises, a small family-operated company she’s come to cherish over the years.

Starting a New Journey at 45

Like many in the trucking industry, Crysel’s career took an unexpected turn later in life. After losing her position in a factory job that was outsourced when she was 45, she found herself at a crossroads, leading her to pursue a career in trucking.

Her first role was with Maverick Transportation, where she specialized in hauling glass with flatbed trailers across the lower 48 states and parts of Canada. From there, she continued to grow her expertise, becoming part of Ryder System Inc. as a driver trainer and support team member. This experience allowed her to diversify her skills, driving a range of vehicles—from box trucks to refrigerated tankers, containers, and even dump beds.

Her trucking résumé continued to evolve as she took on a role hauling containers with an owner-operator and later stepped into positions off the road as a safety manager and dispatcher for Global Transportation Management (GTM). While she took pride in helping new drivers start their careers during her two years with GTM, Crysel ultimately missed the freedom and excitement of life on the road.

Finding a Home at Chestnut Enterprises

Today, Crysel is thriving as a driver at Chestnut Enterprises, a small, family-driven company led by a husband-and-wife team. Crysel describes her work environment as one filled with camaraderie and support—a dynamic that she deeply values.

“Everyone gets along, and everybody helps everybody,” she shares. “You don’t see that as much nowadays, and that’s why I don’t want to leave.”

A Strong Connection to Women in Trucking

Crysel first encountered WIT through their Facebook page in 2015. She quickly became actively involved, finding a mentor in Sandy Long and forming bonds on WIT’s mentoring Facebook group, which further fueled her passion for supporting other women in the industry.

“Being able to help and connect with other women so they know they have a support system here for them is so fulfilling,” Crysel says.

As part of WIT, Crysel eagerly participates in events like the Accelerate! Conference & Expo, where she not only strengthens her connections with other women but also helps create a sense of empowerment within the trucking community. She values the lifelong friendships she has built and continues to find joy in witnessing women come together to lift one another up.

Beyond the Road

When she’s not behind the wheel or mentoring others, Crysel takes pride in her family. She’s a mom to grown boy and girl twins and adores her three grandchildren, lovingly referred to as her “grandsugars.”

April Crysel’s inspiring story highlights her resilience, passion, and dedication, both to the trucking industry and to empowering women in this space. Congratulations to her on being named WIT’s Member of the Month for December 2024!

Source: The Trucker

The post April Crysel Celebrated as WIT’s December 2024 Member of the Month appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.