Music and trucking go hand in hand. Whether a long stretch of open highway or a tough night shift, the right song can transport a driver back to their first days behind the wheel. We asked our Truck Drivers USA community, “What’s a song that instantly takes you back to your first trucking job?” and the responses were nothing short of legendary. From country classics to rock anthems, here are the songs that shaped those first days on the road.
The Timeless Classics
Some songs have stood the test of time, becoming anthems for generations of truckers. Tim Prow shared that Eddie Rabbit’s Driving My Life Away takes him straight back. It’s a song about life on the road, so it’s easy to see why it resonates. Jim Tiffany and John Hanson both recalled Phantom 309, a haunting ballad that tells the story of a mysterious trucker who lends a helping hand.
Harvey Bartlett and Rhonda Culver named Give Me 40 Acres their go-to trucking memory song, a humorous yet relatable track about maneuvering a big rig. And, of course, Kevin Baker threw in Hello I’m a Truck, a song that perfectly embodies life behind the wheel.
The Country Road Anthems
Country music and trucking culture are deeply intertwined, and many drivers named country songs that immediately bring back memories. Shane Downey’s pick was Asphalt Cowboy by Jason Aldean, a track that speaks to the solitude and resilience of truckers. Joshua Ainsworth and Jimmy Floyd Wood named I Can’t Drive 55 by Sammy Hagar—an anthem for those who’ve felt the struggle of speed limits.
Kristin Wells remembers Bottoms Up by Brantley Gilbert because it played during her training days with Swift. Mario Ruiz mentioned There’s a Tear in My Beer by Hank Williams Jr., a song that captures the loneliness that sometimes comes with trucking. Cody Geller’s song of choice, I Can Still Make Cheyenne by George Strait, is another powerful ballad that echoes the sacrifices truckers make.
Rocking Down the Highway
For those who prefer a bit more edge to their playlists, rock songs were a common theme. Lyle Matson named Here I Go Again by Whitesnake, a track that perfectly sums up the independence of hitting the road. Lori Sheridan’s choice was Radar Love by Golden Earring, a song that feels like it was made for truckers chasing the night.
Steven Ratajczak threw it back with We Built This City by Starship, while Charles Campbell remembers Up Around the Bend by CCR. For the metalheads, Lisa Marie Edge chose Wherever I May Roam by Metallica, embodying the nomadic life of trucking.
Songs with a Special Memory
Some songs are more than just a soundtrack—they mark a specific moment in a driver’s career. Kevin Marks recalls Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Sweet Home Alabama playing right as he crossed the Alabama-Georgia line on his first solo run back in 1988. Meanwhile, Colin-Dani Olsen remembers jamming to Gino Vanelli’s Black Cars while trucking in the Army Reserve.
Then there’s Moira Elliott, who vividly described hearing Love Reign O’er Me by The Who while driving eastbound on I-40 in the middle of the night as a thunderstorm lit up the Arizona sky, the song built to its peak—an unforgettable moment of adventure on the open road.
The Songs That Keep Rolling
Of course, no trucking playlist is complete without some of the all-time greats. Bert Squire and John W Van Syoc named East Bound & Down the ultimate trucking anthem. Brian Degennaro threw in the Convoy theme song, an absolute must for any trucker’s collection. And Randy Stanley’s choice, Roll On Highway, Roll On Along, perfectly captures the road’s rhythm.
What’s Your Song?
These are just a handful of the songs that have shaped truckers’ early days on the job, but there are countless more out there. Music has a way of anchoring us to memories, especially when those memories involve miles of highway, late-night hauls, and the freedom of the open road. What song takes you back to your first trucking job? Join the TDUSA Facebook community to get in on the conversation.
