Trucking Life

In 1963, Valentina Tereshkova, a former textile worker-turned Russian cosmonaut, became the first woman in space. In 1979, Margret Thatcher, known as “The Iron Lady,” became the first female Prime Minister of Great Britain. Amelia Earhart was the first woman to cross the Atlantic via airplane in 1928. For 2024, the world can add another name to that auspicious list of historic “firsts” — Alyssa Briggs. Briggs, a 24-year-old trailer mechanic from Ohio, is the first woman ever to win a champion spot in the XPO National MasterTech competition. “I’m definitely proud of myself and to bring recognition to other women in the field and just let people see that we are capable of these things too,” Briggs said. Briggs’ path to the winner’s podium is impressive. She overcame any initial doubts about entering a traditionally male-dominated field, graduating from trade school and hiring on at XPO, where quickly became one of the company’s best and brightest technicians. She says her husband Justin, who works for XPO as a truck mechanic, has been one of her biggest supporters and is always there to cheer her on. “I didn’t know I wanted to be a mechanic. It kind of happened by choice and kind of not by choice,” Briggs said with a laugh. It all started with her choice of high school. “I decided to go to a vocational school rather than a regular high school,” she said, noting that each student was required to apply for multiple training programs so that if the first choice was full, they could be placed in a backup program. “My first choice was CNC machining because that’s what my stepdad did. I knew I could always go work with him if need be. I picked that as my first choice. A couple other choices I just kind of jotted down were welding and engineering,” she said. “My last choice was diesel mechanics … and I’m sure you can guess what I got into.” Once she Briggs into the school’s diesel mechanic program, she was excited to learn something different. She ended up loving it the work. After graduation, she took a year off to decide if this was the career she really wanted. “I was scared of being a girl in the field,” Briggs said. “It was something I didn’t think about prior (to training). My family and my husband told me to just go for it — that if I didn’t like it, I could choose something else, but that I wouldn’t know unless I tried.” She says she loves the variety she’s found in her job as a trailer mechanic. “It’s always something just a little bit different with the trailers. You know, one day I’m doing a lot of tires or one day I’m doing a lot of brake jobs and some days it’s even just our preventative maintenance inspection,” she said. “It’s always something just a little different to be done but still working on the same thing every day.” Then came XPO’s 2024 MasterTech competition. The competition, known as a “Super Bowl for technicians,” tests the professional skills and knowledge of the company’s top technicians. Only 20 of the company’s 750 mechanics made it to the 2024 finals in Orlando, Florida — and just three of those 20 earned the title of MasterTech. When Briggs achieved her goal of being able to compete in the finals, she was ecstatic — but also apprehensive. “My hard work paid off,” Briggs said. “I couldn’t wait to be able to go and compete against all these other people and bring light to my name, to being a girl, because I knew I was the only girl going. So that was pretty cool.” But as the competition drew near, worries crept in. “I started getting scared because I knew I had to compete against all these other people who were the best of the best,” she said. “I’m like, ‘Oh my God! I’m terrified!’ “My husband said that if I gave it my best, even if I got last place, I was still one of the best of the best,” she continued. “He said to give it my best shot and go for it.” Briggs competed against fellow XPO trailer technicians in timed stations that tested each contestant’s technical skills and ability to solve problems. The competition was fierce, but it was also fun, Briggs said, adding that one of her favorite events involved a tire station. “We had our vendor Bridgestone come out and they had tire casings that were off the rim or had failed, whether it was a flat tire, maybe they picked up a nail or they had a total blowout,” she said. “We had to go through and determine, ‘Oh, this is what happened to this tire,’ and fully inspect the tires off the rim,” she continued. “It was cool to be able to see how, if a tire goes flat, the inside of the tire starts wearing differently. (When it’s not on a rim), you can see damage to the inside of the tire that you can’t normally see. So that was pretty cool. And we even had label different parts of the tire.” At the end of the competition, when Briggs was named the champion, she says her husband was cheering the loudest. “My husband said my whole face went white. I think I was just in shock. It took me a minute to fully process it,” she said. “I remember walking up and shaking all our higher-ups’ hands, and they’re congratulating me, everyone’s applauding me,” she continued. “Finally, I’m standing up there, and I started to smile — and that’s when it hit me, ‘Hey, I did this!’” Briggs says the fact that she was the first woman to win the title didn’t hit her until later. “It didn’t really click (until) other people started mentioning that I was the first girl to win,” she said. And I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I am!’” Briggs hopes that her achievement will encourage other women to not only get involved in the diesel mechanic industry, but to also to compete and test their skills. “Honestly, just go for it,” she said. “You know, I was terrified at first to get into this field, and it took a lot of encouragement from family and everyone for me to finally take that step and just do it — and I think it ended up being total opposite of what I thought it would be. I thought I’d always be looked down on or treated differently (because I’m a girl). And that is not the case,” she said, noting that others now come to her with questions or to ask with help on some tasks. “And it is honestly a great feeling just to be respected and treated equally,” she said. Briggs and her family are not the only ones who are proud of her achievements. “We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Lars Skagerlind, senior analyst, communications at XPO. “Alyssa is just an incredible mechanic. And it’s incredible to see her get recognized on this stage as well. Everyone at the entire company is thrilled. And it’s just a really cool special moment for the firm.” In addition to earning accolades as a MasterTech, Briggs has been named the Women In Trucking Association’s member of the month for January 2025.

There’s little doubt that driving a truck professionally can be a rewarding career. Compared to other career choices, the training can be less inexpensive and require much less time. Often, the training is employer-sponsored, meaning that new entrants to the profession can receive training for free. It’s not unusual for a driver to make trucking a second career after retiring from the military, being laid off after a plant closure or simply tiring of his or her current job. Many drivers have transitioned to trucking with great success. Look at the whole picture before jumping in. Unfortunately, too many drivers and their families aren’t provided with the complete picture of what a trucking career can look like: The income can be great — but so can the expenses involved. The difficulty of the job can be multiplied by the stresses it can bring to marriages and other relationships. The psychological toll on drivers can be big, too. If you’re thinking about a career change and think trucking might be right for you, there are a few things you should know before you start. In reality, trucking isn’t just a job, it’s a lifestyle. If you understand how your lifestyle — and that of your family members — can change, you’ll be better prepared for the ups and downs of your new career. Get the right training and learn how to do the job right. Getting started in trucking isn’t difficult for most beginners. First off, you’ll take a course in how to safely operate the vehicle so you can earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL). There are several types of CDL training schools; they’re all designed to teach you to safely navigate the largest vehicles on the road. Private CDL schools typically have shorter training periods — but one reason for that brevity is that they may not cover as much material as training facilities. You’ll receive training in the classroom, low-speed maneuvering on the range, and some actual driving time on the road. In short, the goal of any CDL school is to get you to pass your state CDL exam and earn your license. Some trucking companies, or motor carriers, have their own training or schools that can apply more focus on things the carrier finds important, such as safety or working with a certain type of trailer and cargo. Other carriers hire from outside CDL schools. Some even work with certain schools, setting up deals where a student’s training is paid for by the company in exchange for the driver’s commitment to work for that carrier for a specified length of time. There are publicly funded driving schools, too. Most of these are part of a community college. The tuition can be very reasonable, and because the schools are funded publicly, they can offer courses that last longer and cover more material. Some offer weekend courses for those that need to continue working while training. The National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools offers a convenient site map to help prospective students find a training center near them. No matter what type of training school you choose to start with, make sure you thoroughly understand the costs and requirements, especially if you enter into an agreement with a carrier to fund your training. Be prepared for major lifestyle changes. Here are a few things to expect in your new career. You’re going to be separated from your spouse and family for much of the time. Maybe that’s happened to your family before, while you were away on a family visit, vacation or other event — but in trucking, it will be repetitive. If you choose a carrier that promises to get you home every two weeks, that’s how often you’ll see your family. You won’t have time to keep the grass cut, fix the water heater, paint a bedroom and spend time with your wife and kids. A good portion of your time off will be spent washing clothes and packing up for your next two weeks on the road. If your partner or someone else in the family can handle the tasks you normally do at home, you’ll be a step ahead — but not every partner is able (or willing) to take your place while you’re gone. Life as a truck driver also has an emotional impact. For instance, some conversations with loved ones should really be in person and can’t be handled well in a phone call or video chat from the road. Waiting all day (or week or month) for that discussion only gets worse when it devolves into your family complaining about you not being there. Often, drivers change jobs in an effort to find one that gets them home more often or for longer periods, hoping that more time with the family will help alleviate some of the separation issues. Sometimes it works … more often it doesn’t. No matter how great the company’s home-time benefits are, they can’t always accommodate a driver’s desire for special days off. You will miss some birthdays, anniversaries and other occasions. After driving on the road for a year or so, some drivers look for a local alternative that lets them be at home every night. There are local jobs available, such as hauling trash, concrete or petroleum products. Most of these don’t pay as well as over-the-road (OTR) driving, and the hours are often long. Still, they are an option for some drivers and their families. Too often, however, drivers cycle between a local job that gets them home but doesn’t pay the bills and an OTR job that pays well but keeps them away from loved ones. Be sure to budget for life on the road. Pay scale is another area that often causes problems — in fact, pay is regularly among the Top 3 concerns of drivers, according to an annual survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute. Personal expenses while driving OTR are certainly a concern. Restaurants are more expensive than ever, and drivers who plan to eat three meals a day at truck stops or restaurants will quickly discover there isn’t much paycheck left over to send home. Fast food is cheaper than the truck stop deli or a diner, but it’s also less healthy. Far too many drivers find that obesity seems to come with the job. If you find yourself short on cash on the road, most carriers allow drivers to draw advances on their pay using their assigned fuel cards. HOWEVER, It’s vital that you keep this in mind: Multiple advances in a week to pay for meals and other items can result in take-home pay that doesn’t cover family expenses back home, leading to other problems. Carrying food along helps minimize the issue. The best practice is to pack food that can be easily prepared on the road. Microwaves and other cooking devices are common fixtures in most trucks these days. Thousands of successful truck drivers thrive on the road and enjoy a satisfying and lucrative career. Before making the move to trucking, stop and have an honest and thorough conversation with your spouse and family. It’s the best way to avoid issues about time and money later.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) has named truck driver Eric “Zach” Rogers, from Florence, Alabama, a TCA Highway Angel for helping an elderly woman who crashed her car while experiencing a medical emergency. According to a TCA press release, on Aug. 21 around 11:30 a.m., Rogers — who works for Carter Express Incorporated out of Madison, Alabama — was traveling on Highway 72 just west of Slayden, Mississippi, when a motorist crossed the lanes of traffic in front of him and ran off the road. “She cut all the way over in front of me and then ran off the road and spun and slid, then came back across the highway and ended up in the ditch,” Rogers said. Rogers stopped his truck and went to assist the elderly female driver and her passenger. He found the driver convulsing, so he called 911. “She was just out of her mind; she couldn’t talk and her eyes were rolling back in her head,” Rogers said. “I actually just held her and prayed because she reminded me of my grandmother and I knew that she was probably somebody’s grandmother — they probably weren’t ready to lose her.” Roger’s remained with her until emergency services arrived and then, as a true trucker, completed his load. “I don’t feel like I did anything special,” Rogers said. “I treated her like I would have wanted someone to treat my grandmother, had they been in the same situation.”

Tyrone Burcham and Wade Burcham have always driven parallel lanes in life. The native Virginians’ resumes are almost identical, from their careers in trucking to the success they’ve had as professional drivers. The duo has been driving for a combined 61 years, 29 of those years with Estes Express Lines. Those totals split almost down the middle, with Tyrone — who’s 15 months older than Wade — holding a one-year edge. Both Tyrone and Wade have reached the 2.5 million safe miles mark with the Estes and are both approaching the 4-million-mile mark in their respective careers. Again, Tyrone has a slight edge — after all, he had a one-year head start in the business. As if that weren’t mirror-image enough, their parents further solidified the bond between the brothers by naming the eldest Tyrone Wade and the younger Wade Tyrone. That’s a moniker twist that has produced some memorable moments through the years. “When me and Tyrone were running team for A&W, we were in Montana at a scale house one time,” Wade said with a chuckle. “(The inspector) pulled me in for a check. He asked me for my logbook, and I gave it to him. He looked at it, and he looked at me, and he said, ‘Do you think I’m stupid? Do I look stupid?’ I said, ‘No, sir. Why?’ “He said, ‘I’ve seen people put down Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe, but I’ve never seen no one dumb enough to reverse their name,’” Wade continued. “I told him, ‘Oh, Tyrone Wade’s my brother. I’ll get him up if you want me to.’ He said, ‘No, but you will go get his license and his logbook.’ “He made me go out there and get Tyrone’s license and logbook and bring them in for him to see that Ty really existed,” Wade laughed. Even though the brothers aren’t twins, let alone look-alikes, their names make quite an impression. “We’ll bump into people that we ain’t seen since elementary school and they’ll say, ‘I never forget you two because of your names,’” Tyrone chuckled. The fact that the two brothers are so identically skilled behind the wheel can be attributed to their father, Tyrone, who inspired the boys to go into the industry. He even worked at Estes, with his sons before retiring. During his time at Estes, the elder Tyrone had a chance to drive team with each of his sons. Today, the brothers give their father a lot of the credit for their longevity and safety record. “He taught us everything,” said Wade. “Number one: slow down, check and double check. Whenever you’re driving, pay attention to what’s going on the road. If you had something going on at the house, that would be there when you got back; focus on what you’re doing.” Both brothers count themselves lucky to have been able to team with their father. “I ran team with Dad for probably a year and a half. My brother, he ran team with him when we went out west,” Tyrone said. “(Like Wade said, Dad) always said, ‘Don’t get in a rush. Make sure you cross your T’s, dot your I’s, check everything and think stuff through. Don’t ever get in a hurry. Always take your time, and do it right the first time.’” The brothers have also been able to team drive together during their career, and each has traveled to all of the lower 48 U.S. states and into Canada. Today, thanks to their seniority, they run as a team … of sorts. While they don’t necessarily share a truck, they DO share the road. “We started out hauling reefer. We would haul NAPA filters out to Seattle and Portland, Oregon. Then we would turn around and pick up produce in Washington state – apples – and come back,” Tyrone said. “We done that for about the first — me, seven and a half years, and my brother six and a half years. “Right now, we’re running general freight and dry box to Kentucky,” he continued. “We run separate trucks, but we’ve got enough seniority that we get to follow each other. I run at 4 in the morning and my brother runs at 4:30 in the morning.” The brothers’ close bond — and their father’s early lessons — have always kept any sibling rivalry out of the cab. “We’ve always worked together well,” Tyrone said. “I mean, we’ve always been competitive against one another, but in a good way. We work together, and we’re so close that usually when I hit a milestone, he’s right behind me — within six months anyway.” The two still love what they do, despite everything that’s changed since they first got behind the wheel more than 30 years ago. Wade attributes a large portion of their contentment on the road the company the two have called home for the past couple of decades. “Working for Estes, when they give you your bills and you’re going to do your run — as long as you’re doing your job and doing it like they want you to do — they really don’t bother you,” he said. “I like that freedom. I mean, I never could think about working in a factory or doing something else.” Tyrone says he’s not sure if the two will ever “outgrow” their love of the road. “I still like traveling. I still like going out seeing everything, going in truck stops, stuff like that,” he said. “Trucking is just a good industry. We just try to keep it how we found it, you know? It was good when we came into it and, hopefully, it’ll be good whenever we get to leave it at retirement age.”