Say What?

Question: What do you like most and the least about your job?

Billy Arnold, 30, Sedalia, MO

Professional driving experience: 12 years

“The best part about this job is getting to meet different people, traveling to all 48 states and seeing the country and all the beautiful scenery it has to offer. It doesn’t get any better than that. The worst part is driving in bad weather. It’s no fun when the road is covered with ice.”

Ron Stevens, 37, Philadelphia, PA

Professional driving experience: 12 years

“I love this job. I love what I’m doing. I love being out on the road, meet-ing people and seeing all the different things that are out there. It’s a unique business, and I’m glad to be a part of it. Like with any business, there is a downside. There’s a lot of pressure to make deliveries on time, to make sure the job is done right, what with all of the rules and regulations.”

Ron “Snuffy” Smith, 52, Massillon, OH

Professional driving experience: 28 years

“The best part is having the opportunity to travel and see the country. I bought my own truck so I could do it my way. I especially like driving out West in wide-open spaces. The worst part is dealing with dispatchers. For some reason, those people don’t seem to know a thing about driving a truck.”

Dianne “Granny” Smith, 51, Massillon, OH

Professional driving experience: 19 years

“The best part is the freedom. I like driving out West, too, as long as it’s not California. I like hauling military loads because when we go on a military base, they treat us with the utmost respect. They’re tickled to see us. Dispatchers are the worst. They always seem to have their head up where it don’t belong.”

Gail Glass, 58, Harrisburg, IL

Professional driving experience: 44 years

“I started driving when I was 14. It wasn’t legal, but you could do those things back then. What do I like the best about this? Not being stuck in one place, for one. Not having the same old routine every day. Not being crammed in a factory where it’s 100 degrees. As for the worst part, that would have to be fooling around with the cops and the DOT.”