Driver Spotlight: Lee C.
Lee C. never expected to become a truck driver, let alone in the United States. Originally from Australia, he moved to Georgia two and a half years ago when his wife, a chiropractor, purchased a clinic in the area. “I came here for family reasons,” he said. “My wife went to college in the U.S., and she always wanted to come back here to live and work. She found herself in a position where she could afford to buy a clinic, and that meant we all moved.”
In Australia, Lee had spent 15 years in government administration, a career that didn’t translate easily to the American job market. “I was what we call a public servant, or I guess you’d call a government bureaucrat. But the exact sort of work I was doing didn’t really transfer over to America, and being an Australian citizen, not an American one, meant I couldn’t work for the federal government.” With no clear career path, he took a job at an Amazon warehouse while figuring out his next move. That was when trucking caught his attention. “I was working at Amazon as a placeholder job, just to earn some money while thinking about what I was going to do. Of course, being in a big warehouse, there were trucks delivering freight all the time. I thought, ‘Maybe I could drive one of those big trucks.’”
Lee earned his CDL while still working at Amazon, setting himself up for a new career on the road.
Choosing Knight
Once he obtained his CDL, Lee explored different trucking companies before choosing Knight. “I was checking out different companies in Atlanta or close to where I was. I applied to a couple of places, but it was probably a timing thing. Knight got back to me quickly, and they had something that fit what I was looking for.”
He had already heard good things about Knight and liked what he saw. “I’d seen Knight driving around, and I’d heard good things about them. I was actually interested in dry van, but they didn’t have any of those positions available at the time. They had refrigerated openings, and I thought, ‘I don’t mind doing food, so I can do reefer.’”
Now, with over a year at Knight and nearly a year of solo driving, Lee is gaining experience and learning what it takes to succeed on the road.
The Best Parts of Trucking
For Lee, trucking has been a chance to see the country in a way few people do. “The thing I enjoyed the most, especially when I started, was just getting to drive around America. I’m still relatively new to this country, and there’s not really a job that’s better suited to showing you all over than driving a truck.” He has traveled across the U.S., seeing both coasts and nearly every region in between. “I’ve literally been from coast to coast, from top to bottom.” His favorite routes take him through the Southwest and the Rocky Mountains. “Arizona, Colorado, and Utah—America has some amazingly beautiful environments.”
“The thing I enjoyed the most, especially when I started, was just getting to drive around America. I’m still relatively new to this country, and there’s not really a job that’s better suited to showing you all over than driving a truck.”
Lee
The Challenges of Life on the Road
While the job has its rewards, it also comes with sacrifices. The biggest challenge for Lee is being away from home. “Being away all the time… that’s the hardest part, 100 percent. Being away from your family, your home, your friends. If there’s one thing I could change, it would be that aspect of it.”
He does his best to find balance. “My plan is to try and get back every three to four weeks and stay home for about a week. I don’t always follow that. Sometimes I have to stay out longer, sometimes I go back a little sooner. It depends on family events or things like that.”
Other challenges include parking and adjusting to different driving schedules. “Finding parking can be a real pain sometimes. And flipping from running days to running nights can be tough. It’s nice when you can gradually move from one sleep pattern to another, but it doesn’t always work out like that.”
Helping Others and Learning from Mentors
Despite the challenges, Lee values the camaraderie of the trucking industry. Early on, he received guidance from experienced drivers and now takes the time to help others. “I remember what it’s like to be new. If you see someone struggling, being able to help is a good feeling,” he said.
He has assisted fellow drivers, Knight and non-Knight alike, whether it’s backing into a dock or troubleshooting trailer tandems. “One time, a driver couldn’t get his tandems to move, and I told him to just move the trailer to a different parking spot. He came back later and said, ‘You’re the best. Thank you so much.’”
Work Ethic and Motivation
Lee takes pride in doing his job well. “If I’m going to do any job, I want to do it to the best of my ability. I don’t half *** work. I do my best. Always.”
For him, trucking requires commitment and resilience. “You sacrifice a lot being a driver. You’re away from your friends and family, sometimes for extended periods. If you’re going to do something, you’ve got to at least have some pride in what you’re doing. Do a good job at it.”
“I remember what it’s like to be new. If you see someone struggling, being able to help is a good feeling”
Lee
Lee’s journey from government work in Australia to trucking in the United States is a testament to adaptability and perseverance. Whether it’s navigating new landscapes, helping fellow drivers, or simply putting in an honest day’s work, he brings dedication to everything he does.
With his experience growing, his career in trucking is just getting started.
