Comments By Mark O.

Hey folks, thanks for the encouraging replies. I've been thinking about this, and frankly, I think my family member's problem is mostly her problem. Much as I love her, I think she is hung up on status and has trouble thinking of me as a truck driver. But that would be her problem, not mine. I DO NOT think I am better than people who have less education than me. Generally, they have strengths that I lack. People end up where they are because of what fate and chance have dealt them. I know lots of intelligent people never go to college, and also that there are lots of kinds of intelligence, some of which I lack. I will approach this humbly. I know that my degrees won't help me when I'm behind the wheel. As some of you have said, what matters is common sense, and also experience, which I now lack, and which I respect. Thanks again for the reassurance.

Hi folks. I told a family member that I was considering going into trucking, and she told me that I would face hostility if I did because of who I am. I wonder if that's really true.

Here's some info about me: I am a small guy (5'6"), pushing 60 but in good shape because I go hiking whenever I can. I am kind of a loner. So far, so good, I'm guessing. Now, my family member thought that this is what would be a problem: I have a PhD from UC Berkeley (in California) and a BA from an Ivy League college in New England. I speak several languages besides English, and I've worked for most of my adult life as an editor of books on history. My family member thinks it's obvious from the way I talk that I'm an educated guy. Another detail is that I happen to be gay. I don't think most people guess that. I don't have stereotypical gay mannerisms, and though I am not macho, I think I come across as an ordinary guy, even if it's obvious that I've spent time with books. I don't think there's any reason anyone would have to know I'm gay, unless they ask about my family and I then mention my partner. But she thought that would be a problem. Also, my politics are left. (Not liberal like Nancy Pelosi or Joe Biden, but really left, like Bernie Sanders.) I don't feel a need to talk about my politics, and I respect other points of view. I've done some hiking trips in red states and had great conversations with people I'm sure had different politics than mine. I'm willing to listen and learn.

Anyway, I have dreamed of driving a truck for years, I love long days of driving on cross-country road trips, and I have great respect for truckers. I'm tired of the BS at my corporate desk job, and I was looking forward to getting a CDL and changing careers.

Do you think my family member is right that I would run into hostility or trouble from other truckers because of my background?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.