Taking the plunge

Twenty-some years ago, I felt the need to make like Moses and herd sheep. For me, trucking was the modern-day equivalent. Asphalt became the antidote for job burnout and the death of my wife.

Unlike some who grew up with trucking, I started from scratch enrolling in the commercial driving program at Walla Walla Community College. Most of the other aspiring drivers were in my kids' age cohort. But we experienced camaraderie and learned against a backdrop of hilarity that rivaled late-night television. After ten weeks, I was the proud recipient of a commercial driver's license. Recruiters from c...