“The first job I ever had was as an ambulance attendant when I was 16 years old. Then I started driving a wrecker. When I got tired of that, I drove a truck over the road for the rest of my life. I loved it. I enjoyed seeing the countryside. I did it for over 40 years. Been to 48 states and Canada.

“The first time I went to Canada, the guy said, ‘Do you have any guns or dope?’ I told him, ‘Yes, sir,’ and I pulled out my Browning Hi-Power pistol, unloaded it, emptied the clip, and gave it to him. He said I could pick it up on the way back into the country. I think that was in 1969.

“I’ve always owned guns. I can’t outrun nobody. I can’t hit nobody hard enough to make them stop doing what they’re doing. But the only time I ever pointed a gun at someone is when a guy stuck his head in my pickup truck while I was sitting at a red light. When he did that, I stuck my gun in the end of his nose and told him to get out.”

What did he do?
“He got out. Buddy, I’m not looking to kill nobody. But if it comes to me or them … It’s that simple. Hopefully, I don’t ever have to fire a shot, except at the range.”

— Victor Earnest

The post Longtime gun owner: ‘I’m not looking to kill nobody’ appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I was in the oil business, running 130 barrels. But when everything took a dive and oil rigs started shutting down, a lot of people got laid off. I came down here to work.

“I have three kids and a wife back home. The younger ones are in private school and my oldest son and wife are in college, so I had to find something pretty quick. Right now, we’re just trying to hold on to what we’ve got.

“I’m a real family man, so the hardest part is being away from them. I hate missing the kids growing up. This past school year alone, I missed so many games, track meets and all of that. And, of course, I miss my wife something terrible.

“I’m so proud of her. She went back to school after 25 years and just got accepted into a nursing program. When she gets through that in a couple more years, then I’ll head back up there and probably get a driving job.

“There will be a day when this is over and we’ll all be together again. Until then, if you want something a little better for your family, you’re going to have to work for it. Sometimes you just have to make sacrifices so you can take care of those that you love.”

— Owen Shipp

The post He’s making sacrifices for those he loves appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I never was much of a reader in school. I probably needed glasses back then, which may have had something to do with it. Anyway, we were required in junior high to go to the library and pick out a book to read. So I found one about the old Ford Model A era, and it talked about trucks and truck drivers. For some reason, that hit a chord with me. Then, when the chance came along, that’s what I did. I started driving trucks in 1968 and kept doing it until 2013.”

What was the best part about truck driving?
“You’re in the truck by yourself. You know what you have to do. Since I’m a self-motivated type of person, it was perfect for me. Plus, you get to see the country. What more could you want? I loved what I was doing and I was getting paid for it.”

— Randy Evans

Related:

• He likes the freedom to ‘hook up and go’

The post School assignment led to career as truck driver appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’ve been driving nearly all my life. When I was 14 years old, I started driving a big truck for my daddy in Brownsville. He showed me how. Then for about 50 years, I drove 18-wheelers and buses all over the United States and Mexico. It was a job, but I enjoyed it.”

What are you doing now?
“Well, I retired about four years ago. Now I relax on my two acres of land and watch my chickens, my dogs and my little hogs. It’s nice.”

— Baudlio Salazar

The post After driving trucks for years, it’s time to relax appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“I’ve been driving a truck since 1997. When I was running chemicals it was out, unload and come right back. Now I haul crude oil in the Texas Panhandle and western Oklahoma, and I’m usually gone two to three weeks at a time. That’s the toughest part. It provides for our family, but I’m at the point now where I don’t like being away from home.”

What do you miss most when your dad is on the road?
(Left) “I can’t hug him and say goodnight.”
(Right) “When I get a bad grade on my spelling test and he’s home, he always tells me, ‘You’ll get it next time.’”

— Brad Wood with Hannah and Amanda

The post Truck driver’s daughters want more time with dad appeared first on The Baytown Project.

“One of the things they told us at truck driving school is if you’re not married before you start driving, it’s very hard to do afterward because of the long hours and time away from home. But I’m engaged now. My girlfriend and I are getting married in October.

“I’m 45 and looking forward to finally having someone to talk to at the end of the day. My dogs have been good company, but they don’t answer back.”

The post Truck driver looks forward to sharing life appeared first on The Baytown Project.