A lot of individuals develop a fascination for trucks early on. Remember the thrill of a child dashing to the window to see the garbage truck each morning or the delight on their face when they pump their fist in the air, only to receive a honk in return from a truck driver?
However, as time goes on, it appears that the magic of trucking fades, or at least, the enthusiasm for the industry does not carry over into many people’s initial career choices.
This trend is evident in the interviews conducted by HDT. Each year, HDT speaks with a group of trucking professionals under 40 years old whom they consider HDT Emerging Leaders, and very few, if any, admit that trucking was their childhood dream. Most either grew up in the family business or simply stumbled into it.
While they are now enthusiastic advocates for the industry and their careers, it often took some encouragement to guide them in that direction.
Where’s the gap? How can the trucking industry maintain young people’s excitement and restore its reputation as a viable career path?
Podcast: Inside a High School Truck Driver Training Program
In 2021, the Next Generation in Trucking Association was formed to address this issue. Co-founded by Dave Dein, a pioneer behind one of the nation’s first high school truck driving programs, this nonprofit aims to promote trucking as a promising career and to engage and train high school-age individuals to become tomorrow’s trucking professionals.
But what if it were possible to introduce children to the trucking industry as early as elementary school? Might that keep their enthusiasm alive and lead them to high school programs that result in rewarding careers?
How Children’s Books Can Foster Interest in Trucking Careers
One retired elementary school teacher believes it’s crucial to expose students to various career options, including trucking.
“If we don’t make them aware, they won’t know it’s an option,” stated Carol Gordon Ekster, author of the recently published children’s book, Trucker Kid, which showcases a child’s pride in her father’s profession as a truck driver.
Ekster taught for 35 years and was recognized as a finalist for New Hampshire Teacher of the Year. She emphasized the importance of picture books in her classroom, using them not just for storytelling but as tools for lessons in writing, social studies, and math.
“Every job has significance if we acknowledge it. We are fortunate to have people who perform diverse roles in society,” Ekster remarked. “We need truckers to supply goods and medical supplies. If people understood the value of what truckers do, perhaps they would consider a career in trucking.”
The Inspiration Behind Trucker Kid by Carol Gordon Ekster
Ekster conceived the idea for her book in 2013 after overhearing a family discuss their road trip and experiences with trucking while dining at a restaurant.
“The little girl in that family was incredibly precocious,” Ekster recalled, noting how the narrative of a young girl accompanying her father in his truck resonated deeply with her. She found the storyline captivating.
The inspiration for the story also stems from a truck driver named John Fullbright and his daughter, while the book’s illustrator, Russ Cox, has a son involved in the trucking industry.
