Students of the Road: Lessons from Two Veteran Refrigerated Drivers at Knight Transportation
What does 30+ years behind the wheel teach you?
According to two longtime refrigerated drivers at Knight Transportation, it’s this: great drivers aren’t born – they become students of the road.
In a candid roundtable conversation, these drivers shared stories that were funny, honest, and deeply insightful about backing, trip planning, weight distribution, family life on the road, and why refrigerated freight offers some of the most rewarding challenges in trucking.
Here are the takeaways every current – and future – driver can learn from.
“I Feared Backs… Until I Didn’t”
Early in their careers, both drivers admitted they were intimidated by tight docks and awkward backing situations.
So what changed?
They started watching other drivers.
“I began asking drivers I admired how they did it. Truck drivers love to talk – and I learned everything from those conversations.”
Over time, fear turned into confidence. One driver shared how he once took 12 minutes, multiple repositionings, and a crowd of onlookers to back into a “broken” dock no one else could hit.
His takeaway?
A good back isn’t fast. A good back is one where you don’t hit anything.
Backing is Geometry - Not Guesswork
You don’t need to be good at math to be great at backing. But you do need to understand angles, space, and patience.
“Backing a truck is geometry. Once I started seeing it that way, everything changed.”
This mindset – learning to see challenges differently – is what separates experienced drivers from frustrated ones.
The Skill Most New Drivers Struggle With: Sliding Tandems & Weight Distribution
Both drivers agreed: CDL schools rarely prepare drivers for real-world weight distribution.
They described learning the hard way how each tandem hole changes weight by roughly 250 pounds and how to calculate adjustments when loads are uneven – like pallets of potatoes, dog food, or beverages.
Their advice?
- Learn how weight moves
- Take time to understand adjustments
- Ask questions
- Use every training tool available
“That’s not something you learn in CDL school. You learn it by doing – or from another driver.”
Why Reefer Freight Is Different (and Rewarding)
Refrigerated freight takes drivers to places most dry van drivers never see:
- Two-lane canopy roads
- Rural food plants
- Tight docks behind grocery warehouses
- Routes off the beaten path
“I wanted to see more of the country. Reefer takes you there.”
They also discussed how the reefer market is strengthening, offering more flexibility like 5 days on / 2 days off schedules in many areas, while still allowing long-haul opportunities for drivers who want the miles.
Trip Planning Is a Lost Art
One of the most repeated themes: trip planning.
“I still take 30 to 90 minutes to plan every trip.”
Proper planning reduces stress, creates options, and often allows drivers to arrive early enough to relax instead of rushing.
Great drivers don’t just drive.
They strategize.
Trucking Is Not an 8-5 Job - and That's Okay
They were honest about the lifestyle.
Trucking requires:
- Family support
- Flexibility
- Creativity
- Independence
One driver shared how he homeschooled his kids on the road for years, rotating time with grandparents while he ran freight across the Northwest.
“You have to be a creative problem solver – in your truck and in your life.”
Don’t Get Into Trucking for the Weekly Check
This may have been their strongest message.
“If you do this just for the money, you’ll be unhappy.”
Some weeks are great. Some are slow. But at the end of the year, it adds up. What matters more is:
- Being treated with respect
- Enjoying the work
- Feeling proud at the end of the day
One driver had left for higher pay elsewhere – and came back.
“I took less money to be treated like a human being.”
Students of the Road
After decades of driving, their mindset hasn’t changed.
“We didn’t start this knowing anything. We just became students.”
They still learn. They still adjust. They still ask questions.
And that’s why they’re considered legends by the drivers around them.
Considering Refrigerated Driving?
Their advice is simple:
- If you love to drive, you’ll love reefer
- Be willing to learn
- Ask questions
- Plan your trips
- Don’t rush your backs
- Take pride in solving problems
Because at the end of the day, the real satisfaction isn’t the paycheck.
It’s knowing you handled the challenge – safely, skillfully, and professionally.
Watch the full conversation with these veteran Knight refrigerated drivers and hear their stories firsthand.
