Author Archives: Heartland Patriot

My first years at CSX Intermodal were steady, profitable, and full of lessons. From unusual loads to new supervisors, I quickly discovered that working as an independent contractor in the rail yards was a whole different world. CSX Railroad had two rail yards where I ran most of my business. The main one was inContinue reading “Chapter 2: How CSX Intermodal Operated”

I hope that if you’re reading this, you’ve also read the first book. My termination from Conway really made me doubt my driving skills. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last time those skills would be questioned — there are moments in this book that will show that as well. I feel that I need to shareContinue reading “Chapter 1: The Transition After a Disappointing Employment at Conway Central Express”

Writing this book has been a true labor of love. I’ve poured my heart into sharing the stories of my trucking career—stories that carry both the weight of sacrifice and the joy of accomplishment. As many of you know, the road eventually took its toll on my health and I was forced into retirement. WhileContinue reading “My Situation…Support the Author”

This book is a continuation of my journey in trucking, focusing on my years as an independent contractor. It is a collection of my personal memories and experiences during this chapter of my career. While I have done my best to be truthful and accurate, the events are described as I remember them. Some names,Continue reading “Author’s Note & Disclaimer”

A Trucker’s Life – Book Two: My Independent Contractor Life Copyright https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=416 Author’s Note & Disclaimer https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=494 Book Preview https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=89 Dedication https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=414 Acknowledgments https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=414 Chapters 1. The Transition After a Disappointing Employment at Conway Central Express https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=253 2. How CSX Intermodal Operated https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=255 3. My New Best Friend https://my-trucker-life.com/?p=255 4. Pitt-Ohio Express — Not AtContinue reading “Table of Contents”

Gerald (Gerry) Lee Jones spent 47 years behind the wheel of a semi, navigating highways, back roads, loading docks, and life’s many detours. From his earliest days learning the ropes of trucking to running his own independent business, Gerry’s career reflects grit, endurance, and the unshakable pride of a true professional driver. Through his books,Continue reading “About the Author”

The open road brings freedom, but it also demands sacrifice. In this second installment of my trucking journey, I share the trials, triumphs, breakdowns, and breakthroughs of life as an independent contractor. From mechanical failures to physical battles, from friendships to farewells, these are the chapters that reveal both the grit and the heart behindContinue reading “Preview of A Trucker’s Life: Book Two – The Independent Contractor Years”

Engines wear out. Trailers crack. Parts fail. Those are breakdowns a trucker expects. But what happens when the body behind the wheel starts to give out? This chapter isn’t about mechanical failures — it’s about me and the toll that nearly five decades on the road has taken. After all the equipment breakdowns I’ve describedContinue reading “Chapter 20: When The Driver’s Body Breaks Down”

Sometimes, the biggest change comes not from failure, but from the decision to finally say, “enough is enough.” This chapter begins the last stretch of my trucking career — a road that tested my patience, my endurance, and ultimately brought me to the longest contract I ever held. — Before I canceled my contract withContinue reading “Chapter 14: The Final Road to Forced Retirement”

© 2025 Gerald Lee JonesAll Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certainContinue reading “Copyright”