By Saleem Mubarak
For many, the trucking industry conjures up images of massive 18-wheelers crossing several state lines a week. But there is another vital side to American freight: regional box truck drivers who are using the industry to completely reshape their lives.
Corey Edgell, a driver based out of Indiana, is the perfect example of this modern trucking hustle.
He is fairly new to the game—having started just over five months ago—and he doesn't truck full-time yet. Instead, Corey is splitting his time between a standard factory job and running regional routes in his 26-foot box truck.
For Corey, getting behind the wheel wasn't about a lifelong passion for driving; it was about spotting a doorway to a better life.
Breaking the Factory Routine
"I saw it as an opportunity," Corey explains when asked why he decided to start driving. "Money is the incentive, but it’s really an opportunity so I’m just not stagnant and working a factory job for the rest of my life."
Driving a truck can completely change a person's lifestyle, offering a clear path to a decent living for anyone willing to put in the dedication.
Currently, Corey uses his box truck to haul regional loads twice a week. This allows him to build a fundamentally sound foundation in the business before taking the leap into full-time owner-operation.
Staying local to Indiana also brings its own perks, Corey laughs: "I get less toll roads in Indiana, to be completely honest."
For the Love of the View (and Cheese Puffs)
When he is out on the road, Corey isn't picky about what goes into the back of his truck. "The commodity is irrelevant," he says. "Whatever makes the money."
What he does care about is the scenery. The best part of the job for Corey is the "free reign" and the opportunity to see new places and sights. This love for exploring carries over into his personal life, too.
When he isn't working at the factory or driving his truck, you can find him out on a trail hiking and sightseeing.
And if he does end up on a rare long-haul run? His go-to road snack of choice is simple: cheese puffs.
The Dispatcher Dilemma: Making it "Make Sense"
Because Corey is focused on building a smart, profitable business, he currently juggles three different dispatchers so he never misses a good opportunity. However, his five months in the industry have already taught him some tough lessons about who he does business with.
Corey recently had to let a dispatcher go because they forgot a golden rule: a load has to make financial sense for the driver, not just the person booking it.
"A dispatcher needs to understand that not only do I need to be on the road, but it needs to make sense," Corey warns. "Accepting anything doesn't make sense when I'm out of pocket. I've had a dispatcher try to book me for $1.40 a mile. Especially with these gas prices, it doesn't make sense to me, but it makes sense to them because they're still getting that same percentage."
Advice for the Next Generation: Total Commitment
Corey is incredibly candid about his journey, acknowledging that juggling a factory job and a new trucking business is a difficult balancing act. For new drivers who are just looking to get their start, he offers one major piece of advice: Commit fully.
"Stay focused. Definitely stay focused and commit," Corey says. "If you're going to do something, commit to it. And I'm only saying that because I haven't fully committed yet."
With his sharp eye on freight rates, a solid work ethic, and a clear goal to leave the factory floor behind, it won't be long before Corey is fully committed to the open road.