About the only way we're not going to have congestion on Interstate 81 these days is if a truck overturns... spilling Vick's Vaporub. Ouch. That's almost as bad as the trucker who takes a wrong route and ends us getting his trailer stuck under a low bridge. Eventually a police officer pulls up and  puts his hands on his hips and says, "Got stuck huh?" The trucker replies, "No. Actually, I was delivering this bridge and ran out of gas."

We can't hardly blame truck drivers for being a little extra snarky these days. If they're not the brunt of bad jokes, they're getting fingers pointed at them from all directions as the blame for wrecks, backups, and overall havoc—particularly (if not exclusively) when it comes to interstate traffic. Even the personal injury lawyers are taking more pot shots at trucks and truck drivers, if television advertising is any indication.

There's a lot more to the story. The economic contribution trucks and operators make to our local region is undeniable. Their work not only benefits shippers and distributors from all over the globe, it benefits anyone, anywhere, who consumes anything. (Hint: that's us.)

Our FRONTcover story looks at the world's second largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks. Every Volvo truck bought and driven in North America is made in Pulaski County's Dublin, Virginia.

Truckers. Give them a break.
Just don't brake in front of them.