NEW HAMPSHIRE — Carol Gordon Ekster, a veteran educator with 35 years in the classroom and a former New Hampshire Teacher of the Year finalist, is shifting the narrative on the trucking industry with her latest children’s book, Trucker Kid. The book portrays the life of a truck driver through the eyes of a child, focusing on the pride families take in the profession and the vital role drivers play in the national supply chain.

The inspiration for the project dates back to 2013, when Ekster overheard a conversation between a young girl and her father, a professional driver, discussing their experiences on the road. This interaction convinced Ekster that children lack exposure to the reality of the industry, leading to a disconnect between the goods they see on store shelves and the people who deliver them. By humanizing the role of the OTR truck driver, the book seeks to normalize the career path for young readers before they form biases against the lifestyle.

Ekster utilized her background in curriculum development to ensure the book serves as more than just entertainment. Throughout her teaching career, she used picture books as a central component of her social studies and writing lessons. She maintains that if the industry wants to solve the long-term recruitment crisis, it must start by making children aware that trucking is a respectable, essential, and rewarding career option. Illustrator Russ Cox, who has personal family ties to the trucking industry, provided the visuals that bring the father-daughter dynamic to life.

What This Means for Drivers

For the average CDL-A driver, this cultural shift is a welcome change from the negative tropes often associated with the job. Public perception remains a significant hurdle for those looking to recruit younger talent into the industry, and shifting the narrative to one of pride and service can improve retention. As trucking companies are hiring to fill gaps, changing the conversation at the household level helps validate the sacrifices made by those currently working long hauls. Drivers often feel overlooked by the public, but this push toward early education frames the profession as a vital public service rather than a peripheral industry.

Industry Reaction

The broader industry has long struggled with recruitment, often relying on high-cost advertising campaigns that fail to address the fundamental lack of public understanding regarding trucking operations. Educators like Ekster provide a unique, grassroots approach to the problem by planting the seeds of interest at the elementary level. While the industry continues to navigate complex FMCSA regulations and economic shifts, the need for a steady pipeline of new drivers remains constant. Cultivating a positive image early is a strategic move that could pay dividends for carriers seeking to attract the next generation of logistics professionals.

Key Points

• Carol Gordon Ekster, a 35-year veteran educator, authored Trucker Kid to highlight the dignity of the trucking profession.
• The book was inspired by a real-life conversation between a truck driver and his daughter overheard by the author in 2013.
• Educators are being encouraged to use literature to expose students to career paths that are often ignored in traditional school settings.
• The project emphasizes that the supply chain depends on the passion and willingness of drivers to keep the world moving.

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Photo by Tolga Ahmetler on Pexels