Independent Contractor - December 2019

along in his GMC Astro 95.” Fields has noticed
a difference in the way drivers were perceived
back then versus how they are seen now. “In my
grandfather’s day,” he said, “truck drivers were
held in high regard. A lot has changed.”
In his view, the driver is on the front line of
the image battle. “The public perceives trucking,
as a whole, by the actions of the driver. How you
dress, how you act, the language you use all say
something about trucking.”
While racking up safe miles, Steve began
participating in truck driving championships in
his home state of Missouri and nationally. Fields
won the Missouri Grand Champion crown in
2003 and was top in the twins category at the
nationals in 2011. The competition is fierce, but
he enjoys watching and working with the other
contestants. “This will be my 28th or 29th year,”
he said. “I’ve got a lot of seconds and thirds,
but it’s always great to see the talented drivers
compete.”
In 2007, he was selected as a captain on ATA’s
America’s Road Team, frequently traveling to
speak to high school students, drivers and to
industry and community groups about driving
safely around tractor-trailers.
One of Steve’s favorite assignments is
making presentations to teen drivers through
ATA’s Share the Road program.
“We talk to high school drivers ed classes
about following distances, characteristics of the
truck, stopping distances and so on,” Fields said.
“Most of them are really surprised that takes
more than a football field, including end zones,
to stop a truck.”
The instruction includes tips on giving trucks
plenty or room, especially passing safely without
pulling back in front of the truck too soon.
The visits include some real-world training,
as cars are placed in blind spots around the
parked truck.
“When they get behind the wheel and close
the doors, they can’t see the cars,” he said. “It
really opens their eyes.”
Fields is a fan of the latest safety technology,
but when asked for the most impactful
innovations he’s definitely old school.
“The number one safety improvement is the
seat belt,” he said. “Any time you can stay in
the vehicle during an accident, your chances are
better.”
He’s adamant, however about one thing.
“The safest thing on the truck is the driver,”
he said. When he speaks to other drivers, he
talks about seat belts.
“I always ask, ‘if you knew that 20 minutes
from now you were going to be involved in a
rollover accident, would you put your seat belt
on?”
On the rare occasions when he’s not behind
the wheel or in front of a group, Fields likes
camping, motorcycle riding and showing off his
hot rod, a ’67 Camaro RS/SS that he enters into
local parades and shows. He has a daughter who
recently became engaged. “It’ll be an interesting
year,” he said.
The Mike Russell Trucking Image Award,
sponsored by Hire Right, is presented to an
individual, motor carrier, trucking organization
and industry supplier who “demonstrates
excellence in illustrating the industry’s
essentiality, safety-first approach to doing
business and professionalism.”
With drivers like Steve Fields carrying the
torch, the industry is well represented to the
public, helping promote a return to the high
regard earned by past drivers like his grandfather.
From the schoolhouse to the White House, his
attitude and professionalism have taken him far
beyond a truck driving job.
“I’ve enjoyed this career,” Fields said. “It’s
been a wonderful ride.”
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