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26 • OCTOBER 2023 FEATURES
THETRUCKER.COM
at the TRUCK STOP
PRESENTED
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VISIT WEIGHMYTRUCK.COM
Bryan’s
Hope
DRIVERS’ PASSION FOR SUICIDE
PREVENTION AWARENESS
SHAPES THEIR LIVES, CAREERS
KRIS RUTHERFORD | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
With the variety of vehicle wraps and
detailed paint schemes available today, it’s
not unusual to see rigs promoting various
causes as they roll along the highway. From
autism to cancer prevention to honoring
military heroes, these trucks create a natural
conversation point between the drivers and
people they meet at truck stops and rest
areas.
Bryan Zube and Christey Crawford,
owners of B3 Trucking in Millersville,
Michigan, have chosen a cause that can be
difficult to talk about. That cause is suicide
prevention awareness. The issue is very near
to the heart for Zube, who lost a son, also
named Bryan, to suicide in 2014.
Megan Hicks/The Trucker
Christie Crawford pauses for a photo op with her fourlegged
traveling companion, Gemini.
At its core, the truck, a 2017 Peterbilt 579
known as Bryan’s Hope, is a tribute to Zube’s
son. Zube describes the younger Bryan as
having a kind-hearted nature and a passion
for helping others. Teal and purple, the
colors of suicide awareness, adorn the truck’s
exterior, creating a striking visual that sparks
conversations about an important, often
uncomfortable topic.
Beyond its appearance, the truck serves
as a symbol of hope on the road. Zube and
Crawford have opened their doors to those
in need, offering a listening ear and a source
of support. The National Suicide Prevention
Lifeline’s number is prominently displayed
on the truck — a reminder that help is always
within reach.
“If someone out there on the road is
struggling, I want my truck to let them know
that I’m willing to waste as much time as
needed to help them,” Zube said. “Anything
to keep another family from what I endure.
That’s why I do this.”
Zube and Crawford, his business partner
and fiance, generally drive separately, but
they do occasionally make team runs. When
driving solo, Crawford is behind the wheel
of a 2018 Kenworth P680. Even though they
drive brands often viewed as competitors,
Crawford says this is not a house divided.
“We both have the Cadillac models of
each truck, so there’s no rivalry,” she said with
a laugh. She says she hasn’t picked a theme
for her truck yet, but she plans to promote
mental health awareness.
“Mental health is directly linked to suicide,
so I think I’ll approach the issue from that
perspective,” she said.
While Zube has been driving trucks for
nearly 20 years, Crawford has spent a much a
shorter time behind the wheel. She says she’s
always been interested in trucks, and when
the couple started dating back in 2014, Zube
Linda Garner-Bunch/The Trucker
Bryan Zube and Christie Crawford, shown here with Zube’s canine traveling companion Diesel, are partners both
in life and in business. The two own and operate B3 Trucking out of Millersville, Michigan.
began to teach her to drive — and she was
quickly hooked.
Crawford enrolled in a driving course at
a local community college that same year
and has been driving since earning her CDL
in 2015. She bought into B3 Trucking in
2016, and she and Zube now work as owneroperators.
As veterans of the road, both Zube and
Crawford have a few tips for new drivers.
Crawford’s is short and to the point.
“Stay off the cellphone and pay attention
to what you’re supposed to be doing,” she said.
Zube’s advice is a little bit broader,
something you’d expect from a man with
nearly two decades of experience driving.
“New drivers should never be afraid to ask
for advice,” he said. “Most older drivers are
happy to share their knowledge.”
In fact, Zube says, he’d like to see a return
to the older days, when truck driving was a
brotherhood.
“I wish we could get back to talking to
each other and helping each other out,” he
said. “The old school was one of relationships.
It made for a better environment. And drivers
were more healthy — especially mentally.”
In terms of the challenges most often
faced by truck drivers, particularly owneroperators
and fleet owners, Crawford again is
to the point.
“Brokers,” she said. “You have to find a
good broker who’ll keep your interests in
mind.”
Zube chose another challenge that is
shared by the entire trucking industry. In fact,
it is often the top issue drivers face on a daily
basis: parking.
“We don’t have a whole lot of problems
with parking, because most of our deliveries
are directly to retail stores,” he said. “We can
park in most any of our clients’ parking lots
until the store opens.”
Many drivers, however, are not that
SEE HOPE ON PAGE 28