Talk radio provides hours upon hours of information and entertainment to the nation’s truck drivers, and one of the most influential and entertaining radio hosts in the country is Glenn Beck. With the third-highest-rated national radio talk show in America, syndicated on nearly 300 stations, Glenn Beck’s often cynical, yet always thought-provoking, sense of humor and conservative approach are a favorite for many drivers.
Beck’s fame did not come easy. At the age of 30, Beck lost his passion for radio – and everything else – as he was consumed by alcoholism and drug addiction. Coming to terms with his past and staying sober shifted his life direction. He found new love (his second wife, Tania), religion (he was baptized Mormon) and a new vision of his career – he would pursue talk radio. The rest, as they say, is history.
Beck shared his appreciation of the trucking industry and his truck-driving fans, as well as his thoughts on some of the important issues facing the industry.
Not surprisingly, his self-deprecating sense of humor stood out immediately when asked if he has had any personal relationship with the trucking industry. “You mean other than with the Jack Daniel’s delivery guy? We were pretty close back in my alcoholic days. Those were special times. He came by the house at least twice a week,” chuckles Beck.
He refocused to express his appreciation for the truck drivers in his audience. “I hear from truckers all the time, and I love hearing from them – especially when they are describing the fender bender they recently got into with a Prius. But it’s people like truckers who are the real Americans, the ones who have values and actually put in an honest day’s work. They understand what makes America tick – much more so than anyone in Hollywood or Manhattan [does],” says Beck.
Could he be a truck driver? Beck laughs. “I could never do the trucker thing. Especially you Hostess truck drivers – how do you survive? I’d be having too much fun with the Twinkies in the back. Disturbing, yes, but true.”
Anyone who listens to the Glenn Beck Radio Program, reads his books or watches his TV show knows that Beck is on top of the issues that are important to the trucking industry. One of the issues most disconcerting to Glenn is the Mexican Truck Demonstration Program and the potential NAFTA Superhighways.
“I’m not a smuggling expert, but I am a thinker – and I think that paving a highway from border to border and giving Mexico’s long-haul trucks ‘more direct shipments’ to America might lead to increased problems,” says Beck. “Memo to our government: When trying to keep illegal immigrants and terrorists out of our country, try building a super wall instead of a super highway … I’m just sayin’.”
Another issue of importance to the trucking industry is the rising cost of fuel. Diesel fuel costs, approaching or at $4 per gallon at the time of this writing, are getting out of control. Beck has witnessed, with the rest of us, the increased dependence on foreign oil and the refusal of the U.S. government to allow further exploration in the United States – especially in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR).
“Unless Caribou meat (which is tasty, I’ve had it) becomes the new trendy snack in Hollywood, don’t expect things to get better anytime soon. These stiffs in Washington don’t care about the plight of the truck driver or the plight of the average American,” says Beck.
What about 2008 – is there an opportunity for change with the upcoming election? Beck suggests it isn’t likely. “Instead of doing things to help ease the cost of oil, Hillary Clinton wants to ‘take profits’ from the big evil oil companies – yeah, that’s going to make gas prices drop. John McCain has already proposed more taxes on gasoline. Obama – he’s so far left I wouldn’t be surprised if he implemented universal oil care for everyone!
“There is no relief in sight for the truck driver in this election cycle. It’s going to take a full-fledged energy crisis before these numbskulls actually do something about it. And when there is a full-blown crisis, and only then, you better believe America is going to start drilling through the heads of Caribou to get to the oil in Alaska,” says Beck.
Another issue of importance to the industry is related to the environment. Despite what some think, Beck and most truck drivers do want to protect the environment, but there needs to be a sense of reasonableness. Costly regulations are not necessarily the answer.
“The lie that they’ve made people buy into is that we hate the environment and we are ruining it with our evil SUVs and semis. Yet it seems to be perfectly OK with global-warming activists like Arnold Schwarzenegger to fly their private jet to and from work every single day. Arnold says he buys carbon credits so it’s okay. It’s that kind of ‘do as I say, not as I do’ mentality that drives me nuts,” says Beck.
He suggests that many are trying to trick the public. “Don’t be fooled – these regulations are nothing but a socialist scam designed to spread the wealth. You can still pollute if you bought a bumper sticker and a tree to plant in Thailand? What a joke. If I were a trucker I would have a bumper sticker that read: ’Hey, Al … eat my carbon,’” says Beck with a grin.
If there is one thing Beck wants to see, it is more people paying attention to and becoming informed on the issues. “It’s vitally important, especially with how ridiculous politicians are today. Our sovereignty is at stake – the left wants to mimic the European Union and create some sort of North American Union. They want to institute a global tax through the United Nations,” he says.
Beck also warns of additional difficulties if the public is not informed. “If America goes into sleepy-sleep mode and blindly follows the candidate who is saying ‘I’m for change’ without asking what, exactly, it is they want to change, we are cruising for trouble. Make sure you know what you are asking for when you pull that lever for McCain, Hillary or Obama,” warns Beck.
The insight Beck provides on the important issues of the day is entertaining and valuable, but Beck is about more than just the issues. Like so many, he has been down on his luck and has overcome the challenges presented by life to live the American dream. He believes that if he can be successful, anyone can.
Referring to the truck driver who might be facing challenges, Beck says, “I’m a recovering alcoholic former DJ and I was able to make it – so you absolutely can make it. Nearly everyone who has experienced wild success has also experienced huge failures. Don’t ever give up on your dream. No matter how many politicians or annoying celebrities tell you that you can’t make it, they are wrong.”
He thinks that far too many people in positions of influence or celebrity don’t give enough credit to those who are striving to reach a dream – like owning a truck or a small fleet. “Those same people telling you that you can’t make it are living proof, in their own lives, that you can. Michelle Obama brushes off her (and her husband’s) success as a fluke. Michael Moore grew up in the lower class and made it – yet he writes in his book that you can’t. Don’t buy into it. Have a plan and go for it,” says Beck.
In addition to his radio program, Beck hosts a self-titled topical talk show on Headline News and is the author of the New York Times best-seller “An Inconvenient Book: Real Solutions to the World’s Biggest Problems.” For more information on Beck, check out his Web site at www.glennbeck.com.
