Here at Pride Transport we have the finest drivers on the road today. Our drivers are the heart of our operation and we know that we’d be nothing without them. Each one is unique and important to us but, now and then, we like to acknowledge a driver that stands out, goes the extra distance and is worthy of special recognition by his fellow drivers. That’s why we created the Driver of the Month Program.

We have a certain culture, a core set of values and a history of excellence at Pride that has kept us on top for almost 40 years. When one of our drivers truly embodies all the aspects of our mission, we like to show them off a bit. We like the world to see what makes a driver a Pride driver. We do this by naming him the Driver of the Month.

For the month of August we have chosen Matthew Roberge, who has been driving team with his wife April for 5 years. We spoke with Matthew to get his inside perspective on what it’s like to drive with Pride and living life on the open road.

Matthew Roberge, Driver of the Month

We’re sure there’s a lot that you love about being on the road, but what’s your favorite thing about being a truck driver?

“The part I love most is just having the freedom or waking up in a different place every day. My favorite route is driving from California to Pennsylvania. The scenery is great, it gives me a lot of miles, and it’s nice not to have a pick up to worry about for a few days.”

Being a first time driver can be tough, do you have any advice for people who are thinking about getting into truck driving?

“Truck driving can be tough, that’s for sure. I think the biggest thing would be to prepare mentally for a big lifestyle change. Long hours, a lot of alone time, and being away from home for days at a time.”

What’s your least favorite part of driving a truck? It’s probably hard to think of something, but if you had to choose one thing.

“It’s hard to say. I think sitting for such long period of times can take its toll. It’s always nice to get out and stretch your legs. The food options can be very limiting and unhealthy if you don’t meal prep prior to your drives.”

What’s your favorite thing to snack on when you’re on the road? After all, snacks are a staple for any road trip.

“Oh that’s an easy one! Sunflower seeds are my go to.”

It can get boring when you’re driving for hours at a time, do you have any favorite podcasts, books, or music you listen to while on the road?

“I have a master playlist that I like to listen to. It has a little bit of everything but i’m a big fan of the folk genre. There’s a lot of Band of Horses on there.”

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen while driving? When being out on the road is your job, you’re bound to see some questionable things.

“This is a tough one. I can’t say I’ve seen anything particularly weird that stands out in my mind except for some really bad traffic. California always seems to be the worst for this, and it can make driving a challenge. Luckily we switched from manual to automatic so I don’t have to worry about shifting when it's so stop and go. It's really helped”

You’ve been with us for your entire career, what do you love about driving for Pride?

“I’ve been driving for Pride for my entire career for a reason. They really care about their drivers and work hard to give me home time when I need it and the miles that I want to drive.”

What have you learned about being a driver that you never would have known unless you were a truck driver?

“I don’t think anyone realizes just how bad the infrastructure is. You’d be surprised to find how many places have really worn down roads, highways, and bridges.”

What is your Pride? This is a question we’ve been asking ourselves and each other lately. What is your Pride, is it your truck, you’re skill at maintenance, you’re exceptional driver support skills? What makes you proud to be a part of the Pride family?

“My Pride is working for a company that understands the value of providing its employees with reliable equipment. Everything from the trucks to the trailers are high quality.”

Thank you to Matt for taking the time to chat with us! Check back each month and meet the next drive of the month, learn something about what it’s like driving a truck and maybe, you’ll discover what your Pride is.