At Pride Transport, we are a family and we treat our drivers with honesty and respect. We know first hand the challenges that driving professionals face every day and we strive to give them the support and recognition that they deserve for all of their hard work and dedication. That’s why we decided to start our Driver of the Month Program - to shine a spotlight on those drivers that go above and beyond to exemplify the Pride Way.

This month we want to recognize Silverbear “Bear” Johns for all of the hard work he has put in during his time with Pride. Starting out doing local drives in Salt Lake, and eventually transitioning to OTR, Bear has become quite the seasoned driver. We recently spoke with him to get his take on what life on the road has been like over the past 13 years and what being a Pride driver means to him.

Silverbear “Bear” Johns, Driver of the Month

After driving for 13 years you must have a real passion for it, what’s your favorite part about being a truck driver?

“ For me the best part is getting paid to see the country. I think my favorite place to drive is down south where the weather is warm and the sun is shining.”

Given your experience in the industry, what advice do you have for people who want to get into driving?

“ I would advise to research all of the companies you want to work for and talk to other drivers about their experience. What is their reputation? How do they treat their employees? Those are important things to think about.”

So we talked about your favorite part about driving, What’s your least favorite part about being a truck driver?

“ Oh man, I’m trying to come up with something here but I really can’t think of anything that I particularly dislike.”

Long drives always require snacks, what’s your favorite thing to munch on while you’re on the road?

“ I don’t really snack much, but one of my favorite places to stop is Big Tex in Amarillo, Texas off Route 66. They have truck parking in the rear and will even send out a limo to truck stops to pick you up - all you have to do it tip the driver.”

It’s always nice to have something playing while you’re driving, what do you listen to most often while driving?

“I’ve always been a big fan of rock music, but recently I’ve been listening to a lot of audio books. I think my favorite so far has been 1963 by Stephen King.”

With as much driving as you’ve done you’re bound to see some interesting things, what’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen while out on the road?

“One time I saw a Cadillac Coupe Deville pulling a ski boat behind it. The boat must’ve been about three times the size of the car. I don’t know how it was pulling that thing.”

You’ve been with Pride for a little over 5 years, what’s your favorite thing about driving for them?

“ Pride allows me to let my wife come along on all my drives. I’ve gotten to see the country with her and explore different cities and towns. I don’t know if I have a favorite place that we’ve stopped, but we sure had a lot of fun in Las Vegas.”

There’s probably a lot of things you’ve learned along the way, what would you say that you have learned about being a truck driver that you'd never know unless you were a truck driver?

“ I guess one thing you’d never know is how many different laws there are for commercial drivers in each state. California has the strictest regulation by far.”

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?

“ Not only do they appreciate and take good care of their drivers, but their owner and founder Jeff is just an exceptional man to work for. He doesn’t just sit in his office - he gets out there with his employees and gets behind the wheel of a truck every now and then. He knows what we go through and is always very approachable. He even calls up every driver on their Pride Anniversary. It means a lot.”

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