Owner-operator would love to return to Africa to continue missionary work
A former bricklayer and missionary, Dave Lewis got into trucking after spending almost three years in Africa with an organization called Global Ministries and Relief. (The Trucker/Barb Kampbell)
By BARB KAMPBELL
The Trucker Staff
11/28/2008
Dave Lewis knows that no matter what happens with the economy, there will always be jobs in trucking.
A former bricklayer and missionary, Lewis got into trucking after spending almost three years in Africa with an organization called Global Ministries and Relief.
“I taught bricklaying and we taught Bible classes,” Lewis said. “Before we left we were building a school to teach trades. Then Hurricane Katrina hit and donations went down and we had to come back.” People who had donated to the ministry had turned to helping those within the United States and funding for mission work in other countries was cut short.
Lewis’ wife, Shannon, was also a missionary alongside him. She became infected with malaria while in Africa but is well, now, and a substitute teacher in Kingman, Ind., where the couple lives with their three children: Bethany, age 11; Rachael, age 9; and Gracie, age 7.
Lewis knows what it’s like to live without any other males around. The couple also has a female Jack Russell terrier.
“Even the dog’s a girl,” Lewis quipped.
While bricklaying, one of his friends told him that when there’s nothing else, there’s always truck driving, so when he could no longer do mission work because of financing, he decided to be a truck driver.
“I would have loved to [remain in Africa as a missionary],” Lewis said. “I would have stayed there my whole life. Maybe someday” that door will open again.
“Now I’ve got a truck to pay for,” he added. “But this is the last job to go in this economy. Everything you’re wearing came by truck. We are the most counted on and the least respected. I’ve never heard too many good things about truck drivers.”
Lewis said he doesn’t have a problem with all of the rules and regulations of trucking. He’s been driving for two years so a lot of the rules haven’t changed much for him during that time.
“You get used to whatever they throw at you,” he said. “As a trainer, we drive 10 and 10 and we never really have to stop. It gives us break times where we don’t get rushed.”
And since The Trucker caught up with Lewis less than a week before the elections they were bound to come up in conversation. Also a popular topic for the past several months has been the economy.
“I think we’re in a downturn,” he said. “I blame it on the elections. I hope it will get better. People are nervous. It even affects the chatter on the CBs. It comes through what people are feeling.
“We just heard that if [Barack] Obama doesn’t get elected there will be riots in the streets,” Lewis said. “People are just nervous. We go to Chicago, New York, all the major cities. You’d think we would be over all that by now. I’ve seen riots in Africa — they’re not pretty. We don’t need riots in this country.”
It has been difficult for Lewis to be away from his family for weeks at a time, but he was about to begin a dedicated route that will get him home every weekend.
“I’m excited about that,” Lewis said regarding the new route. “Shannon’s taken on so much. She’s learned to be a plumber and [do] all the stuff I did. She’s tough. She’s a trucker’s wife for sure.”
When Lewis does return home he has a long list of things to get done.
“When you’re gone weeks at a time the honey-do list piles up,” he said. “It’s OK. I try to spend as much time as I can with my girls.”
Lewis, a truck driver for about two years, is an owner-operator leased to Swift. He’s been hauling dry freight to the 48 states and only gets home about every four to five weeks, although his Costco dedicated route in the Great Lakes region was set to start in early November. He drives a 2009 Kenworth T-2000 which he had only been driving about three months when The Trucker interviewed him Oct. 29. He also works as a driver trainer for Swift.
Lewis has been married for 15 years and is looking forward to spending more time with his wife and children.
“She’s looking forward to me coming home more,” Lewis said. “We count on each other. I couldn’t make it without her and I hope she feels the same way.”
Lewis said those who are leased to Swift and company drivers there hear about safety every single day. He offered some words of advice to others in the industry.
“Be professional,” Lewis advised. “They know what to do. They don’t need advice. It’s not that all the new drivers are bad like a lot of guys will say. You can’t judge a whole group of people by one person. Not all of us are unprofessional.”