Trucking suits this former taxi driver just fine

Charlie Cannon, who was a cab driver before becoming a trucker, talks business on his cell phone during a layover in Central Arkansas. (The Trucker/Jerry Breeden)

By JERRY BREEDEN
The Trucker Staff

2/13/2008

Mild-mannered, soft-spoken Charlie Cannon is amazed at the ground he’s covered in the six months he’s been a professional trucker.

Before getting into the trucking industry, he was a taxi driver for six years with a cab company in Holly Springs, Miss.

When the cab company went out of business, “I had to choose between doing farm work and trucking,” Cannon said. “So far, I’m pretty happy with my decision. In the first five and a half months out here, I saw 31 states, which, to me, is pretty amazing. I’m single and, so far, trucking has suited me just fine.”

Cannon enjoyed being a cabbie.

“It was a lot easier driving a cab than driving a 63-foot rig, but the money in trucking is a whole lot better,” he said.

After the cab company closed, Cannon completed three weeks of instruction at a truck driving school in Tupelo, Miss.

After that, he signed on for additional training with a major carrier.

“We didn’t exactly see eye-to-eye,” said Cannon, “so I left there and applied for a job with (Denver-based) Furniture Row. They gave me a chance and I’m still with them. Furniture Row isn’t perfect, but what company is? So far, they’ve treated me right.”

Cannon said he hauls “furniture out and produce back.” He said that of all the places he’s been so far, he dislikes driving in “New York City and the whole state of California. I try to avoid both those places.”

Cannon said he gets to go home for two days each week. He tries to squeeze in as much fishing and hunting as possible during his spare time.

“I also like to barbecue and going to church,” he added. “I go to a little Methodist church in the country.”

His faith is important to Cannon.

“Prayer has already gotten me out of some pretty tight situations, especially when I’m driving on snow and ice in mountainous terrain,” he said. “I just thank God that He’s with me all the time.”