The Spirit of the American Trucker – June 2020

Darren Frank (39) of Princeton, IL started running Illinois to California when he was just 18 years old, using his older friend’s ID (they looked alike). He did this because the best times of his childhood years were with his dad, driving with him in an old Chevy Titan COE. Darren even kept driving while battling Stage 4 cancer, getting chemo in the morning, then doing an overnight load, before getting another dose of chemo the next day. And, having been cancer-free for the past 12 years, he won that battle. Trucking was his true therapy (and still is). Four years ago, Darren met Keith Arteberry, and he has been driving for him ever since. Darren says he wishes that he would have met Keith sooner, because this man not only pays him top dollar, he also provides him with top-quality equipment (the bright red 2020 Peterbilt 389 seen here), and to top it all off, shows him nothing but utmost respect for the job he does. Even though he beat cancer, it left behind damage that needs to be tended to from time to time, but Keith promised Darren, no matter his health issues, he would always have a job. And, after parking the truck earlier this year while Darren got treated, Keith proved he meant what he said! Because of that, and his solid upbringing and old-school training, Darren never refuses work and considers being one hour early everywhere he goes – to pick up or deliver – as part of his duty. This guy is never late! Small Business America is where you find the most spirited people in trucking, and Darren and Keith are both fine examples of that fact.