If you want to see a grown person cry, make it a point to attend a truck beauty contest.

At these type of events, steely-eyed, extremely capable and tough truck drivers turn into whimpering, blubbering wrecks when their beautiful trucks are selected for a prize.

The recent Shell Rotella SuperRigs highlighted the best that trucking has to offer. Drivers who take pride in their rides and are committed to the industry.

This show attracts working trucks across the U.S. and Canada. These big rigs have dings, dents, chips and a bit of paint missing here and there – battle scars from the road, parking lots and weather.

But their owners and drivers shower them with tender love and affection. They spend hours cleaning, buffing and polishing them. Not just for a contest, but at every opportunity they get. They take care of the dings and dents with a daub of paint and buckets of sweat and elbow grease.

Scars and smiles

Bear in mind, many truckers work 70-hour weeks. They still find the time to clean their trucks after a long day behind the wheel, sometimes navigating congested roadways.

These drivers are well attired, ready to meet a contest judge, journalist, customer or law enforcement officer. The scars of their trade are also visible. Sometimes you’ll notice grease under fingernails, cuts and scrapes on their hands and an oil stain or two on their boots. But their faces are adorned with a smile.

Quite a few veteran truckers were present at the show, ready to share a story or two and talk about big rigs for hours. But I also noticed many young drivers – not afraid of hard work, eager, knowledgeable and confident.

Many drivers had washed and polished their trucks before the show and drove them into the Atlanta Motor Speedway parking lot all shiny and sparkling. Then the skies opened in Hampton, Georgia on the first day of the event. A multitude of water spots appeared on glistening chrome surfaces and glossy paint.

When the rain stopped, truckers, spouses, significant others, children and friends were out with rags soaking up the moisture. After that, they got busy polishing chrome and wiping the paint.

Working without complaint

But when it rains it pours – there were additional downpours. Hours of effort were literally washed away. I didn’t hear any complaints as contestants waited for things to dry up. They got the rags out again and prepared their trucks for the judging lane.

According to the American Trucking Associations, the average age of an over-the-road driver is 46 years old, and the average age of a new driver being trained is 35 years old.

According to Trucking HR Canada (THRC), 57% of drivers are over the age of 45 in Canada. There was also a 2% increase in the number of drivers over the age of 65. “There is evidence to suggest that our workforce is still aging and something that should be of concern as we look to meet our medium- to long-term workforce needs,” said Craig Faucette, chief program officer at THRC.

There are valid concerns about filling empty seats. And there are complaints about how the younger generation is disinterested and unwilling to work in the trucking industry.

Willing to listen and learn

Events like SuperRigs throw a positive light on the situation. There exists a community of hardworking women and men, ready to share advice and lend a helping hand to the next generation. And, more importantly, the next generation of drivers willing to listen and learn is also present.

The trucking industry is in good hands. It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and amid all the negativity, there are some bright sparks who can make a difference.

Now that should bring a tear or two to some eyes.