“Hi! My name is Florin Grigorescu and I’m a BCO with Landstar, based out of Jacksonville, Fla. I’m originally from Romania, but I left in 1989, during the last months of Communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu’s regime. I didn’t start my truck driving in North America until around 1990-91, though I had been trucking in Europe since 1988. My father was a professional driver and he probably started around 1961.

The European and North American styles of truck driving each have their pros and cons. Neither style is perfect. I found the European style of trucking a little bit easier; the equipment is more advanced than North American equipment. However, the roads in Europe are very crowded; a large population in a small space. Driving in North America, especially west of the Mississippi, has a lot of wide open spaces, so it’s very enjoyable to drive. But North American technology is still a little behind. When I was driving in Europe, employees were also paid a salary back in those days.

I’m single and I’ve been single my whole life. There are pros and cons to that too, but you’ve got to make it work and be content. I own my own equipment, so I spend a lot of my spare time working on that, fixing it up at my home in Kitchener, Ont.

When I read a trucking magazine, I don’t really have a certain preference as far as the stories I like to read. Although whenever there are articles about new regulations, it’s very helpful to read them. It really helps you to do business.

The trucking industry certainly isn’t like it used to be. Every day, new technology threatens the independence of truck drivers. The trucking industry at large has been declining rapidly. There’s not much money to be made in this industry. Everyone’s always talking about how great the economy is in both Canada and the US, but it doesn’t reflect out here in the transportation industry. Right now, in the winter months, business is very slow.

I think the brokerage industry is a huge cause of this economic decline, because everyone is looking for cheaper and cheaper freight carriers, leaving this industry at a big disadvantage. Carriers are now working for less money and still trying to turn a profit. This amounts to a huge negative side to this industry right now.

If I was to speak to someone coming into the industry right now, the first thing I would ask them is why? What is their motivation? The industry is not what it used to be. A lot of people think it’s fun to go out on the road, because they hear stories from their parents or grandparents. But things have changed drastically over the last 10 years.The fun factor is pretty much out the window.”