I'm a long-haul trucker. I set my own hours, see places I never thought I could, and help people every day.

An as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a long-haul truck driver about operating his own trucking company. It has been edited to make it clearer.

I have been a long-haul truck driver for six years. I leased a truck from the company that sponsored my commercial driver's license after I saved up for my own. I gave up my apartment, put my stuff in storage at my mom's house, and traveled for two months at a time to save money. I crashed with my mom.

Now that I'm an owner and operator, I can set my own schedule

I can be home on the weekends. I took two months off after my baby's birth.

Every morning when I'm on the road, I start by turning the truck on, walking around the truck, and making sure the tires are good. I make sure that I don't end up on the side of the road after leaving a location. When I'm close to my delivery location, I check the traffic to make sure there aren't any crashes and I plan how to get there on time.

I have a flatbed truck, so when I make a delivery, I have to take everything off the truck and load it into the building. I have to remove all of the security features that kept the cargo on the flatbed in the first place, as well as roll them up and store them for the next load.

I'm the only one who did it. I have to change my clothes when I'm done unloading because the work is physical. I work up a sweat no matter what the weather is like.

The tools I use to get the job done

I have to work a day ahead of time because I'm an operator. I need to know the next delivery when I'm in the middle of it. I was told where to go back when I was working for someone else, but now it is up to me.

There are a lot of job postings on the Load Board. I can tell you how wide or heavy of a load I can take with the help of where I am. I call and see if the load is still available and if there are any other requirements when I find a match.

I have an advantage going into certain areas because I know there will be work for me. When I get the upper hand, they'll call me first and say "Hey, I didn't post this yet, but I have a load available for you"

I try to cook food in my truck

I have an inverters that I can use to plug anything into. I have a microwave in my truck. I don't cook as much after a day of unloading because I'm hot and sweaty.

I have an app called TruckerPath that lists every truck stop in the US, and we write reviews like "stay away from this one, it's super tight trying to get in and park" Truck drivers can go to Walmart stores as well.

I know where to get snacks like fruit cups, popcorn, and beef jerky. It's possible to get by without eating fast food, but it's also possible to need it. I bring the leftovers on the road when I cook at home.

How I stay safe and healthy on the road

It's difficult to stay fit. It would be simpler if I did something else. I can't just open and close doors. It isn't always like a workout for me. I keep a few things in my truck, but it can be hard to stay healthy when I have to drive and load and unload.

I like talking to other truck drivers. Some of the people I met in trucking school can be contacted during the day. It's good to be in constant communication since we do the same thing. My fiancée and I talk on the phone a lot. I listen to a lot of things. Dave Ramsey's show is one of the things I like to listen to. I listen to true crime shows as well. Sometimes I just want a quiet moment.

Sleeping in my truck can sometimes get interesting

Truck drivers can only run a limited number of hours. I went to New York City early in my career. There isn't a lot of access for trucks when crossing the George Washington Bridge. I used a trucker app to find a safe place to park, but it turned out to be a shopping center. People were walking past my truck all night long, asking if someone is in there.

When I get to a job the night before, I will ask the dispatch if there is a safe place to park. A person from the job I was doing told me that I could park here overnight. I parked a mile down the dirt road because I didn't know the facility was off the highway. There were no lights as far away as I could see. I regret listening to the true crime shows.

It can be difficult, but it's all worth it

I like the places I've been and the experiences I've gained. I was able to say that I contributed. I can look at a building and say that I helped build it.

There are stories about all the cool loads we have had. I didn't think I would be able to go. I've traveled to Washington, Oregon, and the mountains. It's not the same as Charlotte, North Carolina. I have seen a desert in Arizona. You can see snow and ice in Utah during the summer. There is a river in the middle of Oregon.

I can see it if I hear about it.