Our Picks for the Best Truck Driving Songs
Truck driving is a time-honored blue-collar profession that opens the world of travel and sometimes adventure. As such, it has spawned many a tale in film and books, even in some exotic places (Let’s be honest, Han Solo was an intergalactic truck driver.). And a lot of songs have been written about driving a truck. The first songs came out in the 1950s and turned into a full subgenre in the 1960s and 70s that is still going today. Here are our picks for the best truck driving songs ever.
Smokey and the Bandit is one of the most loved truck driving movies, and it gave us this great song about one adventure on the road. The Bandit, the Iceman and Buford T. Justice can all sway to this lively rhythm.
This is the theme song for the 1978 movie by the same name by legendary director Sam Peckinpah. It even has CB chatter in the song.
Johnny Cash wrote songs about almost everything. In this ballad, a trucker picks up a hitchhiker whose rode along in many a semi and can tell you about everyplace trucks have taken him.
Did we mention Johnny Cash wrote songs about everything? Have any of you ever met a songwriter along some lonely highway who wanted to write a song about your truck-driving life? This ballad recounts just such an encounter.
These blues are the kind you can’t lose unless you’re driving and listening to the great Merle Haggard. Do you ever miss the road when you’re not on it?
Does it ever feel like the mile markers are ticking off the days of your life until you can get home? So does this song, and it does it with a lively tempo that sounds just like windshield wipers slapping time on the high setting.
We’ve all had those long drives where you just can’t wait to meet someone special when the driving’s done. This more modern song tells that story well. Yet again, this song comes to us from a truck driving movie, Black Dog.
When you’re out on the road, you know your brother truckers are out on the road with us. This isn’t one of the most famous truck driving songs, but we like it. We don’t think Tony is of any relation to Buford T.
There are a lot of songs with this title. This is one of the first by storied country artist Buck Owens. This song is one of the first that launched the truck driving song genre.
As we said, there are a lot of songs with this title. Here’s a different one by the kings of Southern rock, Skynyrd.
When you are on a long haul, you always think about the ones left behind, and they think of the day you return safe. In this song, a truck driver braves a harrowing experience but makes it through with a message for his family about how you get through life. Roll on.
We love a happy ending. A trucker who has long paid his dues goes home to the one he loves.
Conclusion
So these are some of our favorite songs about driving a truck to listen to while driving a truck. We hope you take a listen and it helps pass a few miles. There are so many great truck driving songs out there, we’re sure we missed a few. Did we miss your favorite? Post it in the comments and we may post a Part II to our list.
We know about the best truck driving songs because we know truck drivers here at Vantage Truck Parking. So when it comes time to park your rig and take a rest, don’t forget to stop by and see us at one of our growing number of locations. Our security will keep your truck safe and secure, and our 24/7 access means you can stop by any time. We also pick our locations to be close to comfortable lodging and great food. We hope you’ll stop in to visit us soon. We’ll catch you on down the road.
