A SERVANT’S HEART - Jon Osburn

A SERVANT’S HEART

Legend Nominee: Jon Osburn

Each life experience this Legend driver recalls, prove just as fascinating as the one stated before the last. One by one, every detailed memory breathes a vivid image to life. As I listen, I wonder if my vision falls in likeness to his reality.

Our Legend articles highlight professional truck drivers in the business that represent our industry in a positive manner; men and women who serve as a supportive influence for other drivers to befriend, learn from, and provide potential improvement. Whether a seasoned driver or recently qualified, we can all attest to the fact that we each have room to grow. As I like to say, where there is progress – advancement follows.

This driver is not only a legend in the world of transportation, but the many accomplishments attained in his military career beforehand speaks to the successful conclusion of his nature. He is described as humble and kind; brilliant and genuine; hardworking and sincere. Always attentive with a listening ear, never boastful, family-oriented and comical.

Born and raised in the wine country of northern California, Navy veteran, Jon Osburn gives us an insight to the life that led him into the seat of a semi-truck. His need to aid and comfort for the sake of others was inherited from his parents. That innate virtue accelerated full speed ahead, landing him in Vietnam by the age of 17. Jon’s personal narrative involves deployments overseas as a combat medic, that evolved into a broader array of medical services specializing in emergency medicine. Throughout his service in the military, he was assigned to embassy locations throughout China, Russia, and Spain.

Before traveling across the globe after high school, Jon describes Santa Rosa, California during the 60’s as a cultural melting pot. Living amongst blended ethnicities his entire life, where the wealthy and every household further down the totem pole all intertwined in one large, diverse community, in hindsight – prepared him for the real world.

Jon discusses how one summer at the age of 10, he spent 3 months with his grandparents touring Civil War sites. The early introduction of American history opened his mind to the importance of preserving the legacy of our great nation. Fast forward many, many moons – a history buff at heart, he found himself face to face with his equal while delivering the USS Boise; a Los Angeles-class submarine, to a Smithsonian Museum in Boise, Idaho. Vicki, his bride of 20 years, worked for the city of Boise, and signed the paperwork to receive the model ship.

He touches base on his adventures overseas serving in the military, to the 22 years spent running over-the-road as a lease driver, then settling into the role of OOIDA’s official driver of the Spirit Truck, touring from one coast to the other.

FAR FROM AVERAGE

During the 60’s, Jon’s mother was a hospital administrator and his father was the county medical examiner. He, himself was a teenager obsessed to know more about the medical field – in addition, his father was a medic in WWII. Training pertaining to medicine was in his blood. Jon explains,

“Our small town had one little ambulance and a little funeral hall. Lucky me, I was the highest qualified person with an advanced first aid card, but they couldn’t hire me until I was 16. So, on my 16th birthday, I cut my cake and took my first ambulance call and delivered twins. It’s funny how life goes on and comes back around… on my 60th birthday, I did my last ambulance call before retiring as a paramedic and delivered twins.”

Jon joined the California Army National Guard in high school. Between his junior and senior year, he attended boot camp at Fort Leonard Wood, in Missouri. Then, he left for Fort Sam Houston to become an Army Combat Medic. Once he completed his training, he returned to school to finish his senior year.

Opting for the Navy, he enlisted as a Hospital Corpsman and was immediately sent to Vietnam shortly after graduating high school. His father was a Pharmacist’s Mate in the 40’s; in 1969 Jon was performing the same medical duties under the pretenses that his rating title would not go into combat. 13 months and 15 days later, Jon made the first of countless trips back to the states. Officially stationed in San Diego, California, he bounced back and forth from American soil to various countries overseas, staying anywhere from 6 months to no more than 2 years at each location.

He retired in 1986, landing in San Francisco working for the City and County Medical Services. The adrenaline had run its course. After years of ambulances, rescue trucks, and helicopter rides, Jon was considering stepping away from his career in emergency medicine, due to the high energy and stressful tempo. Of all the connections within his large network, he knew one specific gentleman that could point him in the right direction.

LET’S GO TRUCKIN’

Jon was close with his uncle; many knew him as E.L. Bud Reep. He moved household furniture as a company driver for a major carrier from 1948 to 1998. Following in his shoes, Jon obtained his CDL, learned how to load, pack, and make crates at a truck driving academy. He started out doing household for 2 ½ years. His uncle worked out of Indianapolis, where the corporation was headquartered. Jon drove for an agent right outside of Oakland, California before relocating to a different office in Washington D.C.

In 1999, Jon parted ways with the company and teamed up with an agent back home in California, hauling for the government. He then worked his way up to lead driver for the Smithsonian, Library of Congress, National Archives Museum (where the Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Bill of Rights rest), Navy museums, and the White House.

With over 3 million lifetime miles within his 22-year driving career, Jon’s experience behind the wheel also include his earlier days of medicine – driving ambulances and mobile intensive care units. Since then, he has pulled car carriers, drove moving vans, and hauled an RGN trailer for the mobile communications center for the President of the United States.

Jon’s uncle influenced his driving career in many ways. A big supporter of OOIDA, Jon joined too becoming a member in 1988. In 1991, Jon took a brief hiatus from the road, moved to South America working for the Costa Rican government, overseeing their air transportation department (arranging air ambulances). Just shy of 24 months, he returned home and rejoined OOIDA.

In 1995, Jon was awarded Van Operator of the Year, the first to be named from his division: temperature controlled and high-value. He met Vicki that following year, dated 3 years and 3 days to the date before exchanging vows. They both bring 2 children to the marriage and share 2 grandchildren.

“It was sort of an ongoing joke as a young Corpsman in Vietnam that I was a chic-magnet, because I was the one that was lucky enough to receive the call when a woman went into labor. I bet I have delivered over a hundred babies. Years later as a truck driver, I delivered a baby at a truck stop. I keep an OB kit in my truck, I stay prepared.”

OOIDA’s “Spirit of the American Trucker”

June of 2012, Jon became the first solo driver to operate OOIDA’s Spirit Truck. Formally taking her first tour in 2001 with a husband and wife team for 2 years. When they retired, the next duo were also a husband and wife team. They kept her out for another 2 years before handing over the rein to Jon. The OOIDA trailer accommodates truck shows and events, offering multifunctional space as a meet-and-greet, an office, and plenty of storage for their travel goodies. Jon recently picked up his brand new 2019 5700 Western Star, custom designed with black leather interior.

When scheduling events for the Spirit of the American Trucker Tour, Jon says there is a handful of people involved to ensure every submission and request receives the attention it deserves. No event is too small, especially if children are the purpose of the event. The Spirit Truck typically remains on tour for 300 days or less. Last year, Jon was out 325 days, returning home twice.

While on the road and not attending shows, he frequents TA-Petros all over the country meeting truck drivers or speaking with new and current OOIDA members.

“OOIDA, is an association established by truck drivers that is all about the fight for the rights of the guy and gal behind the wheel - whether an owner operator, lease driver, or company driver. In the meaning of, Owner Operator Independent Driver Association, the independent driver was the company driver that had a sleeper during the 1970’s. Since the day we started, it has always been about the truck driver, not the trucking company. Our mission is to spread educational information for drivers, to drivers.”

The Spirit Truck’s schedule can be found on their website: www.ooida.com. Jon says that in January of each year, he starts in Reno and runs south on I-5 from California to LA, then takes I-10 all the way across the bottom until he reaches El Paso. Next, he travels further south to Laredo, then back up to I-10 again, and on over to Florida. From there he makes his way to Louisville in time for MATS. After that event, the miles continue to add up!

In 2016, Jon was named one of the 2016 TA-Petro Citizen Driver Honorees. Today there are 28 TA-Petro Travel Center locations across the states named after Citizen Drivers. Jon selected a TA Travel Center in Boise, Idaho – 2.9 miles from his house.