FIXTITLE Jason Lee Wilson (Jason Wilson).docx

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The Story

Of

Jason Lee Wilson

This Legend comes to the trucking scene as an over the road truck driver, singer song writer and our 2016 winner of the Great American Trucking Show competition, Overdrive-Red Eye Radio’s Trucker Talent Search. Though his music career may seem to have taken a backseat due to his work schedule, that’s not the case. In speaking with this nominee, I have found that not only does he have a lot on his plate, but for the majority of his life he has mastered the balancing act of life.

Many join the transportation industry in hopes of traveling the country and become somewhat like a paid tourist. For Jason Lee Wilson, he had already traveled abroad and explored foreign countries years before venturing into the trucking industry.

Born in Cleveland, Tennessee Jason grew up singing in church and writing lyrics of his own at a very young age. Considering his introduction to music was through church, he explains how the power of radio impacted his life. “I was told that at five I wrote my first song. It was along the lines of, 'God is great, God is good'. At the time, church songs were the only exposure I had to music. When I discovered the radio, that was a big thing for me. I remember listening to John Anderson and Dwight Yoakam on a station out of Knoxville. Then my grandfather bought me a record with all old, country-western cowboy ballads on it. Still today, I like the story telling songs. Everything you’re exposed to influences you somehow,” Jason said. His songwriting continues over the years, drawing from inspiration and life experiences; his creativity has produced three albums and a life’s work of unrecorded songs.

After high school, Jason enrolled at The University of the South majoring in Studio Art, with a minor in Music. His summers and winters were spent working at a Chevrolet dealership. His opportunity for travel came through a post graduate study. Jason was offered a one-year grant from the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship Foundation. Each year, students enter a project proposal containing their interests in studying abroad, their personal statement of what they hope to learn over the 12-month period, and after further interviews with the school, the students are then evaluated on a national level. Sixty students are chosen to conduct independent research within their selected studies. “People that receive the Fellowship pick topics that some people normally wouldn’t think of. I elected automotive design and its relationship with culture. Another girl studied roller coasters around the world. The deal was to stay outside of the country for the entire year. Of course, I checked out the music scenes and did the tourist thing, but I took the responsibility of the study super serious; others didn’t. After our year was over, I knew we had to give a presentation. We didn’t receive a grade on it and nobody was upset about it. I realized once it was over, the point of it was that the foundation creates sixty ambassadors a year to go out into the world and meet people with similar interests. That Fellowship awards purpose-driven individuals with a passion that seek out other like-minded people. For me trucking is the same way. It’s not for everyone. You really got to have a passion for it. There has to be something bigger than the job because if it’s just the job, you will go out and find another job. To be a successful OTR driver, you need to have passion. Just like with the Fellowship and unity with all of the people from different walks of life, trucking requires unity and passion. There is constant communication and you’re relying on the next guy. What I’ve grown to love about traveling that trucking provides is that break of getting out on the big road.”

Educated, talented, and well-grounded. Jason was born a polymath; a gifted person with the talent to absorb information in several fields of study. He went on to be a teacher, then he worked for the county with the 4H Program, and then landed a job doing gauge restoration, for a restoration company. He enjoys doing automotive restoration on the side, along with auto mechanics, and paint and body work.

Given his enriched background of studies, I inquired of his struggles as a professional truck driver. The demanding lifestyle of trucking has no mercy. The profession is unyielding, time consuming, and ruthless. To earn a seat behind the wheel of a semi, each truck driver will be forced to overcome obstacles throughout their career. Jason describes his biggest challenges. “My personal struggle has been dealing with stressful situations. In order to be healthy you shouldn’t submit yourself to stressful situations, but they’re like a catalyst to get you alert. Any challenging situation can be stressful. Whether it’s a new assignment or how to operate a new piece of equipment, meeting the challenge that stresses you is growth. So, learning how to face any challenge I’m given has been my biggest obstacle and greatest achievement.”

Jason currently runs local hauling aggregates and asphalt for MDM Trucking, based out of his hometown of Maryville, Tennessee. He also drives over the road, part-time for a company out of Monteagle known as, Perfect Tenn. His childhood friend, Waylon Gautier owns the business and initially helped Jason get his CDL. Waylon’s company hauls stage lighting equipment for entertainment and corporate events. Jason explains, “He has had a number of challenges too. With his company being involved with putting on shows and stage lighting, they’re a tight knit community and your reputation means a lot. With more people involved, there become more variables and more of a risk for error. Waylon needed extra drivers, so I started helping him on the side. He helped train me to get my CDL.”

Growing up, Jason had always been around trucks. His uncle owns a grading and hauling company in Tennessee. It also helped living in Monteagle, which is prominently a trucking town in itself. With Hwy 41 and later I24, the traffic of trucks coming in and leaving out was inevitable. Jason just never imagined getting involved in the trucking industry, until his friend called on him for help. “We went to elementary school together. When I started to drive for him it became contagious. It just sucks you in! Working at MDM Trucking and for Waylon goes back to the friendships I have with each company. Doug Mincy owns MDM Trucking, and that man is as tough as nails. He is going on 77 years old and still drives full-time. He gets out in the shop and crawls under these things. It’s rare when you can work somewhere or for somebody that can do what they ask you to do and would never ask you to do anything they wouldn’t do themselves. Doug is just an admirable person. We’re like a family here. I know everything will come and go. It’s not going to be like this forever. I’ve worked at places, looking back it was a great time with great people and that great moment will never come again. So I’m just trying to savor this for as long as it will last,” he says. Working for both of these trucking companies Jason prefers a smaller business, versus a large corporation. “When the person that owns the company is a part of your life, your job becomes personal.”

Throughout his trucking career Jason has hauled flatbed, dry van, and tri axle dump trucks. His toughest learning curve has been training to operate all of the different equipment. He says, “The straight truck has a lot more levers. When you’re doing a paving operation, you’re working tandem with another piece of machinery. It’s a whole different game. Concrete trucks are totally different too. I respect all of the different operators. I’ve learned that just because you can operate one thing, doesn’t mean you automatically can maneuver everything. Nobody is born knowing it all. You can learn as much as you want though, but in the process all is to be respected, as well.”

In defining success, people identify a large house and nice cars as the outcome to fame. Many times name brands and flashy items appeal to those in need of confirmation. When I asked Jason what he felt was his finest accomplishment to date was, his response was straightforward. “I remember a conversation that I had with a friend… she was going on about how successful I was and I sort of argued the point. She explained the misconception of how I was defining success in monetary terms. Now I understand, when you set out to do something and achieve it, you’re successful; whether the money is coming or not. My greatest achievements have been doing what I set out to do: learning how to operate the equipment or drive the vehicle, or winning a talent competition. If the goal is met, then I am a success.”

Next, I asked if not for trucking would he pursue his musical career full-time? If it were up to him, he would tour 3 to 4 months out of the year playing music and pull a cattle trailer hauling cattle cross country the remainder of his time. When Jason is not on the road, he often performs at the Smoke House in Monteagle. He continues to work on new material and is in the between stages of planning to record in Dallas following his recent win at GATS. Jason’s wife, Alexandra was able to attend the truck show with him in August. She was also present when he was announced this year’s winner. When she can, Alex accompanies Jason on the road and enjoys traveling just as much as he does. She says, “Jason is a patient man that gives of himself to everybody. He is a very unique person and creative in his music.”

With the support of his wife and two trucking companies to call family his life is complete. He states that having his music career and trucking career collide has been a beautiful experience. “By doing what I enjoy doing has brought me to this point. I have found success in following my heart’s desire in doing what gives me joy and peace.”

MEET THE ARTIST

Jason Lee Wilson

Where can your fans find your music? cdbaby.com carries it

How many instruments can you play? 2: guitar and fiddle

What CD did you listen to last? Paul Marhoefer, I met him at the Dallas truck show and he just mailed me one of his cds.

Scarier, clowns or ghosts? (laughs) clowns

Finish this sentence, “Give me a shot of _____.” Whiskey

You won the lottery, what is the first thing you buy? I’ve been told that the first thing you should do is get an attorney… then I’d probably buy a piece of property in the mountains.

Baseball cap or cowboy hat? Cowboy hat

You’re stranded on an island, what three items do you have? A steel hatchet, flint knife, and a bible

Favorite form of social media for your fans to follow? I used Myspace way back when, as a musical platform and to network, so I guess now would be Facebook. My musician/band page is listed as, Jason Lee Wilson.

Your 4th meal-fast food-2 o’clock in the morning-go to restaurant & what do you get? (laughs) That’s going to be Taco Bell and it’s the #7