FUEL FOR THE HEART - Debra Desiderato
FUEL FOR THE HEART
Legend Nominee: Debra Desiderato
This Legend truck driver comes to us from the little island off the bottom of Australia, known as, Tasmania. She can toss a boomerang and play us a tune on a didgeridoo; a rhythm wind instrument made of hollow wood, discovered by Indigenous Australians known for its distinct sounds. Though born an Aussie, she had always dreamed of living in the United States since childhood.
Debra Desiderato, or Debbie as she prefers, recalls staring at a detailed map of North America displayed on her bedroom wall, as she watched the television show, Cops – an American program (reality series) originally airing in the late 80’s featuring men and women of law enforcement in live action during patrols and various activities.
“Growing up, I watched the show religiously,” Debbie states. Eager to learn the location of the day’s occurrences, she would then pinpoint the city and state on her personal chart. “Once I found the place on my map, I could go back to enjoying the show. As a kid, I had this fascination of coming to the United States. On into adulthood, I was certain I would move here because all of my favorite things are here. Plus, there is so much more opportunity to live out your dreams.”
An avid motorcycle fan and guitar player, Harley-Davidson and Gibson Brands, Inc. are both American manufacturers that add to Debbie’s interests based in the states since officially relocating permanently in 1998. Debbie purchased her first truck, launching: Classic Auto Transport in 2002. Ten years later, she left the car hauling business and started, Walkabout Transport. Currently in a 2012 Kenworth T660, she transports mostly trade show freight from NY City across the country to Vegas, then from San Francisco over to Atlanta or Chicago. She, along with her Australian cattle dog, Bubba, travel over-the-road one to two weeks at a time, then return home to New York. The two ride in the comfort of their 86 IN. studio sleeper. With a passion to see the world and free-spirit attitude, Debbie often chooses to pursue the roads less traveled, turning a regular work day into an adventure every opportunity possible.
Inheriting a love for outdoors and scenic views from her mother, Debbie explains how she (plus her four siblings) moved quite a bit during her time in Australia. Each new place fueled her curiosity to see more of the world. She says,
“When I was young, we moved a lot from town to town. My mother loved the ocean and really embraced all the different sites around us. We traveled a big part of the country. I remember thinking, when I get old enough, I want to keep doing it myself. Then when I started driving, I’d go all over the country like it was nothing. I suppose, because I grew up with it in my blood, it never left me. Still today, if I find myself sitting complacent too long, I start to climb the walls. I have to hit the road… I need to see some cows, mountains, or deserts. There is so much beauty in this world to see, that all you have to do is get on the road and drive, it’s all around us.”
SILVER LINING
At age 13, Debbie was sent to spend the summer months in New Zealand with her 24-year old brother; he drove a truck for a living, running long-haul. Describing herself as an uncontrollable teenager, Debbie admits that her mother’s strategy of discipline paid off. Adding, “It was the best thing she could have done for me!” Joining her brother in the truck, Debbie was hooked right out of the gate. It was during the late 70’s, and every bit of the profession intrigued her, starting with the ability to travel any hour of the day, allowing her to witness many sunrises and sunsets from the seat of a semi.
When I personally think of New Zealand – sheep, wine, and the trilogy, Lord of the Rings come to mind first. However, its remote land is full of rich history and considered the adventure capital of the world. Famous for its photogenic wonders from any given location, New Zealand remains one of the most popular countries to visit among tourists in search of relaxation or adventure. The beautiful landscapes offer diversity ranging from mountain skiing, hiking in national parks, or surfing in the pristine ocean. Debbie’s time spent in New Zealand trekking in a big rig from one stunning scene to the next, she describes as an experience of a lifetime.
New Zealand provides an array of different attractions, despite being a fairly small country. The duo could run a load from one coast to the other in under a few hours. Her brother drove a day cab, pulling a flatbed trailer transporting dry freight. She recalls sitting up high in his tractor trailer, overwhelmed by the amount of space the massive vehicle demanded – that in turn, was her introduction to the trucking industry.
Debbie started out as a letter carrier for the post office in Australia at the age of 25, delivering mail by motorcycle. The means of transportation played a key role as for her love of the job. Three years later, she cashed in her 401K and left for the U.S. Her first visit was a planned vacation, one that met every expectation she had ever imagined. The once-little girl, day dreaming as her eyes danced around a map, had finally landed in her dream world.
After the vacation was over, she came back to the states again in 1994 on a 6-month visa waiver. Shortly upon returning to Australia, she was involved in an accident. Debbie was struck by a 16-year old driving a stolen vehicle while riding her motorcycle, resulting in surgery to both hands and a broken leg; she was granted an 18-month extension. During that time she attended classes at a school bus company for 6 months to attain her Class B license. There, she met driver trainer, Frank Desiderato and the pair hit it off.
Only needing 9 months to properly heal from her injuries, Debbie left for Australia and quickly reapplied to come back. In 1998, Frank and Debbie tied the knot and settled down in Long Island. Although she received her certified license at a school bus company, she wasn’t keen on only being a Class B CDL holder, nor operating a commercial motor vehicle hauling people as “freight.”
“Transporting kids was not the plan but getting my Class B license there was a stepping stone for me. I had to go from all of my Australian licenses – car, motorcycle, trucks – and start everything all over again here in the states. That includes road tests for each one, but it was worth it… and rather easy. I come from a country that enforces graduating licensing. It’s in place to protect the motoring public, it’s all about safety, and it works! The experience required of the licensing program prevents accidents and saves lives.”
HARSH LANDS
Debbie explains the difference between the lifestyle of truck drivers living in Australia, versus the United States. She points out that trucking is very difficult in the rugged Australian Outback, due to the extensive labor involved. Within the states, 24-hr restaurants, road service, and access to showers are available in each state; the placement of rest stops along the American highway system accommodate the safety needs of interstate highway travelers. Driving through the vast, remote area of the Outback, a person can travel consecutive days without sight of a rest area or service station to restock traveling essentials.
If a driver breaks down in the desert regions of the Outback, whether it’s a simple tire change or mechanical failure, it is up to he or she to address the issue at hand. Meaning, the driver will need to keep emergency tools in the truck at all times; also, carry extra fuel, water, etc. in preparation for such an isolated journey. Debbie says, “It could possibly be days before you see a shower, so you have to take one under a tree with a camp shower bag.” Traveling of any type through the desolate lands of the Outback requires a sense of organized living.
Truck drivers are the epitome of qualified professionals that adapt under circumstances quickly and tend to perform well in stressful environments. In America, the challenges vary, though both countries rely on the trucking industry as a means of survival for their economy.
Every year when monsoon season strikes the Outback, the skies open up and drowns the desert. The dry lands become rivers, submerging all the roads under water. Once the rain is all absorbed, the ground becomes so soft that trucks tend to get bogged down in the mud. Again, truckers in Australia are trained to transport each load, despite any complications encountered. Endure, recover, and carry on.
Debbie started in the car hauling business, 21 years ago. Since driving in the U.S. full-time her safety awareness extends from surviving in the wilderness to driving solo in the early morning hours of an empty city. She recommends safety in numbers, but in her case, Bubba is her plus-one to her party of two. Admitting that much of her self-taught ability is the result of trial and error, she states that these two main factors have ultimately helped keep her safe: knowing her surroundings/being aware at all times, and her dog.
TRUCKER NOTES
With a spotless safety history, Debbie says that she drives her truck as if every day were a Sunday. Refusing to adhere to the “rush” of our society’s clock, she claims is the key to her accident-free record. Passionate about traveling, she created a mobile program for truck drivers called, Trucker Notes. It is available for download on a mobile device, powered by Google Maps. Debbie designed Trucker Notes as a virtual writing space for truckers to store informative details vital to a specific location for later reference.
“As truckers, we go to so many places, it’s hard to keep track. I’m very against drivers having to pay for parking of any kind. Getting charged $10 to park for a space to rest, plus an additional $15 to shower – it’s all getting out of control. So, I started finding all kind of alternative places to park. Over time I had filled a notebook full of secret spots, I have hundreds of them from coast to coast. That’s when I decided it all needed to go on a map. I’ll open my Trucker Notes, drop a marker on the map, and enter a little bit of information.”
Each driver can design their Trucker Notes exclusively to their needs, complete with their own network of alternative parking, restaurants, and so forth using the various icons to select as markers for personal preference. Also, as a business owner, Trucker Notes is ideal for storing data in regard to shippers. “I’ll jot down notes of the rates that I’m getting out of the shipper and the broker I’m using, along with the dates, and so on… It’s especially productive for owner operators and independents. It’s helpful and will always be free with no pop-up advertising,” Debbie said.
Speaking of obstacles owner operators face, juggling the many hats required of a business owner in the field of transportation can become overwhelming. Billing, compliance, road taxes, even maintenance work is all handled by Debbie. “I put up with the extra work; it’s the cost of being independent, but worth it to me.” I asked Debbie what she has learned the most about herself over the course of her trucking career. Her reply is not to worry about trying to change who you are as a person…
Before taking on the lifestyle of a full-time truck driver over-the-road here in the U.S., Debbie worked at a trucking company as a safety manager. Her hours were 9 to 5, home every night with Frank and their son, Alex. But something was missing… it was her love of the road – the need to travel. Adding, if you do what makes you happy, you’ll never work a day in your life.
A GOOD LIFE
Frank is now a retired New York City commercial real estate broker, who enjoys driving a school bus part-time. She explains their balance of a healthy relationship hinges on their opposite lifestyle. “Frank is Italian and likes to cook and stay home. He also has many hobbies that he enjoys, such as leathercrafting. Stuff like that keeps him busy while I’m away. He’s pretty much the stable one while I’m out exploring the country, but it works for us. I think that’s the most important part – finding your strong support system. If it weren’t for him and Alex, I wouldn’t be able to do what I love for a living,” she says.
Over the years, Alex has joined his mother in the truck many times. From sightseeing at the Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore, to experiencing Fremont Street in downtown Vegas – the two make a vacation out of each trip. Alex is gearing up for college in Virginia, where Debbie plans to relocate soon. They recently purchased some property in the country, far away from the big city life of Long Island.
“I’ll probably be driving a truck until I die. Maybe in a couple of years I will purchase a few more trucks and expand; start an all-female trucking company. When it starts feeling like work, then I will retire. I’ve always said, this is a lifestyle and it’s where I am meant to be… traveling is what fuels me. Trucking is not for everyone, but it has provided me with a good life.”