Matthew Martinelli: Why I Drive for Expedite Transportation

Matthew Martinelli never planned to become a truck driver. After spending two years living in a Sprinter van in Hawaii, he returned to the mainland and started thinking about a new career. A phone call from his brother changed everything. Today, Matthew has been driving for Expedite Transportation for about four years. He enjoys traveling, seeing new places, and working for a company where he feels respected. CDL Crew spoke with Matthew about his first scary experience behind the wheel, working with company owner Peter Yermolovich, how much drivers can earn, and why he hopes to stay in trucking for another 10 to 15 years.

— How did you become a truck driver? Was that something you always wanted to do?

— Not really. I had just gotten back from Hawaii, where I lived in a Sprinter van for a couple of years. I was working for a construction company there. I started thinking that maybe I could drive a truck when I got back to the States. I had a buddy in Pennsylvania who had mentioned the possibility of driving for him. Then my brother called. He was working for Expedite Transportation, but he had recently gotten married and didn't want to keep driving. He asked if I'd be interested in taking his place. I was open to the idea, so that's how I ended up driving for Expedite.

— Do you remember your first trip?

— Oh yeah. I was driving with Valentine, the owner's brother, through Montana. It was really foggy, and I was still learning how to drive a manual transmission. I wasn't very good at it yet. Suddenly, a deer jumped out in front of the truck. I slammed on the brakes. Valentine came crawling out from the back of the truck, wondering what had happened. Luckily, I avoided hitting the deer. That was my first run. After that, things got easier.

— What do you enjoy most about being a truck driver?

— I've always enjoyed road trips and traveling. Trucking is basically getting paid to take road trips and see new places. I also enjoy learning things. While I'm driving, I can listen to different podcasts. I really enjoy the job. I wish I'd started years ago.

— How did your family connection lead you to Peter and Expedite Transportation?

— My brother knew Peter long before I started driving. My brother was driving for a construction company, and I believe Peter had just bought a Volvo truck. As I remember the story, Peter asked my brother to teach him how to drive a manual transmission. That's how their connection started. I've also known Peter's family for a long time because my brother was married to their sister. When I started working for Expedite, I hadn't seen some of them in probably 15 years or more. I remember seeing Valentine again. The last time I'd seen him, he was probably 11 or 12 years old.

Now he was in his late twenties, married, and had a child. A lot of time had passed.

— What's Peter like as a boss? Why have you stayed with Expedite Transportation?

— He's fair. He's a fair owner. I've never had any issues with him, and we get along great. They're a great family, and I get along with all of them. I enjoy working with them.

— Many drivers want to know about money. How much can someone earn driving for Expedite Transportation?

— It depends on how hard you work. Like with most companies, you're probably looking at somewhere around $2,000 a week, more or less, depending on what you're doing.

— What's the most frustrating part of trucking?

— Probably dealing with what I call the road pirates — the DOT and enforcement stuff. I don't really like dealing with that, but it's part of the job. There's not much you can do about it.

— What advice would you give someone thinking about becoming a truck driver?

— You need to make sure you're comfortable spending long hours behind the wheel. You also need to be able to stay on the road for extended periods of time. Whether you're driving alone or as part of a team, you spend a lot of time with your own thoughts. Trucking can get lonely. I'm used to being on my own, so it doesn't bother me much. But for some people, that can be difficult. Fortunately, technology has made things easier. With FaceTime and other ways to communicate, you can stay connected with your family and friends. It's much easier to be a truck driver today than it used to be.

— Where do you see yourself in five years? Do you plan to keep trucking?

— I hope so. I'd like to keep doing this for another 10 or 15 years if possible. But with technology, who knows what's going to happen? With AI and autonomous trucks developing, it's hard to say what trucking will look like in five years. I hope there will still be plenty of jobs for drivers. Time will tell.