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TRUCKING SONGS – 11 BEST TUNES FOR THE OPEN ROAD

safemodemobility
May 25, 2021
6 min read

Great truck songs are like wine served with great food; they can make your driving memorable and much better. You may be able to haul heavy loads in the worst weather conditions in recent months, however, having to drive in foggy weather or on icy roads and can make the trip a bit dull and stressful. But when you hear your favorite truck driving songs, it's almost like they give you a sudden burst of energy and give you the drive to keep moving forward!

Truck driving songs seem to take on a life of their own and create a story that is not often seen in music these days. They awaken in everyone a sense of adventure, freedom, or remind us of what it feels like to return home. That desire to get out and explore and feel adventure and freedom is the main reason many people want to be a trucker in the first place.

BEST TRUCKER SONGS

Driving a truck is not just a job; it is a passion, culture, and lifestyle. Truck drivers have their own jokes, language, films, and even favorite music. When it comes to truck driving, there is nothing better than being on the open road with your favorite songs. In honor of that, we've compiled a list of the best trucker songs that make the long hauls just a little bit better.

With so many great truck songs, it wasn't easy to narrow the list down to 11, so sit back, relax, and enjoy our selection of the top 11 truck songs of all time.

Big Wheels in the Moonlight – Dan Seals

This #1 hit on Hot Country became the second single from Dan Seals' 1988 album Rage On. On this track, songwriters Dan Seals and Bob McDill tell a tale about a boy who comes from a village and loves to watch the trucks go by. The boy wants to be a truck driver in the future. Although his childhood dream never came true, he is still reminded of his dreams and memories of trucks in his head.

East, Bound, and Down – Jerry Reed

East, Bound, and Down from the album, Smokey, and the Bandit was 1970s hit that is a staple of country music one of the greatest highway driving songs of all time. The song peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Hot Country Music Charts - and what a song it is. Once this song starts playing, you cannot help but feel like dancing even while on the drive. We suggest queuing this up if you ever get tired, bored, or need something to feel good about.

'Six Days on the Road - Sawyer Brown

This song is the third on the truck driving song list. "Six Days on the Road" was first cut by Dave Dudley, but many others have performed covers of the 1997 Country Rock hit. Sawyer Brown wrote the song, hitting the top 20 in 1997. George Jones, Merle Haggard, and Steve Earl have also recorded versions of this timeless beat.

Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses – Kathy Mattea

On Katie Mattea's 1987 album Untasted Honey, we found yet another all-time greatest driving song. The song '18 Wheels and a Dozen Roses' was written by Gene and Paul Nelson and follow the story of Charlie, who has driven a truck for 30 years and is now on his last run to get back to his wife, whom he truly loves. Oh boy! Katy Mattea does a good job with this track - her flowing voice combined with the iconic country melody makes the song worthy of endless repetition.

Convoy, by C.W. McCall

This truck driver song was featured as the No. 1 song on the Pop and Country charts in 1975 and was the real inspiration for Sam Peckinpah's film “Convoy” later in the decade. Its uniqueness and CB chatter between the Pig Pen and Rubber Duck Convoy Poster characters helped spur CB's popularity in those days. This is the best song for a truck driver who loves to hear some pop country music.

Asphalt Cowboy - Jason Aldin

Asphalt Cowboy by Jason Aldin is a fantastic truck driving song, from the beginning of the song to the decay of the last note. It gives you a relaxing mood and reminds you that everything will be okay in the end. The song is about a man who has to leave his wife to go to work. Every time he leaves, he misses his wife and decides to ride through the harsh weather to just to find her in his arms again.

Come and Get Your Love, Redbone

This amazing song was written by brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas and is one of the group's most successful singles, originally featured on the Wovoka album. The song topped out at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 Hits and was the fourth most popular song on the Hot 100 in 1974. In addition, it also spent almost 18 weeks in the Top 40. This is one of the best song to add to a truck driving playlist.

Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen's critically acclaimed song "Born to Run" is ranked 21st on the list of the top 500 Greatest truck driving songs of all time and is included in the list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This song was one of Springsteen's last attempts to become famous, as his first two albums were not commercially popular. Springsteen said the song is about restless youth and yearning to hit the open road, and "Born to Run" captures that feeling perfectly. Many truckers find themselves sympathizing with how Springsteen felt writing this song.

Greatest His, Tom Petty, and The Heartbreaker

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers emulated the roots of America in the late 70s and 80s and is an amazing compilation of their hits from that time. The band's sound is like that of howling wind, freedom, and the endless horizon. The songs “Don’t Do Me Like That”, “Full Moon Fever”, “Free Fallin” and “I Won’t Back Down” are all featured on this playlist. If you were there when these songs were at the top of the billboards Greatest Hits, it would certainly take you back in time. Just roll down the windows of your truck and let the sounds of American and Tom Petty transport you to another place and time. With music like this, the trip seems almost as if you traveled in time.

Thriller, Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson is not necessarily the first artist that comes to mind when deciding which songs to take on the road. Maybe if you are hosting a dance party, but maybe when traveling down the highway. Truth be told, Jackson's disco-pop was one of his best albums. Thriller for some reason just sounds even better on the open road.. When it comes to dancing, you may be limited, but this cool album is full of good traveling songs, and the lack of a dance floor will make you appreciate Jackson's voice that much more. After a short stay at a coffee shop, pop in this CD and let the king of pop guide you on your next road journey.

Brothers on the Highway - Tony Justice and Aaron Tippin

We could not have made a list of the best truck driving songs without Aaron Tippin and Tony Justice and their recent classic. We know that continuing the tradition of truck songs is just as important as keeping the trucks alive - so it's only fitting if we include on a modern-day truck song playlist a modern-day truck music legend. For those peoples who think modern truck music can never compare to classic sons, Brothers of the Highway is sure to prove you wrong. It's a great trucker song and deserves its place on this list.

Wrap Up

When you spend as much time on the road as a truck driver, you have the opportunity to see and appreciate the beauty of country music at its finest. Whether you're on the road or spending time with your family, enjoy these songs from the Truck Playlist. We hope this article about trucker songs was informative and you enjoyed listening to the best trucker songs. Let us know what we may have missed, and we will add this to our next list of truck driving tunes to be included on the road.