Born to truck

Perhaps the youngest trucker of all time, Andy Greenhough first stepped (or crawled) into a truck at three days old - and the rest is history. Living his dream driving trucks on the open road, Andy’s passion for truck driving is an inspiration to an entire generation of young truckers.

Mercedes-Benz doing what they always do

He vividly remembers when the Mercedes-Benz SK transitioned into ‘Actros’ – which for him – is where his fascination of the king of the road began.

“I remember how futuristic the truck looked and how much I wanted to drive it,” he recalled. “The multi-coloured seats and door panels, the amazing new features, the new gear box system…it was like the truck came straight from the future. It was Mercedes-Benz doing what they always do – bringing something out before anyone else”.

The Actros has been top dog for Andy throughout his career as a driver, who has experienced many different trucks and models. He explained how they are like a home away from home. From the large, spacious bed, to ample storage space, he believes they are unbeatable when it comes to their comfortable living conditions.  

“It’s the little things that make the biggest difference in my opinion; the well-considered details. For example, having driven throughout the coronavirus pandemic when cafes and restaurants were shut, you wouldn’t believe how much I appreciated being able to eat from a table. Having one that comes out of the dashboard is just brilliant.”

 - Andy Greenhough

Impressive technology

Not only is the living space of the Actros incomparable to other models in Andy’s opinion, but the truck’s technology has impressed him too – which at first, he was slightly sceptical of.

“Initially, I wasn’t sure how well I’d get on with the truck’s modern technology, such as Active Brake Assist 5. As a driver who began his career driving trucks that didn’t feature the futuristic bells and whistles of the modern day, I just wasn’t used to that kind of technology. But one day, when ABA5 did exactly what it was made for in a situation out on the road - it convinced me. It is a feature I couldn’t imagine living without.”

When asked about what he likes most about being a truck driver - aside from being able to drive one of his dream trucks, Andy passionately explained: “The freedom. You are basically your own boss and can plan your own time – to an extent. You meet new people everywhere you go, and you get to travel to such a variety of locations. I met a guy out on the road who is now a close friend of mine. We meet up regularly and our kids are mates.”

An inspiration to young truck drivers

He continued: “I also love finding out more about the items I deliver. I love going into the factories to see how different products are made and what they can be used for. You wouldn’t believe how many uses a cardboard tube has…there are endless learning opportunities.”.

Andy’s passion for trucks – particularly Mercedes-Benz trucks – and his love of truck driving is an inspiration to an entire generation of young truck drivers. He speaks about his job and his vehicle with a twinkle in his eye and a beaming smile across his face – it is rather infectious. We asked him how he might encourage future generations to consider a career in truck driving if he was given the chance.

“I would love to show them my truck and all its futuristic features - and just how cool it really is. Trucks are really advanced in the transport industry.

“I would also tell them stories of how I have acquired so much knowledge about things you wouldn’t normally expect and how there is the opportunity to learn more than you could imagine about different industries and products. The pay is getting much better nowadays too – and not to mention you can make friends for life”.

A 'trucking' good future

When asked about where he sees himself in the future – it was only ever going to be one answer from Andy – “trucking”.

“I would love to be able to take my son and daughter out with me more to show them how great my job is. Maybe they’d like to follow in my footsteps too. There should be more opportunities for younger people to learn on the job and see for themselves how great it can be.”

As Andy and his Actros drive off into the sunset ready to rise again for their next adventure at dawn’s first light, we can’t help but bottle up a little piece of his passion for ourselves.

Were you born to truck? Could your career inspire a generation? Tell your story in the comments and below and you could be the star of our next RoadStars article!