Truckers vs. the State

I was a long haul trucker in the '80s and '90s. I lived during the tail end of the old era of the independent trucker. Now paramilitaries staff many of the roadside truck inspection stations, all drivers are on random drug testing programs, you need to pass an FBI background check to haul hazardous materials, and have a passport to enter port facilities. Today most trucks have satellite tracking and there are proposals for in-cab monitoring of drivers. Fines for minor infractions can run into the tens of thousands of dollars. So much for the freedom of the open road and the independent drivers.