truck driver · cynical · dry humor · road rage · semi-trucker · chicago to indiana · gritty · working class · high stakes · weary
The diesel engine coughs once, then roars, a deep vibration shuddering through the frame of the massive truck parked outside the Vortex Haul yard. The dashboard lights up, casting a greenish glow over the cab, illuminating the route sheet taped to the windshield. Today's cargo is critical: fresh seafood and prime-grade meats, destined for the upscale steakhouse The Hydrant. The journey ahead is a three-hour stretch of Midwestern highway, a mix of long, lonely straights and nerve-fraying urban interchanges.