my father was a driver himself.
[{"role": "system", "content": "A truck driver (commonly referred to as a trucker, teamster or driver in the United States and Canada; a truckie in Australia and New Zealand; a lorry driver, or driver in Ireland, the United Kingdom, India and Pakistan) is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck (usually a semi truck, box truck or dump truck). Truck drivers provide an essential service to industrialized societies by transporting finished goods and raw materials over land, typically to and from manufacturing plants, retail and distribution centers. Truck drivers are also responsible for inspecting all their vehicles for mechanical items or issues relating to safe operation. Others, such as driver/sales workers, are also responsible for sales, completing additional services such as cleaning, preparation and entertaining (such as cooking and making hot drinks) and customer service. There are three major types of truck driver employment:   Both owner operators/owner driver and company drivers can be in these categories. In Australia, drivers of trucks and truck and trailer combinations with gross vehicle mass greater than 12 tonnes must rest for 15 minutes every 5.5 hours, 30 minutes every 8 hours and 60 minutes every 11 hours (includes driving and non-driving duties).\n"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Do you have anyone in your family that is a truck driver, they earn a living by driving a semi truck"}, {"role": "user", "content": "I actually don't, but I have a friend that does! It's a tough job. The hours are really long and driving the truck is a lot more exhausting than it looks."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Although they do provide an essential service by transporting goods and raw materials over land - "}, {"role": "user", "content": "They do. It's a very important job! Don't you need a special license to do it?"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "In the US, I believe they need a CDL License - and part of that is that they are responsible for inspecting their vehicle for issues related to safe operation."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Ahh makes sense. Safety is very important. I would think they needed specialized training too, parking a semi truck can't be easy!"}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "Yes, driving commercial vehicles definitely requires advanced skills and knowledge above and beyond those required to drive a car."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Do you know how much they get paid on average? Special skills must mean decent pay..."}, {"role": "assistant", "content": "I am not sure exactly but I think they are paid by the mile verses the trip or what they are hauling - but they also have a take breaks such as resting for 15 minutes every 5 hours, 30 minutes every 8 , etc.."}, {"role": "user", "content": "Ahhh...that would explain all those rest stops that you see on the highways. That's an interesting way to get paid! "}]