10 Best Trucker Songs to Listen to While Driving

From humor to heartbreak, the lore of CB radios, discovering every corner of the country, and much more, truck driving songs run the gamut.

While these songs are special for truckers, they appeal to everyone and often top the Billboard charts. The best of the batch are memorable, unique, and tell a good story. More than anything else, they give truck drivers the spirit to push on while adding a little fun to their long days.

If you’re not listening to trucking songs, you are missing out on some really (really) good music — so do yourself a favor and give them a listen. To help get you started or find some new favorites, we have compiled a list of some of the greatest trucker songs of all time.

So sit back, relax (but keep your eyes on the road), and drive down the highway listening to these trucking favorites.

Playlist of the Top 10 Best Trucker Songs to Listen to While Driving

Let’s get down to it. If you’re looking for some great music to listen to for your next haul, here are some of the top trucking songs in the last several decades.

Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)  – Alabama

This song was released in January 1984 by Alabama, one of America’s most iconic country bands.The song is so lively and fun to listen to, it really gets you into that truck driving spirit. Songwriter Dave Loggins taps into what it is like to be a dad who must drive an 18-wheeler to provide for his family, exploring that all too familiar moment when a truck driver must leave their family for work.

Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses – Kathy Mattea

From the 1987 album Untasted Honey by Kathy Mattea, “Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses” is an all-time trucking favorite. Gene and Paul Nelson wrote this heartwarming trucking song about Charlie who is on the last run of his 30-year career as a truck driver. The instant classic tells of Charlie’s pending retirement when he will trade in his truck for a Winnebago and show his wife the great country. Her smooth voice and excellent country tune make the song worth listening to on endless repeat.

Big Wheels In The Moonlight – Dan Seals

This #1 Hot Country hit was the second single released from Dan Seals’ 1988 album Rage On. Songwriters Bob McDill and Dan Seals tell the story of a boy from a small town who loves watching trucks pass by, dreaming of being a truck driver when he grows up. Although his childhood dream is never realized, he still keeps the memories and visions of the trucks alive in his mind.

Truckin’ – Grateful Dead

Truckin’, another golden oldie, comes off the album American Beauty released by the Dead in 1970. This track is all about driving your truck through big cities like Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Dallas, the stressors truck drivers face, and how they deal with it all. Just a good old song from the ‘70s when people wanted to travel, have new adventures, and seek the best of life.

Asphalt Cowboy – Jason Aldean

This song is fantastic from the first note to the last. It puts you in a relaxing mood and is the kind of song that reminds you everything will be alright. The song is about a guy who has to leave his wife for the “lonesome road.”. Every time he is away, he misses his girl and resolves to ride through the storm just to get back into her arms again.

Drivin’ My Life Away – Eddie Rabbitt

This Eddie Rabbitt single off the album Horizon was released in June 1980, and believe it or not, made it to #1 on the Hot Country Singles chart. It was written by David Malloy, Eddie Rabbitt, and Even Stevens, and the song focuses on the life of truckers and the long time they have to spend away from their wives and children — a common theme on this list.

500 Miles Away from Home – Bobby Bare

This song, released in 1963, is a piece of classic country music. It even made the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100!This song explores that familiar idea of how hard it is for those of us who have to leave their families for work, especially truckers. It is one of those songs you could sing with your buddy as you travel the world and always have hope for the best despite the distance from home.

East Bound and Down – Jerry Reed

This 1970s hit comes from the soundtrack of the film Smokey and the Bandit. The song made it to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Music chart — and what a song it is. As soon as it starts playing, you can’t help but nod your head or even dance along (when you’re not driving). We suggest putting this one in the queue whenever you are feeling down, tired, or need a pick-me-up.

I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

No doubt you have heard this classic about a hitchhiker picked up by a trucker, but you may not know that it was originally written by Australian Geoff Mack and made a hit by Lucky Starr. Many artists have recorded the song, but Johnny Cash recorded what is arguably the most recognizable version on his album, Unchained.

Brothers of the Highway – Tony Justice and Aaron Tippin

We couldn’t have a “best trucking song” list without including this soulful rendition of George Strait’s 2008 classic. Tony Justice and Aaron Tippin picked up the song that pays homage to truckers who we all depend on to get the goods where they need to be. For anyone who thinks modern trucking music will never match the classic tunes, this songwill prove you wrong. This is an amazing song deserving of a place on this playlist.

5 Bonus Trucking Songs to Add to Your Playlist

Six Days on the Road – Dave Dudley

This 1963 up-tempo country song celebrating U.S. truck drivers became an instant hit. The lyrics brought truck driving slang, like “Georgia overdrive” and “log books,” into the American urban vocabulary. The video for the 1997 version of the song from Sawyer Brown features the band on tour, highlighting how musicians and truckers share a similar lifestyle. The finger-tapping tune is a fun sing-along to include in your playlist.

Prisoner Of The Highway – Ronnie Milsap

This song appeals to all the truckers who can’t seem to give up their life on the road. It refers to truckers who enjoy the “freedom of the road.” Milsap sings for all the truck drivers who live for the call of the road, saying: “Some people work just to survive, but up here in this cab is the only time I’m alive.”

On The Road Again – Willie Nelson

What’s a list of songs about life on the highway without including this track from country music legend Willie Nelson? While the song is about Willie’s tour with his band and “goin’ places that I’ve never been,” his excitement of “seein’ things that I may never see again” rings true for truck drivers too. Like top musicians on tour, long-haul drivers see more places in a short time than most people see in a lifetime. Few people can claim they’ve been through as many states, provinces, and cities as truck drivers.

Convoy – C.W. McCall

Released in 1975, Convoy was originally a protest song against various trucking issues. Though as a crossover hit, it quickly became popular among pop and country music fans. The catchy song follows a fictional convoy of truckers dodging roadblocks and police as they travel from California to the Jersey shore. The song inspired the 1978 movie of the same name. 

Giddy Up Go – Red Sovine

Giddy Up Go is a tale of loss and discovery. The wife and son of a hard-working trucker leave him behind after too many long days and nights of him on the road — but not before his son gave him the name “Giddy Up Go” for his truck. Years later, the trucker reunites with his long-lost son in a truck stop, who is the driver of a truck with the same name. Red Sovine released the song in 1965 and followed it up with more trucking songs, including Phantom 309 and Teddy Bear. 

Truck Drivers Depend on Drivewyze 

Drivers love Drivewyze because we help them go further, stay safe, and get home sooner — while enjoying the drive! Find more entertainment geared to truckers, including podcasts and movies, on our Drivewyze blog. 

Contact us today to discover how Drivewyze can keep your entire fleet safe and help you cut costs.

This article was written in conjunction with CJ Rooney at www.hipcraft.co