For Ivan Scott and Jason Solway, trucking has been more than a job. It has been a career filled with long days, new places, hard work, and valuable lessons. After years of travelling the roads across Canada and the United States, both men have brought their experiences home.
For Scott, his connection to trucking began at an early age. At 16, he had the opportunity to drive a Class 1 semi-truck while working in the alfalfa fields south of Medicine Hat. That early experience sparked an interest that would eventually lead to a career spanning more than three decades.
At 18, Scott earned his Class 1 license and spent two years long hauling before moving into construction and heavy equipment operations. Throughout his career, he worked in road construction, operated heavy equipment operations, and developed experience in water and wastewater operations.
One of his most memorable accomplishments came while working with Big Rock Water Hauling in Calgary, where he helped develop a 53-foot emergency water trailer. The idea came to him while looking at Calgary skyline and thinking about how a larger system could improve emergency water delivery.
“I took some pumps that I refurbished, and I just put it all together in my head, wrote it down on some paper, and it looked good on paper,” Scott said, “We threw one together, and yeah, it worked the first try.”
Jason Solway’s path into trucking was also influenced by family. Growing up, Solway looked up to his uncle, a Class 1 driver. Hearing his uncle’s stories about travelling and life on the road inspired him to eventually pursue trucking himself.
After working in the oil and gas industry, Solway got his Class 1 license nearly 20 years ago.
Over the years, Solway gained experience hauling everything from dry goods and equipment to refrigerated loads and logs. His work took him across the United States and Canada. One of his favorite routes was Interstate 10, travelling to California to Florida along the coast during the winter months.
“I love traveling,” Solway said. “Getting paid to travel and see the country, Canada and the U.S., was one of the things I just loved”
The job, however, came with long hours. Depending on the type of work, Solway could spend 11 to 16 hours working a day. Long-haul trips could keep him away from home weeks at a time, sometimes stretching into months.
“Being away from the family and long hours,” Solway said, was one of the hardest parts of trucking.
Despite the sacrifices, both men gained experiences that continue to serve them today. Now working in Public Works and other community roles, they are able to bring the skills they developed throughout their careers back to Siksika.
Solway encourages young people to start this career young “Do it when you’re young.” Solway also emphasized being prepared for the commitment. “Be prepared for long hours and long days,” he said.
Scott’s advice is to remain determined and put safety first. “Don’t get discouraged,” Scott said. “A lot of things can be intimidating, but do not get discouraged by that. Keep your nose on the grindstone, and the biggest thing of everything is safety first.”
For both Scott and Solway, the road has taken them far from home, but their journeys have ultimately brought them back with experience they can share with the community and the next generation.
