Trucker Life · Illinois · October 26, 2026

Illinois Third-Generation Trucker Runs a 2022 Peterbilt 389, and a Fifth Generation May Be on the Way

A red long-hood semi truck pulling a white dry van trailer on a two-lane farm road at sunset — Illustration for this story. Not a photo of a specific location.

Illinois owner-operator Bryan Edwards is a third-generation trucker, and the family line may not stop with him, according to a reader rig feature in Overdrive, published Oct. 23.

Edwards started driving at 21 and has been running over the road for about 36 years, Overdrive reported.

A family full of truckers

Edwards followed his grandfather and father into trucking, along with four uncles who also drove. His two brothers and several cousins are in the business too, according to Overdrive.

His 36-year-old son is the fourth generation in trucking. And all his 7-year-old grandson "talks about is driving truck," Overdrive reported, so a fifth generation could be on the way.

From company truck driver to his own authority

Edwards was a company driver until 2014, when he bought his first truck, a 2006 Peterbilt 379, and leased on with another fleet. He has owned three trucks in all.

His second truck was a 2022 Peterbilt 389 that he ordered brand-new, "but Mother Nature took it out June 29, 2023," he told Overdrive. That led him to buy the 389 he runs now.

In 2025, Edwards got his own authority as Edwards Trucking, with a contract hauling for agricultural supplier Corteva, whose products he had already been hauling while leased on.

"Corteva keeps me busy pretty much year-round," Edwards said. When it does not, Overdrive reported, he usually finds something else to put on the trailer to stay busy.

The truck

His current rig, as described by Overdrive:

Tractor: 2022 Peterbilt 389
Engine: Cummins X15
Transmission: 18-speed
Trailer: 2025 Utility van, the second trailer he has owned

Overdrive's photos also include a rear view of the truck, captioned as his "Phase III" 2022 Peterbilt 389.

What those steps mean

For readers outside trucking, an owner-operator owns the truck he drives. Leasing on means running that truck under another carrier's operating authority. Getting his own authority means his company, Edwards Trucking, now runs under its own operating authority instead of another carrier's.

Credit at home

Edwards credits his wife, Amy, for much of his success. "She handles all the paperwork side of the business, plus her full-time job," he said. "All I have to do is drive."

Running your own truck

Owner-operators weighing the jump Edwards made can compare the two paths in Big Rig Daily's guide, owner-operator vs. company driver, and estimate take-home pay with the owner-operator profit calculator.