Jeff Schackette, 40

Pine Mountain, Ga.

There were no strangers in this busy truck stop, Jeff Shackette made sure of that.

Mr. Shackette hid a wet pony tail under a dirty baseball cap and was eager to make friends as he walked out of the shower waiting area toward the Wendy's, where he planned to get a Frosty.

"Where are you headed?" he asked other drivers.

When he spoke, his broad smile revealed cracked and yellowing teeth, but his eyes were a clear blue.

After driving 11 years as an owner-operator for National Carriers, soaring fuel prices are beginning to dampen his spirits, he said.

"It's such..." he trailed off at a loss for words. "It's been hard to make it. I am making less than I used to make."

Mr. Shackette calls Pine Mountain, Ga., home. He gets home when he can, running routes an average of 1,500 miles that can keep him out for months at a time.

Lately he has had his eye on more regional work - 500 mile routes - but doesn't get his hopes up.

A lot of drivers want regional work because they can work as a driver but also get home a couple times a week.

"It's hard to get what you want," he said.

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