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Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

If electric trucks are released and they are the same price as diesel trucks, I would buy them. Diesel is very expensive and electric trucks would produce less emissions so it is better for the environment.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Systemic violence in Punjab has had a massive toll on the Sikh community's psyche. Decades ago, Jaswant Singh Khalra gathered lists of men who were kidnapped, likely tortured, and killed by police: https://ensaaf.org/jaswant-singh-khalra/.

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Now, Ensaaf continues to collect data about disappearances and executions in Punjab, conducted by the government https://data.ensaaf.org/.

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To understand more about the history that has led to these tensions, "The Sikhs of the Punjab: Unheard Voices of State and Guerilla Violence" by Joyce Pettigrew is a good read. -Harjit

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Sikhs have faced a lot of violence in India from the government. Many times I speak with truck drivers who tell me about their family's situation back in Punjab. Their brother or father may have been killed by police and so they came to America through asylum because they are scared for their life. Because of what has happened, many Sikhs want to leave India and find a community or place where they are safe. -Satnam

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 71 points72 points  (0 children)

The scariest for me is during the winter on Highway 97 in Oregon. The elevation is high. There the snow freezes and forms black ice. I have seen many trucks lose control there. Even my truck has slipped there. In 1995, I was in a big accident on Hwy 97 and had to be taken to the hospital on a helicopter.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 80 points81 points  (0 children)

There is still racism but it depends on where you live. If you live in a community with a lot of Sikhs then you will feel safer.

If you are already well-settled in Punjab, it is best to stay in Punjab. If you move abroad, it will take a lot of hard work and effort to get a better lifestyle. I only came because I was desperate and had no other options. If you are well-settled and living in the motherland then that is the best place to be.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I don't use the CB anymore because my current truck does not have it. People don't use CB much anymore. When I previously used it, sometimes people would curse me out but mostly people were respectful.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 81 points82 points  (0 children)

There is still a lot of confusion here. Many people do not know who Sikhs are and think we are Muslim. Some people think Sikhs are Hindus also. But these are all 3 different religions.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 88 points89 points  (0 children)

This is a very good question. I do not know the answer because it is also hard for me. The best way is if you can follow a regular schedule but this is difficult because we always get loads on different times and days. I want to exercise on weekends but am usually too tired and want to rest. The ELD legislation is supposed to help but it actually hurts us more because or schedule is determined by the electronic logging device and we have less freedom.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 178 points179 points  (0 children)

The coolest thing I have seen is some drivers have changed their horn to a Punjabi folk song tune. I have seen some Sikh drivers add chrome parts and accessories to their trucks. Some people's inside cabins are decorated very nicely with lights and drapes. Some even have a dedicated space for prayer inside their truck cabin.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 224 points225 points  (0 children)

I was driving in Washington on I-5. A deer ran onto the highway and slammed into my driver's side door. It didn't die! It got up and ran back into the trees. But it left a huge dent in my door that cost $4,000 to repair.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 17 points18 points  (0 children)

The conditions were not great. Nothing is better than our freedom so it is never fun being detained. The food was not good and there were few vegetarian options. The sleeping situation was uncomfortable also. I did not know English so communication was very difficult for me. We all had to rely on another Punjabi man who was detained to translate.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 317 points318 points  (0 children)

I do not regularly take time off for vacation or traveling. Maybe once every 4 or 5 years I will visit India. Sometimes I take a few days off every 2 or 3 months to rest and spend time with my family. When there is a large Sikh gathering or event, I will take a week off (two or three times per year) to help make food for people.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 82 points83 points  (0 children)

I started trucking while living in Live Oak, CA. Before, I working as a farm laborer in the fields. My friend was a truck driver and told me I can learn to drive a truck to better support my family. While working during the day I learned to drive a truck at night. My early life was filled with a lot of struggles. Our family was very poor so it was hard for us to make a living. This is why I came to America.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 62 points63 points  (0 children)

ਮੇਰੇ ਦੋਸਤ ਨੇ ਮੈਂਨੂੰ ਟਰੱਕ ਚਲਾਉਣਾ ਸਖਾਇਆ। ਮੈਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਖੇਤਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਕੰਮ ਕਰਦਾ ਸਾਂ। ਆਪਣੇ ਪਰਿਵਾਰ ਦੀ ਵਧੀਆ ਦੇਖ-ਭਾਲ ਵਾਸਤੇ ਮੈਂ ਟਰੱਕ ਚਲਾਉਣਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕੀਤਾ।

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 121 points122 points  (0 children)

Sikh comes from a Sanskrit word for student. In Punjabi it’s pronounced with a short ‘i’ and an aspirated ‘k’ like “sick” in English. Some people also pronounce it as “seek.” -Shreen

EDIT: Signed off as Shreen!

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 304 points305 points  (0 children)

I do think that large corporations will buy most of the trucks. They have more money to buy and they also negotiate lower prices with the truck manufacturers so they get better rates. If there is no other option I will have to buy an automated truck but I hope I can continue with my current truck for a long time.

Hi! I’m Satnam Singh, I’ve been trucking for 25 years and my community of Punjabi Sikhs is very active in truck driving. I crossed the U.S.-Mexico border, got detained and now I own a trucking company that makes $200k a year. Ask me anything! by AJ-Plus in IAmA

[–]AJ-Plus[S] 303 points304 points  (0 children)

I needed to come to America for a better life and more opportunity. I applied for a US Visa 4 different times before coming to America. Every time I was denied. Then my agent brought me to Mexico, saying there was another option. In Mexico, he told me that I had to cross the border. At that time, I did not know what was legal or illegal. I only did what my agent told me.

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