When trucking companies look to recruit new drivers, they typically promote the money that can be made, and the freedom associated with the driving lifestyle. After discovering some past truckers, they may want to start emphasizing the star-making qualities of the job.

As evidence, they can point to a number of celebrities who began their career behind the wheel before going on to stardom:

1. Elvis Presley – The King of Rock and Roll drove a truck for an electric company while cutting his first records at Sun Studios in Memphis.

2. Liam Neeson – After dropping out of college, this Irish-born actor was a truck driver and forklift operator for Guinness before switching to acting full-time.

3. Viggo Mortensen -- The actor best known for his role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy drove a truck for a while in Denmark.

4. Sean Connery – Before he had a license to kill as James Bond, this actor had a commercial driver’s license. His father was a truck driver and in a case of “like father, like son,” Connery drove a truck after being discharged from the Royal Navy.

5. Richard Pryor – This late comedian drove trucks before joining the U.S. Army in 1958.

6. Chevy Chase – Before Saturday Night Live, Chase worked as a truck driver, construction worker, motorcycle messenger, and waiter.

7. James Cameron – The director of Titanic and Avatar was working as a truck driver and studying film when he saw Star Wars in 1977. Inspired to make movies his career, he quit driving.

8. Rock Hudson – Hudson supported himself as a truck driver while trying to make it as an actor in Hollywood.

9. Charles Bronson – This tough guy actor drove trucks while serving in the Army Air Corps during World War II. 

And then there is…

10. Karl Malone, the rare celebrity who turned to trucking after his career. The NBA Hall of Famer started a trucking firm in Utah after ending his basketball career in 2004.

Whether trucking has been a starting point, ending point, or life-long career for you; it is an honorable job choice. Just think, these names may not be recognizable had trucking not given them financial stability for that period of time. Who knows, the next Elvis Presley may be transporting goods as we speak!

Join the discussion in the comments! Are there any celebrities we missed?

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