I’m writing in response to the “Hit the road, Jake” article. It never fails to surprise me how selfish some of our county residents are, and how ignorant most people are about the importance of the trucking industry.

Some 98 percent of everything you consume or use on a daily basis is moved by truck. If you stop trucking you would cripple this country in a matter of days. No more gas for your car, no more food for your table — you get the idea.

I am a truck driver and I’ve seen this kind of prejudice many times, big trucks make noise and if you don’t want to hear it you shouldn’t live by the highway. Did anyone complaining consider the inconvenience that the truckers are brought to bear or the added cost to the companies that have to use this detour? Probably not, and the safety factor for the highway workers probably slipped your minds.

Interstate commerce (the trucking industry) is a vital part of our economy, so we should all be a little more considerate of its most public face: big trucks. Keep in mind: It’s only temporary and without trucks our economy would certainly fail completely.

Anthony H. Sedgwick

Penn Valley