I am a student researching information about particular subcultures and the trucker culture was an idea that had been brought up. I wanted to get your opinion if it was possible to tag along for a few hours with a local truck driver and interview them about the life of a driver. And if I were to do this, what would be the safest and best way of arranging such an interview? thank you for your feedback

I wonder why you would classify truckers as a "culture", or even a sub-culture.
We are just doing a job that most americans won't do.
Would you consider masons as a sub-culture too?
How about timber-cutters?
Police?

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Trucking is more than a job, it is a lifestyle. Trucking alters your non-working life more than most careers. That could be a basis for catagorizing it as a sub-culture. Not everyone can do the job.

Now this has been bothering me, since I first saw it. When you see "Sub" don't you think under? Or less?

So Sub Culture sounds like it infers a lesser culture. Its misleading, perhaps a better term needs to be applied.

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Once, so long ago, as dreams floated by on clouds, the simplicity of our happiness was almost missed.

Well......

I won't get into the "sub-culture" remark, although I will state you might have poorly worded that when asking an unknown group about themselves. (I suggest adding a business speech course to your curriculum. You will be very surprised how business speech corralates to everday use than other speech classes.) I do know that you did not mean to offend with the wording, but you must understand that you must choose your words "wisely" when communicating with others.

Ok, getting on to the meat of your question.

First, you will probably not learn much as to what I think you are trying to get information about by looking for local drivers.

Local driving and over-the-road driving are 2 completely different "cultures".

Local guys (and gals) tend to get home everyday, weekends off, and spend very little time in truckstops and reststops. They usually don't have to deal with scales, etc. This is why most over-the-road companies don't hire local drivers as "experienced" and make them go through the same training as new drivers.

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"I must say as to what I have seen of Texas, it is the garden spot of the world, the best land and the best prospects for health I ever saw, and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here" - Davey Crockett

also as far as getting out on the road, there are insurance concerns to think about. as far as tagging along, bib poppa has it right on the 2 different types of trucking. local drivers are more often large volume delivery to construction work sites and local stores from distributors (Pepsi and Budweiser). to realy get a view of the "trucker sub-culture" if your looking for an interview, refine your speech and hit a local truck stop. some drivers might be helpful and some might not.

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Definition of subculture
sub·culture·n. 1. A cultural subgroup differentiated by status, ethnic background, residence, religion, or other factors that functionally unify the group and act collectively on each member.

I don't believe truckers can be labeled as a subculture.

So then if I eat at Subway, Iam not getting my Money's worth?

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The prefix "sub" does not bother me as used here. In some instances, I agree it CAN suggest inferiority. But in other cases, it just signifies something that is a part of a larger entity... something that has its own purpose or intent, but is part of a larger purpose.

For example, a subcommittee... or a subdirectory. They are not necessarily inferior or of lesser value, but rather created as part of a larger unit.

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Thank you all for your help and I am sorry if I have offended anyone but usually the subculture term is used to describe a group of people that can be viewed as having a different lifestyle than the general public. I think most everyone could be looked at as being part of a subculture whether they're aware of it or not. Subcultures many times have individual dress, speech, food, and ideas that are not shared by the rest of the public. For example, policemen have their own uniforms, slang and eating habits that is shared among most of them and people outside of the force would not be a part of this culture being shared. I was thinking that a truck stop is a good idea and I will definitely try it. Thank you again.