Questions to Truckers... For a fiction story!

Hi everyone! I am not a trucker... But I am a writer, and I'm looking to write a story with a trucker as the main protagonist. A goal of mine with this story is to really showcase the life of the protagonist, while respecting and paying tribute to all of you who help the world turn!

Any experiences, things most people wouldn't think about but are interesting, etc. In relation to trucking would be greatly appreciated! Whatever you would like to share. I want to really understand what it's like, or at least gain a better understanding of the job than I currently do. If you need ideas, I posted this thread to reddit yesterday.

I also have a few specific questions:

- I'm from the western US, and driving down those one or two lane stretches of highway (Such as I-15, I-80) where there's seemingly nothing but wilderness for miles, and on road trips it gives me almost a bit of dread. Like my tiny car is going to break down and I'm going to be stranded in this wilderness. I know it's an irrational fear, and that in the modern day there's lots of ways to get help, but is this a common feeling? At the same time, that open expanse of highway awes and excites me! It's a fear of the unknown, mixed with a curiosity and excitement of seeing new things. I feel the same way thinking about the ocean, and outer space. Does this feeling diminish after you've driven those highways time after time? Does it stay the same? Is it there for some of you at all? Is there a different feeling you get when driving?

- What is the culture around trucking like? I've seen on social media that radio is used to communicate with other truckers. Is that still common, or less so? Is there a feeling of community, or more "Everyone is independent from each other"? Do you often interact with other truckers when not on the road? Is sharing stories, or tips about the job, common?

- I haven't done much research on this and intend to do more, but do you often drive with the same company for multiple trips? Or is trucking more like freelance work, where you pick up jobs as you go, with different companies?

Thanks in advance. I appreciate any answers or comments you may have. I understand that everyone is different, and am not expecting a single, solid answer to any of these, but having a variety of responses to look through would help greatly. Much appreciated!