From Art Major to Owner-Operator, Bethany Lyn Hunt Finds Her Calling in Trucking
In recognition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Kenworth is celebrating the drivers whose passion, professionalism and unique stories help define the trucking industry. Among them is Bethany Lyn Hunt, a proud owner-operator who hauls freight in her peach-colored 2026 Kenworth W900L, aptly named ‘Peachy Queen.’
Hunt’s path to trucking was anything but conventional. She began as an art major in college but made an 180-degree pivot and found her calling behind the wheel of a commercial truck. And while Hunt may not have pursued a career in art, she’s mastered the art of storytelling through the videos she posts online about life as a professional driver.
Anyone who has spent time watching trucking content online has likely come across Bethany Lyn Hunt’s videos. Hunt has established an impressive following, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers and followers across her accounts.
Her videos, which focus on highlighting the ins and outs of what it is like to be an owner-operator, capture the daily tasks, rewards and challenges, as well as the routes and scenery she takes in while traveling the country.
“I never expected the interest or following that I’ve gained since I started posting the videos,” said Hunt. “A few years ago, I started posting short videos on TikTok as a way to connect with my family back home in New Hampshire so they could keep tabs on what I was up to on the road,” Hunt recalled. “That later led to creating long-form content on YouTube to share more about my life and trucking. I never expected that my videos would resonate with so many people or that I would gain a following. It’s been a fun experience, and I hope they inspire others to join the industry.”
Hunt, who hauls flatbed freight such as fertilizer, animal feed, and building materials, operates primarily in the Western half of the U.S. She is currently a leased owner-operator with Z White Trucking, based in Central Valley, Utah, while she works toward establishing her own ability to become fully independent.
But getting to where she is today started far from the cab of a Class 8 truck. When Hunt attended the University of New Hampshire, she became a part-time bus driver on campus, a role she held for three years. That experience sparked a newfound passion for driving, so instead of pursuing a career in art after school, she moved to Colorado and later got a job as a local box truck delivery driver. Hunt had a calling to drive bigger, heavier trucks on the open road, so after three years of delivering produce in the Colorado mountains, she went back to school to upgrade her license to a Class A CDL.
“One day at an intersection in Denver I saw a Class 8 truck drive by me and make a tight buttonhook turn, and I thought to myself, ‘that looks more fun,’” she recalled. “The lifestyle of being an over-the-road driver and traveling the country in a big rig was really appealing to me.”
After four years as a company driver, hauling reefer and flatbed loads, Hunt was ready to take the next step in her career. In 2023, she met her then-partner, whose family was in trucking in Utah. Through that connection, Hunt purchased her first truck, a 2018 mint-green Kenworth W900L, from a family member. The move marked her transition from company driver to owner-operator.
“I drove a Kenworth T680 for a while as a company driver and really liked it, but when I got into the W9, I just fell in love with it,” Hunt said. “I never imagined I would buy my own truck, but I’m so glad I took that next step to advance my career.”
After establishing herself as an owner-operator in a 2018 W900L, Hunt made the move to her current 2026 W900L, which she took delivery of last year. The truck is equipped with a 72-inch Aerodyne sleeper, a 565-horsepower engine, and you guessed it, an 18-speed manual transmission. Hunt’s inspiration for a peach-colored truck came from seeing another truck with a similar paint scheme, and she felt the vibrant color perfectly matched the ‘sunshine vibe’ of operating on the West Coast.
According to Hunt, the W900 perfectly encapsulates what it means to be a trucker. “There’s just something about the W9 – I think it romanticizes being a truck driver,” she said. “From the classic look of the long hood to the way you feel driving an 18-speed manual, there’s so much nostalgia and an old-school mentality that you get from being on the road in a truck that has maintained the same look and has been an icon in the industry for so many years.”
Hunt’s unique peach-colored truck was recently featured at the annual Kenworth Truck Parade in Chillicothe, Ohio, this past summer. During the event, Hunt had the opportunity to tour Kenworth’s largest manufacturing plant and meet with proud Kenworth truck owners from across America.
“This was the first time I’ve ever participated in a truck parade, and it was so much fun to meet all the amazing Kenworth plant employees and drivers at the event,” Hunt said. “My family came in from New Hampshire, so it was so fun to experience this with them. And seeing the plant was very cool – seeing the process behind how Kenworth trucks are built from start to finish. You could feel the sense of pride the employees have in building these trucks.”
For Hunt, sharing her experiences on the road is about more than showcasing her truck or giving people a glimpse into the life of a professional driver. She hopes her stories can help show others that there are many different paths into trucking. That a profession behind the wheel can offer opportunities to travel, build independence and become a career that is genuinely rewarding. Whether she’s sharing the challenges of the job, showcasing a scenic stretch of highway or simply documenting another day with Peachy Queen, Hunt wants her content to give people an authentic look at the industry.
Her advice to anyone considering a career in trucking is to do their homework before choosing a path. “Research is really important,” Hunt said. “Figure out what interests you. Then research the companies that fit what you’re looking for and what you want out of your career.”
Beyond that, she emphasizes the importance of being hardworking and, perhaps most importantly, having a genuine love for driving. For Hunt, that combination of preparation, hard work and passion for being behind the wheel has helped turn an unexpected career path into a journey she hopes will inspire others to hit the road.
