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September 14, 1999 8:36 AM, EDT

Sen. Max Baucus took Labor Day literally. Instead of spending the start of the holiday weekend chomping hot dogs at a political barbecue, the Democrat from Montana jumped behind the wheel of a tractor-trailer and pulled freight down Interstate 90.

Baucus spent Sept. 3 making the 350-mile run between Missoula and Billings in a truck owned by Watkins and Shepard Trucking of Missoula.

“I’ve always had a boyhood fantasy of driving a big rig,” the senator said. “Second, Montana is a highway state and trucking is so important to our economy. I also wanted to check the condition of the highways from a different perspective.”

Baucus was qualified to drive the five-axle unit because he had a learner’s commercial driver license and was accompanied by Tom Walter, driver safety supervisor for Watkins and Shepard.

For the full story, see the Sept. 13 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.