Fanatical Truck Expert Robb Mariani To Host New “AMERICAN TRUCKER” TV Show

From: Protruckeronline.com

This month, Brentwood Communications International, Inc will be premiering a new TV series on SPEED called AMERICAN TRUCKER. Hosted by designer/artist and fanatical truck expert Robb Mariani, a finalist on HGTV’s Design Star, this new show introduces the audience to iconic trucks, the famous routes they followed and the cargo missions that made history. Robb was a natural choice to host the show, which will premiere on Thursday, February 24th.

Before he could walk, Mariani’s parents had a motor home and would take him and his brothers and sisters all over the USA during the late 60’s – mid 80’s. Robb’s earliest memories were of being on the US Interstates and seeing all the “golden era” big rigs on the road – not to mention seeing them parked at the truck stops. Something struck a chord deep in his soul. The trucks were so unique. Each one was different from the next and seemed to take on an identity of power and freedom. Each truck driver he would see was like seeing a super hero – their rig was their super power.

He began drawing at a very early age – somewhere around 4. Mariani developed an inclination for pleasing an audience through artistic expression, and drawing diesel trucks was always his first choice, namely because it was all I had on his mind.

In his boyhood years, he developed an insatiable appetite for scale model building. The main passion was for big rig kits, as he wanted to be a trucker when he “grew up.” He would work for my Grandma – save newspapers and aluminum cans from her tavern, mow lawns, and paint garages – whatever he could in order to finance the big rig model kits he had to have. Each one became an extension of his “over-the-road” desires.

Kenworths, Peterbilts, White Freightliners, Internationals, Macks – he had his own fleet and could see himself driving them all over the nation.

In high school, Mariani received recognition for one of his pencil drawings. It was published in a state calendar (one of twelve winning entries). He also earned honors for numerous art contests from around his home state of Wisconsin, and even got in a national competition in New York City. He liked being competitive in the creative arts, and strived for more. After high school, Robb studied graphic design for three years in college. When he was in school, Robb got a job at a local trucking company as a loader – a job he hated, yet loved! He once had a load of glass fall off a truck and smash over his head! “I thought I was going to die, I’ll never forget it,” Mariani said. “Working on a dock is serious business. The main reason I wanted that job was the high wage it paid, and the chance to be around all the trucks!”

Robb was taught how to drive the rigs in order to hook up the tractors to the correct trailers for loading. The first truck he ever drove was a 1975 Mack Cruiseliner with a 300 Maxidyne and a 5 speed. “I thought I was Cool in that cabover Mack, but needless to say, my plans for becoming a trucker took an exit,” Robb stated. “I followed my art skills and made it my career, but never lost my fervor for American big rigs.”

With the advent of the internet, Mariani found himself scouring every site or chat room in search of his favorite trucker films, truck pictures, truck stories, trucker items – you name it, he went after it! But then he decided that the pictures and information were no longer enough.

Considering that he loved the movie White Line Fever from 1975 and the “Blue Mule” Ford cabover that co-starred along with Jan Michael Vincent, he set my sights on finding that movie truck, or one just like it. Why? “I was not a trucker; I did not own a trucking company, but it did not matter – I needed a Ford W Series big rig!” Mariani said. “Years went by and I found one for sale in Tennessee and bought it! I guess I just wanted to restore the truck in order to preserve a portion of my childhood.”

Considering that the trucking industry had changed so dramatically from his motor home traveling days, somehow that old truck called to him. Mariani is a renaissance man for the golden era of American Trucking. Old trucks sitting in a field once played a vital role in the lives of American families.

Someone once designed the trucks; people were employed to build the trucks; someone made a living selling the trucks; truckers took out a loan to purchase the trucks. Countless hours were spent driving the trucks, delivering untold amounts of goods to untold destinations – most of it completely anonymously. The stories of the truckers that maintained the trucks mile after mile go on and on. Perhaps one of those old rigs now sits and rusts? I (and thousands of others that feel the way he does about trucks) wanted to do something to preserve those old road ghosts – those old American big rigs and all the stories of the American Trucker.

Trucks may have changed, but Robb hasn’t. The open road is still the same in trucking today as it was when it all began. Merle Haggard summed it up best; white line fever, a sickness born down deep within my soul . . .

You can experience Mariani passion for big rigs by watching American Trucker each Thursday at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET. The two 30-minute episodes are produced by BCII Productions, who you may recognize from Overhaulin’, Livin’ the Low Life, Payback, and Hot Rod TV.s

You can see an advance sneak-peak clip from the show at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYQ9klPp-9E.