The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance attracts car lovers from far and wide. But they wouldn’t have anything to look at if it weren’t for the truck drivers transporting those million-dollar vehicles. And it turns out they are just as crazy about the cars as the collectors.


“I’ve always liked automobiles. It’s something I was brought up around as a kid,” says Steve Baravella, who estimates that he has hauled over 6,000 cars during his 16 years driving for Intercity Lines, Inc. “I was born and raised in the muscle car era, like all the Baby Boomers, so those in particular interest me.”


In the trucking industry, transporting collectible cars is often seen as the “ultimate job” – an apex of responsibility and reward. (Most drivers start by hauling refrigerated foodstuffs and mass merchandise.) For many, simply working with the unique and impressive vehicles keeps things exciting.


“This is pretty much my dream job,” says Randy Kramer, another Intercity trucker of almost 25 years. “I love just being around the classic cars.”


However, hauling such valuable cargo – Kramer once drove two vintage 1930s Bugatti sports cars each worth $30 million – can pay about a third more than most other types of trucking. It’s a gig that many drivers are working toward and retire with, leaving little room for newcomers to break into the business.


As is typical, Baravella had more than 10 years of driving experience when he began hauling antique automobiles. After inquiring about a job at Intercity, he had to wait several years for a position to become available. “When the opportunity finally came up, I grabbed it right away,” he says.


With the pricey vehicles come elevated stakes and demands as well. There is no leeway for damaged goods. Cars are covered in two layers of plastic and strapped down by all four tires to keep them safe during the long journeys; drivers check on the cargo every few hours to make sure it is still “riding safe.” In particular, they must take the utmost caution during loading and unloading.


“There’s a lot of planning involved in it: How do you get the vehicles in the truck? Are they going to fit? What’s the right sequence for delivery?” Baravella says. “You have to fit the pieces like a puzzle.”


It took Baravella about three years to get comfortable with the procedure as he gradually familiarized himself with the types of cars he was transporting.


Additionally, an annual circuit of auctions and Concours-like events, as well the complex logistics of constant multi-destination cross-country hauls, can keep drivers on the road for over 300 days of the year. Typical truckers usually drive more straightforward routes and get more frequent breaks at home.


Mike White, a 32-year veteran of Reliable Carriers, Inc., spends about 48 weeks hauling. He works in a partnership with his wife, Cindy, which he says makes the job easier to do well, as well as more pleasant.


Still, the long hours can become physically and emotionally draining, which is why he is in it for more than the basic monetary benefits. “We do it because we really enjoy it,” he says.


This is a sentiment that Kramer understands well.


“You’re out pretty much the whole summer long, as far as home time goes,” he says. “You really have to love cars or be a car guy to be good at a job like this.”


One perk is the chance to attend the auto shows. 


“Pebble Beach is pretty much the grandaddy of them all,” Kramer says. “You don’t see these types of cars anywhere else.”


“This is the show we wait for every year,” adds White. “The whole atmosphere of it is very well run and the city does a great job. I love eating on the wharf and hearing the seals.”


It also represents a nice social outlet, a respite from an often very solitary business.


“It’s a small world in this type of trucking,” Kramer says. “Meeting up with people year after year at these events is like a big reunion.”