Long-distance drivers get their due when makeover mania hits the road

Following in the tire tracks of “Overhaulin’,” “Pimp My Ride,” “American Chopper,” and “Monster Garage,” CMT’s new “Trick My Truck” is taking big rigs from rags to riches.

While most of us can’t imagine living life out of a truck cab, for millions of truck drivers across the country, that cab is their second home.

But sometimes that home isn’t in the best of shape and could use a little remodeling.

In each episode, the crew snatches a truck from its owner at a truck stop. The owner, who is nominated by a friend or family member, is given a slick new loaner so that they don’t lose any time on the job while the men with the tools and the talent go to work “trickin’ ” the truck.

Before the premiere episode hit television screens earlier this month, the show was hyped up in trucker magazines and publications across the country.

Tenfourmagazine.com headlined “Finally, something on TV for truckers.”

Each truck gets a makeover – inside and out – worth up to $80,000.

“We’re talking some radical concepts and themes – not just a little chrome and paint,” the Tenfour.com article said.

All eight trucks completed so far were overhauled by the best in the business from 4 State Trucks, Pickett Custom Trucks, and “the boyz” of Chrome Shop Mafia.

For most of the crew, this isn’t the first time their truckin’ talent has attracted attention.

Ryno is proud of the fact that he’ll paint anything for cash, but its his workmanship and style that turned heads in the industry and led him to paint all the bikes for the movie “Biker Boyz.”

But the show’s not all about looks. According to CMT’s Web site, Mafia crew member Rob is “one of the best audio installers in the country” who will do anything to “make his designs jump out and bite you.”

I must admit, as a country girl at heart, I was little jealous and wouldn’t mind a spin in one of these tricked-out rides.