I 
My Satellite Radio
Ahh, the joys of satellite radio. Now that I have one, purchased this past summer, I can understand why so many drivers have become devoted fans of the satellite networks, and why fleets are giving them a closer look as an add-on benefit for their drivers.
These days, nothing and no one comes between me and my satellite radio. Pity the fool who tries.
I am on the road a lot, not so much as long haulers, but frequently for days at a time. Before acquiring my new entertainment source, I rarely listened to the radio. The reason: A decent signal eventually disappeared somewhere down the road and I would have to go in search of a new one. Sometimes the only stations I could get I didn't want to hear anyway. Instead I relied on big cases of CDsÜ expensive, easily damaged, quick to bore.
Now I am a reformed "signal surfer," and likely a safer one. Drivers who use regular radio fiddle with the tuner 11 minutes every hour in search of a station they want to listen to - this according to a study related to me by a satellite radio spokesperson.
With satellite radio, you can't lose a channel or a stream. Whatever you listen to stays with you coast to coast.
Now the miles seem to fly by. Besides the boundless buffet of commercial-free music choices, a host of options await, including news and live sports broadcasts, real time weather reports from cities across the country, and a broad variety of entertainment, from old radio dramas to comedy - even the latest Hollywood gossip.
The sheer variety of interesting material helps keeps me focused. Not a replacement for a nap of course, but mentally stimulating and invigorating nonetheless.
Finally I understand the years of cheers for this product from trucker friends and fellow driver editor Dave Sweetman who hooked up with satellite radio three years ago, when it was still considered an exotic electronic wundertoy.
Both Sirius and XM are on board his truck. Why both? He favors the four National Public Radio channels on Sirius and loves the "inventive programming" on XM's "Deep Tracks." He uses weather/traffic information on both to get all the details he needs.
Sweetman says, "I like my toys, but satellite radio is more than a diversion, it is a useful working tool. It's amazing that I can plan my way around a city from a hundred miles away because these reports are in real time. I know to avoid a wreck on the Baltimore Beltway or a ball game in St. Louis."
Finally, "Satellite radio saves my cookies every time I deal with L.A. traffic."
- Bette Garber
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