64 10-4 Magazine / August 2026 the only days off are when the regular roads are too bad to get to the job site. Living in these mountains and working in the mines has been a way of life for centuries. Driving on these steep and treacherous mine roads, it reminds me of the drivers who haul logs out of the mountains in the northwest. Both types of drivers must have nerves of steel and plenty of talent to get down the mountain safely, time after time. At some point, Jonathan made the comment, “Trucks haul money.” I hadn’t really thought about it like that before, but I have to agree, they do. And these “coal buckets” roll coal out of the mines all day long. And although it is some of the toughest and dirtiest work, both of these families are very proud of their equipment and keep them looking top notch. These friendships are forged in time, and helping each other is more than a kind gesture – it’s a way of life for these families (and others) that work at these vital coal mines, in their small mountain town in Virginia. n
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