Newsman Dan Rather devotes his program to trucking tonight, June 8, in “Haul or High Water,” riding through five states with a long-haul trucker.

Rather rode with Don Wagner of Nevada, who got into trucking later in life and loves it, despite the bills piling up and few home visits. His wife, Leslie, runs Wagner’s Trucking at the home, booking hauls.

In 2005, the average trucker was earning just more than $35,000, or 30 percent less than before deregulation, while owner-operators average $22,000. Investors and freight brokers make the major profits in trucking, Rather noted.

“Dan Rather Reports – Haul or High Water” airs on HDNet at 8 p.m. EDT and will re-air at 11 p.m.