Hello from Long Beach, California. I made the cross-country trip from my office in Washington, D.C., to see the San Pedro Bay ports with my own eyes. The view from my hotel window is of loitering ships.

There was a beautiful sunset Wednesday. Against that backdrop, I saw mountains of empty containers. I saw the potential for sky-high detention fees. I saw empty gates where trucks were likely missing appointments in real time.

But if I didn't know what to look for, I likely wouldn't have seen anything out of place. Even with all eyes on trucking these days, does the general public truly understand what they're seeing?

It might not matter how accessible the industry is to the average person, except that public opinion often drives legislation. In a place such as California — where the potential for worker classification and zero-emissions policies loom, and port infrastructure demands investment — a little more understanding might go a long way.

Below, I've put together a collection of stories that explore trucking's image. Very little about the West Coast port situation is within trucking's control. But the industry can work to evolve its reputation.