HALSEY - With spring's arrival, Dan Aldridge yearns for the open road, guiding an 18-wheeler to destinations near and far. But for the rest of the year, he's content to watch giant trucks from the window in his barber shop at the Pioneer Villa Truck Stop.

For 19 years, the Vancouver, Wash., native drove long-haul flatbeds through 48 states. But nine years ago, he turned in his log book for a set of sharp clippers. Seven years ago he opened shop at Pioneer Villa at the Halsey-Brownsville interchange on Interstate 5.

"My former long-haul team driver's mother had been a truck driver and then went to beauty school," said Aldridge, 55. "We decided it was time to get off the road, and we both went to barber school. Five of his family members are barbers. He worked at a shop in Springfield for a couple of years and then went back to driving. I stuck with it."

Aldridge said he was prepared to listen to "truck driver war stories," when he first opened the small shop at the corner of the truck stop lot.

"But, that's not what happened," he said. "I have customers from all over the country and we usually talk about their families, their home remodeling projects or things like that. It's fun because I learn something new about different regions of the country."

Aldridge also gets local customers from Halsey, Brownsville and Sweet Home, but says that business has slowed a bit due to a down economy and escalating fuel prices.

"When money gets tight, parents buy a set of clippers and Mom buzz-cuts her kids' hair," Aldridge said. "We've also lost some senior citizens who have moved into care centers out of the area."

But despite its challenges, Aldridge said he enjoys his work.

"The only person who can chew me out is myself - I'm my own boss," he said.

The shop is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Haircuts range from $7 to $9 and daily business varies greatly.

Aldridge said early in his career he tried the corporate world and managed two large businesses in Washington. He then spent nearly two decades on the road, traveling through all 48 contiguous states.

"I miss it in the spring, then I think about having to chain up tires in the snow of winter and that thinking goes away quickly," Aldridge said.

Divorced, Aldridge is the father of two sons who live in St. Helens. He lives on the truck stop property and also acts as security and management. In his off work time, he enjoys playing concert piano for family and friends.

An aspect of the job that Aldridge particularly enjoys is never knowing who's going to walk through the door of his two-chair shop. It keeps each day interesting.