The Untold Truth of Jessica Samko From Shipping Wars

Jessica Samko is a 41 year-old American reality television star born on 1st June 1982. Jessica gained popularity for her role on the A&E network show Shipping Wars, where truck drivers come together to compete as they deliver goods through dangerous roads.

Jessica Samko was cast in the show’s sixth season in 2014 and stayed on through the seventh season. Her brief time on the show showcased the trucker girl as not just resilient but determined to make it to the top. Jessica won the hearts of fans in their millions and was soon bestowed with a befitting title, “The Road Warrior.” This was because she proved herself to be a queen of the road through her exceptional woman strength that earned the admiration of the viewing public.

How Old Is Jessica Samko, And Where Was She Born?

Jessica Samko is an early eighties child born in 1982, and the reality television star celebrates her birthday every 1st of June. The records captured her place of birth as Amsterdam, New York, which confers American citizenship on her. However, Jessica’s ancestry is traceable to Ukraine.

She spent a better part of her early life in NY, though the truck driver is now a Pennsylvanian resident. There is a dearth of info on her family background; she only revealed that her mum goes by the name Christina Buczkowski but never mentioned her dad or the professions of both parents.

Perhaps, this may be because they are divorced, and Christina has long married another man called Kevin Buczkowski. Jessica didn’t grow up as a lone child; she built childhood memories with a brother known as Matthew, aka Samko. Matthew was a one-time truck driver with Hill and Markes, Inc but is presently engaged as a realtor; his current base is in Fort Myers, Florida.

Talking about Matthew’s alias, Samko, the name does ring a bell; perhaps that is where Jessica got her stage name from. Jessica Samko has never spoken about her academic history but, going by what is available, and she acquired basic education in one of the local schools in her place of birth, Amsterdam.

It is not known whether she attended college or ended her academic pursuit at the high school level. Some insight into her life says the trucker girl loves riding motorcycles and she equally loves going to rock concerts because it gives her energy. Little wonder she chose to go for a male-dominated profession.

Jessica has Always Been In the Trucking Business All Her Adult Life

Jessica Samko is one American lady that takes pride in being a trucker girl. Since she was a little girl, the Amsterdam native has always known that she would become a truck driver someday and spend the rest of her life hopping on to big trucks and delivering goods all over the country.

Samko’s decision to join the trucking business was influenced by her adventurous nature. In addition, her childhood dreams were all about traveling across the globe as a worker on a cruise; thus, she was left with two options, a truck or a cruise ship. The decision was taken out of her hands after she started dating a male trucker, and needless to say, the truck won the contest against the cruise ship.

Talking to OverdriveOnline about her experience behind the steering of big trucks, Samko described it as the best of both worlds. According to the trucker girl, she gets to see the country while doing what she likes, and getting to do this with her boyfriend was just the icing on the cake.

The female truck driver first worked for Landstar, delivering goods countrywide; she joined Derek Smith, her husband, at his trucking company, DMS Transport LLC, and after she got divorced from him, she launched her own one-man business.

Jessica Samko As A Trucking CEO

After she decided to do her own thing, Jessica Samko didn’t have the wherewithal to procure her own truck. Thus, the aspiring CEO went back to Landstar, where she made a business arrangement to lease a truck from them. A tough, smart, and dedicated woman like Jessica isn’t built to fail in any venture, and the New Yorker proved her mettle in the male-dominated world of the trucking industry. Jessica is definitely in this business to win.

After a short while, she saved up to purchase her truck and launched what is today known as the JMS Transport LLC, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the United States. Jessica Samko’s trucking business is still in the teething stage, and as of now, she is the company’s sole driver, though she harbors plans to broaden her horizon when the business grows bigger.

Samko is sure having a good time on the road delivering goods from one part of the country to the other. The tough New Yorker doesn’t travel alone; she always takes her two pooches, Oogie and Wilson, to keep her company. The two dogs have since become the trucker girl’s frequent travel buddies. She would always say, “It’s just me, the truck, and the road.”

How Did Jessica Samko Join Shipping Wars?

Jessica Samko’s appearance on the set of the sixth season of the reality television show Shipping War in 2014 has an interesting story behind it. When her then-boyfriend Derek Smith saw how determined and resilient Samko was, he suggested that she try joining the Overdrive contest. As of then, the competition was already teaming with other female contestants who had joined ahead of time.

Thanks to Jessica’s picture, she was considered for the show. While casting for seasons six and seven of Shipping Wars, one of the A&E network producers stumbled on the New Yorker’s photos and proceeded to place a call to Jessica. The call turned out to be a lifetime opportunity for the aspiring reality television star who grabbed it with both hands.

She was eventually cast in the next two seasons of the reality TV show. Within a short while on set, Jessica’s uncompromising attitude distinguished her from the other contestants. The same attitude worked like a magnet, drawing millions of fans who constantly rooted for her.

As the show continued to unfold, Jessica’s fans were always eager to see more of the reality star. However, the show didn’t last, as it was canceled in 2015 due to financial issues. This global fame wouldn’t have been possible without Overdrive. Samco didn’t forget to express her heartfelt gratitude for giving her the exposure to realize her dreams of becoming a celebrity trucker girl.

How much Did Shipping Wars Enrich Jessica Samko?

Jessica Samko’s paycheck for the role she played in Shipping Wars was described as hefty; however, the exact amount has never been mentioned in public space. The New York native was just a lady trying to earn a living in the trucking industry before fortune smiled on her.

Her salary as a driver with the likes of Landstar was nothing compared to her bottom line after the payment from the reality show hit her account. With all the income she has been earning for several years as a transporter, the payment from the show, and the revenue generated from her own trucking company JMC, Jessica is said to have a net worth of $750,000.

The resilient trucker girl is sure inching toward the one million milestones, and from the way she is going, Jessica is sure to hit it sooner than later.

The Reality TV Sar Won Millions Of Hearts On The Set of Shipping Wars

The limelight that Jessica Samko enjoyed as a cast of Shipping Wars didn’t materialize in seconds. The reality TV star had to work hard for any accolades she got. It was her natural ability to impress the viewing public that did the trick. She may not be the best truck driver by experience, but Jessica displayed the perfect attitude on set.

Viewers soon distinguished the New Yorker as the type that loves to get the job done and on time too. She showed fans that she was there to deliver and never to play. She painted the picture of a rugged trucker girl with a formidable attitude and charisma, seamlessly transporting goods that no one else would agree to carry on dangerous roads.

Those who would have ignored Samko had to admit that she was the right woman for the job, thanks to her natural ability to act tough and thoughtful in any situation that presented itself, including very difficult ones. Jessica just impressed fans and critics alike with her exceptional display of woman’s strength. In fact, she drove a 208 Volvo 780 while her fellow contestants could only manage trucks below class 8.

Before the show was canceled, Jessica Samko’s fans dubbed her “The Road Warrior.” In fact, she became a role model for all strong women out there, winning millions of hearts in the process. Many women saw the trucker girl in the light of what they wished to be but couldn’t try. She came across as daring, challenging, and highly outspoken; the female truck driver never shied away from saying things exactly the way they were. Little wonder fans still remember her seven years after the show ended.

She does not appear to be the type that loves to grab attention on social media platforms, but the reality television star still retains some diehard fans to date. Many of them follow her on Twitter, and even though she is yet to share any tweets on her handle, Jessica has succeeded in accumulating over 3000 people who still follow her on the platform. The reality star cannot be found on any other social media platform.

Who Is Jessica Samko’s Husband?

The name of Jessica Samko’s husband has been revealed as Derek Smith. According to reports, like his spouse, Derek is also into the trucking business. Though he formerly worked with some trucking companies, Smith is now his own boss. He is credited as the owner of DMS Transport company, where Samko worked before deciding to float her own company.

The story of how the two met has never been discussed in public, but being in the same business, fans assume that they must have first crossed paths in the line of duty. Also, we were not intimated about how long they dated, but the lovebirds later took things a notch higher when they became officially engaged.

In the same vein, the details of their union are unknown, but the couple did make it to the altar, and by the time Jessica starred in Shipping Wars, the New Yorker came on set as a married woman; Mrs. Derek Smith. However, married life didn’t last very long for the two truckers, and they had to go their separate ways for undisclosed reasons.

The couple did not mention how long they lasted together as man and wife and did not have any children. Since her divorce from Smith, Jessica Samko seem to be enjoying life as a single lady. She is not in a rush to test matrimony for the second time. The American lady loves to spend quality time with her pugs, Oogie and Wilson, who accompany her everywhere, even when she is running her truck delivery services.

Where is Jessica Samko Now?

After the A&E network show was canceled in 2015, all the cast members were dismissed as they went about their different endeavors. Since then, fans of the reality show have been full of questions regarding the whereabouts of their favorite contestants.

In Jessica Samko’s case, her teeming fans wanted to know if she went back to work in the trucking industry or found a more feminine venture. They also wanted to know if she was still married to her husband, Derek Smith. These speculations about her current whereabouts lingered until February 2022, when they heard from the horse’s mouth.

Samco took to Facebook to inform fans that she is still part and parcel of the trucking industry. According to Jessica, she has a roof over her head and a good job providing for her needs, her boys (the two pugs) are happy, and she is very close to her family.

Answering the questions about her personal life, Samko publicly affirmed that she wished to remain single. She is investing quality time in her career, especially now that she has become her own boss. From what is perceivable, the rugged trucker girl doesn’t have the luxury of time to waste on romance.

Key Facts About Jessica Samko

1. Who is Jessica Samko? Jessica Samko is an American-born reality TV star and female trucker, known for featuring in Shipping Wars, the A&E reality show. She also runs her own transport company, JMS Transport.
2. When and where was Jessica Samko born? Jessica Samko was born on June 1, 1982, in Amsterdam, New York, USA.
3. What nationality is Jessica Samko? Being born in Amsterdam, New York, USA, Jessica Samko holds American citizenship.
4. Who are Jessica Samko’s parents? Jessica Samko’s mother is Christina Buczkowki. Information about her father is currently unknown.
5. Does Jessica Samko have any siblings? Jessica has a brother named Matthew, a one-time truck driver and now a realtor based in Florida.
6. What sparked Jessica Samko’s interest in trucking? Jessica developed a love for trucking at a young age, which later turned into her career. She enjoys the adventure of trucking and being able to see the country while doing what she loves.
7. Where did Jessica Samko start her career? Jessica first worked for Landstar, delivering goods countrywide. She later joined DMS Transport LLC, her ex-husband Derek Smith’s trucking company. After their divorce, she launched her own business, JMS Transport LLC.
8. Why did Jessica Samko join Shipping Wars? Jessica’s ex-husband, Derek Smith, convinced her to join Shipping Wars due to her obsession with trucks. She joined during the show’s sixth season.
9. Who is Jessica Samko’s ex-husband? Jessica Samko’s ex-husband is Derek Smith, who is also involved in the trucking industry.
10. Is Jessica Samko currently married? No, Jessica Samko is currently single and intends to focus more on her career.
11. How tall is Jessica Samko? Jessica Samko is 172 cm tall and weighs 60 kg.
12. What is Jessica Samko’s net worth? Jessica Samko’s net worth is $750,000 and her salary was reported as hefty during her time on Shipping Wars.
13. What happened to Jessica Samko after Shipping Wars? After Shipping Wars ended, Jessica Samko continued to run her trucking business, JMS Transport LLC.