Third-Generation Trucker • Storyteller • Entertainer
About Swampy Merritt
Raised in Madison County, Florida, Swampy Merritt is a third-generation trucker with 23 years of experience. His Southern roots, life behind the wheel, love of country music, and appreciation for a well-told story are the foundation of Pulpwood Productions.
Raised by the Road
A Family Trucking Legacy
Madison County Roots
Swampy was raised in Madison County, Florida, where his Southern
roots run deep and his love for the road and the trucking way
of life began. More than two decades behind the wheel have given
him a lifetime of stories worth sharing.
The Glasshammer Legacy
One of Swampy’s greatest influences was his late grandfather,
James “Buddy” Reams—known over the CB as “Glasshammer.” The
lessons Buddy passed down continue to guide Swampy on the
highway and in everything he does.
The Voices That Shaped Him
Music, Comedy, and Midnight Radio
Say It with Conway
Glasshammer introduced Swampy to Conway Twitty’s music when he
was a young boy, beginning a lifelong love of classic country.
To Swampy, Conway is what Elvis is to so many others. That
inspiration eventually became “Say It with Conway,” a favorite
part of his social media content.
A Love for Comedy
Jerry Clower, Jeff Foxworthy, Gene Tracy, and Trucker Wally
helped shape Swampy’s appreciation for Southern humor, trucking
comedy, unforgettable characters, and a story told just right.
The Overnight Airwaves
Swampy also became a devoted fan of late-night radio host Art Bell,
whose work made the overnight hours feel a little less lonely and
a whole lot more mysterious for generations of night drivers.
The Lost Southern Boys
As a teenager, Swampy met the Lost Southern Boys and began a
lasting friendship with founder Luke Smith. Luke became a mentor,
encouraging Swampy to step onstage and find his own voice. The
friendship grew into a brotherhood that remains strong today.
Partners in Life and on the Road
Swampy and Shoelace
A Trucking Tag Team
Swampy and his wife, Jessica “Shoelace” Merritt, have been married
for over 15 years. A Georgia Peach raised on a small farm in
Valdosta, Shoelace is a second-generation truck driver. They have
worked as a trucking tag team off and on for more than 14 years—and
somehow, they still haven’t killed each other yet.
Family and Brotherhood
Together, Swampy and Shoelace are the proud parents of two
daughters, Jules and Jilly. The Lost Southern Boys have provided
a soundtrack to their life together. As Swampy says, “Seems LSB
has always been there for all the important chapters of my life.”
Built Together
The Pulpwood Productions Story
The Pulpwood Podcast
Swampy and Shoelace created Pulpwood Productions together. Swampy
is the voice behind the Pulpwood Podcast, while Shoelace produces
the show. Through old-school trucking stories, classic country
music, laughs, and real conversations from the road, they bring
truckers together and keep the spirit of trucking alive.
The TruckLinx Partnership
Along the way, TruckLinx became a sponsor and partner of Pulpwood
Productions. The partnership also brought the production talents
of TruckLinx co-founder Adam Butler, adding his skills and
experience to the creative work Swampy and Shoelace began.
Carrying on the Legacy
Keeping America Rolling
Pulpwood Productions celebrates the people, music, humor, stories, and traditions that make trucking more than a job—it’s a way of life.