Sirius Satellite Radio, the New York-based satellite radio broadcaster, has begun work on a channel dedicated to the trucking community.

Trucker-specific programming is being developed for Sirius by ABC Radio Networks, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. ABC will offer four other channels over Sirius Satellite Radio -- Radio Disney, ESPNEWS, ESPN Radio and ABC NewsTalk.
According to Sirius' Elana Sofko, the new trucker channel will feature the "Midnight Cowboy" program produced by WBAP in Dallas. Beyond that, she said, the channel will offer trucking-specific talk shows, nationwide traffic and weather reports and even action adventure dramas.
"Our mission is to serve truckers in a way they've never been served before," Sofko said.
Since satellite radio will reach from coast to coast, Sofko explained, traffic and weather will be handled in the manner of cable television's The Weather Channel.
Dramas, she said, will consist of works by writers such as Louis L'Amour and others popular with truckers. Some stories will be read; others will be produced using actors and sound effects.
According to Sofko, the trucker channel will have a very distinct sound.
"We're working on a very special host voice for the channel," said Sofko. But she declined to reveal the name.
"It's somebody very popular with the trucking community," she said. "He is a musician."
From three orbiting satellites, Sirius will directly broadcast up to 100 channels of digital-quality radio to motorists and truckers throughout the continental United States for a monthly subscription fee of $12.95. Sirius will deliver 50 channels of commercial-free music in virtually every genre, and up to 50 channels of news, sports, talk, comedy and children's programming.
Sirius is one of two satellite radio companies that about to launch. The other is XM Satellite Radio based in Washington, D.C.