Michael Anthonye says he likes driving 62 mph for J.B. Hunt, but his honky-tonking music goes much faster - "Full Steam," his most recent album on Set-Sight Records, describes that velocity well.

Anthonye, of Stuarts Draft, Va., is a disciple of the old school of honky-tonk - snappy lyrics, plays on words, twangy driving beat on the feel-good finger-popping tunes and throbbing woe on the crying songs.

In 1991, Cashbox magazine called him the top Up-and-Coming Artist based on three songs from his first album, "The Right Combination." But like a love-gone-wrong song, his career took an unexpected turn.

Anthonye hails from Nashville, where at age 13 he was a house drummer on the Ernest Tubb Record Show broadcast live on local radio. He drove straight trucks in high school and later drove dumps and operated heavy machinery for construction firms.

He aimed for musical success, but took to trucking after a record company that had signed him to a contract failed. It took several years to get out from under the contract so another label could sign him.

Meanwhile, he became a driver-trainer for J.B. Hunt, and is a member of the drivers' round table for the Target Washington, D.C., account. "Hunt has been very supportive of me and my performing schedule. They allow me to work around it as long as I keep up my miles," Anthonye said.

He was recently signed by Nashville Music Express (NME), an independent label headed by Billy Joe Burnette, who wrote "Teddy Bear" for the late Red Sovine. NME is promoting his work at home and abroad, and Anthonye says he's nearly ready to record a new album with the latest incarnation of his band, "The Night Train."

Like many other independent artists, Anthonye has gained wider recognition overseas, where traditional country sounds have stronger appeal than in the U.S..

Getting airplay here can be like running for office. Anthonye and his wife, Laura, pitch his tunes to individual radio stations and try to secure on-air appearances as well. He also has his own local cable TV show and plays live gigs wherever he can. His Web site is www.michaelanthonye.com. "The only two things I've ever wanted to do are drive trucks and play music," he says, "and I'm working in both of those areas to make my dream come true."