Driver bids farewell to 29-year-old truck with handwritten letter on windshield

A truck owner's heartfelt farewell letter, taped to the windshield of a Porter truck he had driven for 29 years, has gone viral online.

A post titled "The owner of a 29-year-old truck that Hyundai Motor is desperately trying to find" appeared Friday on the online community Bobaedream, drawing wide attention from users.

The post features a photo of an old Porter truck parked in an underground garage, with a large sheet of paper affixed to its windshield.

The sheet bears the heading "Farewell Run" in red. A closer look reveals that the truck was first registered on Oct. 28, 1997, and has logged a total of 448,000 kilometers. Below the license plate number, a small inscription reads: "Let's drive slowly together one last time — thank you."

Addressing the truck directly, the owner wrote that he dedicated the letter to "my beloved friend, with whom I shared 29 years of joy and hardship," and reflected on the years they spent together.

Personifying the vehicle, he wrote: "Together we weathered the storm of the IMF crisis, and through all that time you quietly bore my struggles. Thanks to you, I was able to raise and educate my two children."

"All of this happiness was possible because of you," he added. "Thank you so much for running without a single accident."

"We promised to always be together no matter how much time passed — I'm truly sorry I couldn't keep that promise to the end," the owner wrote. "But I will carry your spirit and support with me forever."

He continued: "You were not just a vehicle — you were my life partner, my friend, my family. Thank you so much for everything, and I'm truly sorry to see you go. Goodbye, my friend."

Hyundai Motor's official account also left a comment on the post. "Hyundai Motor would very much like to pass along our regards," the company wrote. "The commitment of 29 years together truly moves us deeply." The automaker asked the owner to get in touch.

Fellow users flooded the post with reactions. "I have deep respect for this truck owner," one wrote, while others said, "Just imagine how many memories — full of laughter and tears — they must share," "I really hope they find the owner and we get to hear the follow-up," "At that point, the truck is practically family," and "Both the person and the truck worked so hard."