Barrueco began his career as the owner of a small Venezuelan trucking company. During the Venezuelan general strike of 2002–2003, Barrueco quickly rose to prominence when he aided the government by lending them his vehicles to support the government's attempts to maintain food distribution during the strike.""Recibía muchas llamadas aconsejándome que me retirara de los programas de alimentación del Gobierno. Ante mi negativa recibí hasta amenazas de muerte. No entendían que mi cliente final era justamente la población más excluida y no el Gobierno". - El Universal, 19 September 2010, "Creí en la palabra de Chávez" El Universal, 19 September 2010, "Creí en la palabra de Chávez" Barrueco received death threats at the time. The distribution network developed during the strike later became the Mercal chain of subsidised state-owned supermarkets.
