Too Dumb to Retire

There are many of life’s mysteries that I’m sure I’ll never find the answers to, but here’s one someone may have an answer for.

Driving around the country in late June and Early July, it seems there is an abundance of firecracker stores and mobile trailers on every available vacant lot. And every one of them will give you one free if you buy one. Wouldn’t it be simpler to cut the price in half of each one in the first place? Is the public that gullible that they don’t realize if they spend $20 for 10 firecrackers and get 10 free they’d get the same value if they bought 20 for $20? Maybe that’s why these wonderful firecracker emporiums have such creative names as “Crazy Charlie’s”. “Loonie Lorn”, “Silly Sam”, “Dopie Donald”. I guess there’s no end to the creativity of these entrepreneurial geniuses.
The one I remember best is “Joker Joe’s”. This one is a truck stop at Exit 8 on I-95 in South Carolina. The present one had to be rebuilt when the original one blew up about a dozen years ago. Folks in the area still talk about the best fireworks display they’d ever seen.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

This is kind of tongue in cheek, but whose safety?

Am I a safer driver if I have my headlights on in the daytime? Are other drivers safer if I have my headlights on? Are the highways safer to drive on if my lights are on?

Of course we want headlights on at night so we can see the road and in fog or when it’s raining so others can see us. That brings me to an interesting observation.

Many states have laws that say you need to put your headlights on if you are using the windshield wipers. Unfortunately the dumb thinking of drivers who don’t is, “why do I need the headlights on, I can’t see any better.” Of course you can’t but the reason is so other people can see you. Try this test, when it is raining look in the rear view mirror and tell me which vehicles you can see better, those with lights on or those without? In a truck we only have outside mirrors and in heavy rain, about the only thing we can see is headlights. Forms and shapes of cars are about obliterated. The same goes for fog too. It’s easier to see a vehicle behind you if their lights are on.

Many manufacturers build cars that have headlights on all the time. I don’t have a problem with this, but they fail to have tail lights on too. Take the rain or fog condition. The headlights may be on, but is it easier to see a car in front of you with or without tail lights lit? No brainer. Why car makers don’t realize this is a mystery to me.

Automakers are creating so many new electronic gizmos and gadgets that I can’t figure out why they don’t come up with a sensor that automatically turns on headlights and taillights when ambient light lowers to a certain level. Who knows they might think of something useful one of these days.

Here’s my rule for headlights and it’s simple one. If the sun isn’t shining the headlights are. Period.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

I’m amused, but many times frightened by the things I see when I’m being passed by an automobile. When My eyes are 10 feet off the ground, it’s very easy to see what’s going on inside the car that’s going by me. I’ve seen instances of what people are doing to themselves and to others and that’s as far as I’m going with that one. I’ve seem people reading newspapers, maps and even paperbacks while traveling at 70 to 80mph. I’ve seen drivers actually working on a computer in the right seat. Text messaging and emails on a blackberry or other similar device are common and more and more chatting on a cel phone. All scenarios are scary but I think the one that causes more and more problems are cel phone users. How did we ever survive before they came along?

I can usually spot a cel phone user driving in front of me before I actually see them using it. Their speed and direction is erratic. I have the greatest urge when one is beside me to hit my air horn, but I’m afraid they’d have to clean up a mess on their seat cushion or be under my wheels or both. I’d love to put a sign on the back of my trailer that reads, “if you’re using a cel phone please stay behind me. I can’t pay attention to your driving too.”

This is sort of a truck driving story and of course true. Several years ago I was on the New Jersey Turnpike on a Sunday Morning and traffic was light. The roadway was 3 lanes wide and I saw a sign that the center lane was closed 2 miles ahead. In the center lane was a red BMW. At the 1 ½ mile warning I was closing on the red car. As the driver was using the center lane I passed on the right at about the 1 mile lane closure sign. When I passed I looked down to see the young lady driver reading a book perched on the steering wheel. As I got closer to the closed lane I looked in the mirror to see the car still in the middle lane. Ahead the middle lane was blocked with orange barrels and cones and additional warning signs. When was the BMW going to change lanes? She hit the first few cones dead center, sent them flying and created a cloud of blue smoke as she locked up the brakes. Needless to say, I had my chuckle of the day. Fortunately there were several factors in place that prevented this from being much more serious. The brakes did lock up as this was before ABS. Thanks to good automobile engineering the car stayed straight and I’m sure the driver froze holding the steering wheel too. There was no traffic around the mishap.

Sometimes we have to learn the hard way. I only hope this young lady became a smarter and safer driver.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

I guess we’ve heard it all. Noisy, Too Big, Too Fast, Too many, Run you off the road, taking over the interstates, cause accidents, yadda yadda.

Let’s deal with these perceptions. Remember, perceptions left uncorrected become reality.

Noisy: Yes, some are. Some seem to think that straight exhaust is good. To me it’s more show than functional. Besides, some motorcycles are noisier than trucks. Again more show than go.

Too Big: Hang on, if the ATA (American Trucking Association) has it’s way they’ll get bigger. The ATA is made up of Trucking Company Owners who want to move more freight per driver. Part of this is desire for more profit, but in a deregulated business, like transportation, profits can be very elusive. Part of this is a shortage of drivers. In most States you’ll see a truck pulling 2 trailers, and in the North West it’s not uncommon to see 3 trailers. Some, like the New York Thruway, allow 2 full sized trailers. If you think that is big, check out Australia that will allow 5 full sized trailers behind a truck. Big really isn’t the issue training, and this doesn’t mean just the truck driver. 4 wheelers need the training too on how to interact with trucks. Boaters who have gone through captain training know how to work with larger boats and ocean liners without difficulty. Yes there are idiots on the waterways, but hopefully they are removed from the gene pool without hurting anyone else. A private pilot can fly safely in the same skies with a 747. It’s all training and understanding each ones limits and respecting the others.

Too Fast: I think anytime a truck passes a 4 wheeler the notion is, they ALL go too fast. The truth is that 80% of all trucks on the highway are governed to go no faster than 70mph. Try this little test. Next time you’re in the family car on a trip, count the number of trucks you pass vs. the number of trucks that pass you. I think you’ll be amazed at the results. Why not count the number of $50,000 SUV’s and pick up trucks that think they own the passing lane, pass you. Little known fact. Speedometers in trucks are far more accurate than cars. Car manufacturers like to show you’re going 80mph., when in reality you’re only going 70.

Too many: If you think there are too many now, wait a few more years. Transportation demands are not being met. Put more trailers and containers on railroads. Unfortunately they are at capacity now. If you’ve ever driven in the Western States along Interstates 10,20 and 40, you’ll see thousands of containers, most stacked 2 high, and truck trailers on rail cars. I’ve been to Clovis NM where a train goes through every few minutes with 3 to 4, noisy by the way, engines pulling anywhere from 50 to 75 sections. Yesterday on I-10 between Las Cruses NM and the Arizona Border (about 150 miles) I counted 74 freight units with about 75% hauling containers and truck trailers. Let’s play with numbers, If 50 rail units each had 75 containers and were being hauled by a truck that would be 3750 more trucks on the interstate in that 150 mile stretch. By the way I did see one Amtrack. I guess if more people rode the rail, there would be less problems on the highways.

Run you off the road: I must admit, I’ve seen very few 4 wheelers in the ditch, or median all by themselves, unless they were speeding when road conditions were bad or icy, or when drivers were on their cel phones and not paying attention. That’s a whole other story and don’t get me started on people not paying attention to their driving. I could write another blog on the things I see when cars are passing me.

Taking over the interstates: When President Eisenhower first proposed the interstate system, what was the purpose? Answer. “The rapid movement of military and commerce.” So to the 4 wheelers, you are the ones who are encroaching on our space.

Cause accidents: Statistics prove this is absolutely untrue. About 75% of all accidents where an 18 wheeler is involved are caused by 4 wheelers. Of the other 25% I would say many are caused by 18 wheelers anticipating that a 4 wheeler knows how to drive properly. One of the big causes is when a 4 wheeler dives into the space in front of a truck and then slams on the brakes. Why does a truck driver leave that space there in the first place? Which is going to stop quicker 40 tons or moving mass or a 3000 pound automobile? Chicago is the first city I’ve seen where they display on their orange alert signs a warning to motorists about cutting in front of trucks. Thank you.

Now for a bit of pontificating. If we are going to see more cars and more trucks sharing the same roads, then there needs to be a greater emphasis placed on education and enforcement. Do I think the 18 wheelers that will speed over 100mph are exempt? Hell no. Should there be a restriction on the speed of trucks? Only if the same restriction is placed on cars. Should there be dual speed limits for cars and trucks? Absolutely not, it’s been proven to be unsafe and is only used by those states to generate revenue. Do you hear me Ohio and Oregon? If we’re all using the same roads, then education and enforcement should be uniform. Too many drivers, and that included truck drivers are turned loose on the highways without adequate training. Is there adequate enforcement?
I think there should be more. Much has been done to improve and enforce rules on the commercial side. It’s time to do a lot more to get the unsafe, uneducated, uncaring and drunk 4 wheelers off the roads.

Footnote: Isn’t it amazing how we’re all concerned about 3500 military being killed in Iraq and don’t give a darn about 50,000 being killed each year on America’s Highways. Don’t misunderstand, I’m not uncaring about the military fatalities, I am. I guess we haven’t been able to politicize highway fatalities.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

I didn’t intentionally stop adding to this little blog. I landed back in my home town of Winter Haven Florida and took a few days off. OK 9 days. I have a very understanding company that I drive for and they pretty much let me do what I want. I guess they take pity on an old man. Anyway, while at home guess what? Lovely young bride took it upon herself to dump a huge pile of honey-doos on my desk. In between the little chores was a photo shoot I committed to, a wedding to go to, a car to take to dealership to have something done while still under warrantee, (even the Germans make mistakes), and visit nearly 2 year old granddaughter. Believe it or not, I was ready to get back in the Pete again head West so I could get some rest. As I write this, I’m in Pecos, TX at the Flying J.

A lot things have come to mind and this week-end I hope to get most of the thoughts and gripes written down and inserted. Stay tuned, more to come.


Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

Part 1 was in a blog last month so I won’t go over it again. But I did mention that there were 2 states that stick pretty close to 55mph. One is Ohio and the other is Oregon. Now we all know that Oregon is run by a bunch of Liberal Politicians and we know too how much these leftists hate big trucks. By the way Liberals are made up of over educated intellectuals with no experience in the real world. Years ago Oregon should have had better border security and kept these transplanted Californians out. OK, enough of my political views of that once sane State. Ohio is another matter and I think there is a way we as individual truckers can put an end to their foolish, revenue producing, unsafe 55mph speed limit for trucks.

1.We could simply run 55mph and stop the millions of dollars each year that truckers pay in fines. But that would put hundreds of Highway Patrolmen out of work and we wouldn’t want to do that, would we?

2.We could protest the political way. Here’s how it would work. We all know that our wonderful politicians, whether Federal, State or Local, all depend on big dollars to get elected or reelected every couple of years. Where does this money come from? Business. Oh, but business can only contribute small amounts you say. Well if you believe that then you believe in the tooth fairy. Businesses and Lobbyists know how to get that money funneled to ensure that politician makes the “right” decisions. What if we truckers decided to stop buying fuel, food and any other services from truck stops and restaurants in Ohio. Don’t you think there would be a loud howl from these businesses to their elected puppets to change things? These businesses might even have to make a contribution to appointed officials’ favorite charities, (cash only please). Politicians aren’t going to listen to truck drivers, but they sure will when business speak up.
Is there anyone that couldn’t buy fuel in Pennsylvania, or Indiana, or West Virginia before crossing Ohio? I haven’t bought anything in Ohio for over 15 years. It’s my personal protest. Anyone care to join me?

I know this isn’t a proper thing to do, but every once in a while when I get angry about having to drive through Ohio, I’ll look for a truck going 55mph and then take about 5 miles to pass him and see how many 4 wheelers I can annoy. I wish I could put a sign on the back of my truck that says, “Sorry for the inconvenience, but if you don’t like the speed I’m driving, call your State Representative”.

Category: General

Who are Truck Drivers?

Why does one want to become a truck driver?

Where do truck drivers come from?

Is it an easy job?

What training do I need?

There are endless questions and equally endless answers, but deep down inside I think we really enjoy what we do. OK. Stop right there. If you were to listen to many drivers you would think that most hated their jobs, the people they deal with, the DOT, Police, 4 wheelers the company they work for and on and on. Now after that’s over, ask one what he or she would rather do and not too many would pick any other profession. No one I’ve talked to would want to work in an office, or punch a time clock or have a boss or manager hanging around. To an outsider, driving a truck seems simple work, but there are challenges apart from traffic. There’s weights, appointment times, schedules, equipment problems, log books that need to be accurate, weather, road construction and accident holdups to contend with. But when you get right down to it, I think there’s a certain freedom in the work. You get to go and see places you otherwise wouldn’t see. You’re on your own most of the time and some people like that. Truthfully, I think it gets in your blood. I’ve retired twice from trucking and where am I now? Right back in it. My youngest daughter says I’ll retire when they pry my cold stiff fingers off the steering wheel. Maybe she’s right, I don’t know.

Today’s trucks are almost like campers in a way. Your seats are air ride with cushioned vertical as well as lateral ride. Many have lumbar back support and frankly I can travel more miles in a truck and be less tired than I can in a car. Visibility is much better as you can see over traffic and know what’s well ahead of you. Bunks are comfortable. Many trucks have refrigerators and closets and space set up for TV and Video players. Some come powered with inverters to provide 110 volt AC power for microwaves, and coffee makers. I’m also a ham radio operator, (call sign KN4WX) and I have a mobile rig and can communicate with people all over the world, when atmospheric conditions are right.

Yes there are negatives to trucking, being away from home and family for weeks at a time. Being restricted to certain places you can go with an 18 wheeler can be a problem. You’re pretty committed to parking and eating and showering at a truck stop. But with cel phones and internet accessibility staying in contact with friends and family is a lot easier than it used to be. Personally I use Nextel service with direct connect so I can stay in contact with my wife 24/7 if needed.

There are things one can do, while driving to make the miles go faster. Many drivers have satellite radios. Some will use the CB to amuse themselves. Personally, the only time I use it is when I’m waiting to load or unload and need to listen for a call in. And there are times if I am traveling with a friend that we’ll get on a dead channel and ratchet jaw for a while. I love to listen to mysteries, so when I’m home I go to the public library and take out some audio books. I also carry a collection of favorite CD’s to listen to. And then there’s always talk radio to keep a person entertained. Most truck stops have audios for rent. Pick them up at one location and turn them in at another when you’re finished. I’m always taking pictures of scenery and oddities I see on the way. So the miles go by and I’m usually never bored.

Some people are truck drivers because a parent is and it’s what you have been brought up on. Some think it’s a lifestyle they want to explore. Some stay, some don’t. Some are team drivers, and believe it or not, a good husband and wife team, (of significant other) can make a very good living trucking. It’s not uncommon for a good team to earn $100,000.00 a year combined gross income. There are a good number of young couples who see this as a way to build a very nice nest egg before starting a family. And there are other older couples whose families have grown up and moved on and decide on a truck driving job. Some are divorced and want to get away, so to say. Others escape the stress of a corporate lifestyle. I’ve met a number of men who have retired from a life long job in industry who can’t stand retirement and want to go back to work again and find trucking a rewarding new career.

The easiest way for a person to get started in trucking is to find a company that will train their own drivers. The downside is that you usually are committed to that company for about a year. There are numerous driving schools around the country. If there is a trucking company near you, call their recruiter and ask for advice on a good school. When you are first hired you will spend some time with a trainer until he feels you are ready to go solo. Don’t be intimidated by the size of a truck and trailer. Frankly I find it easier to drive a truck than I do a car. That may sound odd, but after a while you will understand what I mean.

Comments always invited.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

I’ve heard there are 1.3 million big rigs running around the US. I can’t verify that number but let’s go with it. Of that number how many have any voice about HOS rules, DOT concerns, rogue cops, unreasonable company demands and on and on? You know the answer. We’re the ones keeping the goods and materials moving and we have no say in the matter at all. The HOS rules are a joke. You’re paid by the mile. If you start your day at 7am, drive 4 hours for a pick up and have to wait 8 hours to get loaded or unloaded, how many more hours can you drive that day? 2 more hours and you’ve got to take 10 off. That’s 6 hours driving for the day at say 37 cents per mile. If you’re lucky you might do 375 real miles. $138 for the day, do that for 6 days before you have to recycle and take out all of the taxes and other deductions, and then figure your meals and what do you have left? About $325.00 take home pay.

Is it any wonder that more drivers are going to loose leaf log books? (In case we make a mistake and need to correct it of course). In reality, drivers are showing 10-11 hours per day driving on the log book, but spending more hours per day, to get the miles they need in order to make a decent pay check. And there are those “do-gooders” out there who want trucks off the road altogether, who don’t know the first thing about the industry who are getting the ear of the Feds. Like liberal advocacy groups around the country, they have all the answers but never ask any of the questions.

So who represents the truckers? Trucking Companies have their lobbyists and certainly make contributions to their favorite elected officials. OOIDA tries very hard to be heard.
Unions do their part, but what about the rest of us? The truth is, we’ll never have a voice.
Sure we gripe and complain about the way things are, but that’s about it. If things keep going the way they are, then we can forget about log books, it will all be done electronically, will that be better for us? No, it will result in more trucks needed, more drivers needed, more traffic on the highway and higher wages needed to compensate, higher cost for transportation. Who wins? No one. But there is a possible solution.

We all need to unionize. OK, I hear it now, but stop and think a moment. If the Teamsters would get off their duff and do something in the trucking industry like they used to instead of looking to unionize hotel workers, then there would be a solid voice in the trucking industry. I’m not saying we’d all be making 50 cents a mile, we wouldn’t. Each company negotiates a contract with their drives, but if this were to occur then there would be a solid voice that would have some clout and we would be heard.

I’d love to hear feedback on this one.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General

It’s been requested that I tell more on the road experiences. First, a hard fast rule. I will not preface any story with, “have you heard about..”. Any story I tell will be something that involved me.
About 25 years ago I was called into the operation managers office and informed that with my experience, safety record and time with the company I was being promoted to Driver Trainer. WOW! My ego was massaged. Then I was told that I would get all of the mileage pay whether I was driving or not, plus the full unload pay at each stop. DOUBLE WOW! Next I was informed I’d get the top run, the number one account, 5600 miles per week. I did the arithmetic in my head and at that time I would be top dog in earnings for sure. The truck driver gods were smiling on me. What I wasn’t told though was my trainee would be someone fresh out of school with no real time experience, but that was OK, I was somewhere above cloud 10, surely nothing could go wrong. Saturday Morning I met my first co-driver. He even called me ‘sir’. I spent some time with the entire route, directions, where our switch points would be, what hours who would be in the bunk and so on. I took the first leg out of the yard to I-95, South Carolina, exit 8, (the old Joker Joe’s before it blew up). We both went inside, grabbed some eats and waited for new driver to show up. I waited for a few minutes and then figured newbie had gone to the truck. When I went outside, there was the truck heading down the ramp onto I-95 North. I immediately went to the first truck asked to use the CB and hollered at co-driver to stop. The CB wasn’t on in my truck. Our next scheduled stop was in Charlotte, NC. I called dispatch and was told to head for Savannah airport and catch a plane for Charlotte. Evidently somewhere around Columbia my trainee discovered he was solo, called dispatch and was told to continue to the drop and wait for me. The next day was pretty quiet, we each did our turn driving and made our drops. Once at our final stop, it was dead head to our Northern Terminal, drop and hook for the straight shot back to Florida.
On the way home we stopped at the old 76 Truck Stop in Columbia SC and time for newbie to take the wheel. As I-77 wasn’t opened through Ft. Jackson yet, it was West on I-20, East on I-26 and then I-95 South. I made sure my driver understood it was a 270 degree turn onto I-26 to go East. I climbed in the bunk and started to doze when I felt a rather shallow turn to the right. OOPS, wrong way, I came out, got driver turned around and pointed East, then ahead of us was a split where 126 went into town. Sure enough he started to the left rather than to I-26. I got him stopped again, straightened out and reminded him to take I-95 South and I went asleep. Surely he wouldn’t screw up again.
Wrong. About 3 hours later I’m awakened and asked for directions. We had gone through Charleston SC and he was on Highway 17 North, almost to the North Carolina line.
I wasn’t too polite and told him to get in the bunk and I would take it home from there.

When we got to the Florida terminal, he was still asleep in the bunk. I tried to wake him but he was snoring as loud as a jake brake on a straight pipe. I dropped the trailer, wrote out the report for the shop, stuck it in the window and got my things and left. Sleeping beauty was still doing his thing.

I guess I got the last laugh when the mechanic tilted the cab forward, we had a cab-over, and heard a loud noise inside the cab. Yep it was trainee rolling out of the bunk.
Forget the pay, forget the prestige, forget ego, that was my first and last experience as a driver trainer.

Category: General

As luck would have it I had to go around Minneapolis – St. Paul, Minnesota during afternoon “rush hour”. Note aside. Why do they call it rush hour when motorists are at a crawl or standstill? Some sort of oxymoron I guess. Anyway, I noticed that I had to move over to the left lane. I put on the left turn signal and cringed as I contemplated having to force a 4 wheeler into the median go get into the lane. I peeked into the mirror to see which SUV I’d have to force out of the lane, (SUV’s own the left lane in case you weren’t aware), but wait a minute, someone actually backed off and let me in. I checked again in my spot mirrors to make sure no one was beside me and took the lane change. WOW! That was a first. As we crept along I-694, a sign indicated I needed to get in the left lane again. Grit teeth and prepare for the next encounter was entering my mind.
Turn signal on and OH NO! Not again. Another 4 wheeler actually backed off, and blinked his lights to allow me in. Come on old man, are you dreaming or hallucinating?
Could this be true? Two motorists in a row, giving you the lane? I had to take another sip of coffee. I pinched myself just to make sure I was alive. In spite of this jolt to my consciousness I continued East. The next hazard was construction where I-35E meets 694 and another lane change. I know what I’m going to tell you next may seem as believable as Congressman William Jefferson, Democrat, Louisiana when he said. “How did that money end up in my freezer?” but what I am about to say is the absolute truth. I turned on the turn signal to change lanes and, yes, it’s absolutely true, another motorist slowed down and let me in.

People of the Twin Cities, you are going to drive 18 wheelers crazy. You’re going to see big rigs parked beside the road and drivers walking around with glazed eyes shaking their heads in disbelief. You’re going to cause wrecks. So stop this unusual behavior. Go to Chicago and take driving lessons from the sensible folks there. Go to New York and learn how to tell truckers you’re number one using the middle finger. Go to Florida and drive with the illegals who don’t have a drivers license and the blind old coots that shouldn’t have one. Believe me, the next time I have the rotten luck of going by your cities again, I’m going to do it in the wee hours of the morning when no one is around. I don’t think my nerves could tolerate that experience again.

Footnote: What a great relief and a calming of my nerves when I had the good fortune of driving I-94 through Chicago today. Peace, tranquility, drivers I could cope with. In only took me 1 hour and 47 minutes to go 22 miles through the center of town. Driving was fun again, Life is good.

Enjoy the day

Geezer

Category: General