Traveling for Work the Life of a Trucker
I was once a semi-truck driver, now I am the wife of one. It's not an easy life no matter what side of it you are on. My husband and I were what's called team drivers for a year. For the most part it was pretty cool. It allowed me to see things I would have never seen before. I didn't get to see things that tourists get to see because most of those places do not allow semi-trucks. I saw the working parts of the country.
I remember one place we delivered to in Chicago. It was a candy factory. It was night and we had a bit of a difficult time finding the place. When we finally did it seemed to be closed. We had an appointment and were on time but the place seemed empty. Almost dreary. One of those places that sort of send chills down your spine.
We finally found someone and he allowed us in. All we had to do was drop our load and find an empty trailer. He told us where to go to drop ours and where to find the empties. We found the drop part alright but the empty part was a bit confusing. We stopped to look around and try to locate this empty trailer lot.
I was feeling a bit antsy about the entire thing. Sometimes being in a strange place in the dark of night does that to people. Anyway as we were sitting there looking around all of the sudden an el train passed overhead right in front of us. It decided it was a good time to blow it's terrifically loud horn.
I actually screamed and jumped so hard I felt like I had pulled every muscle in my body. After we realized what it was we both started laughing hysterically. We finally located what we needed and left. I was so glad to leave Chicago. It's OK for those who enjoy the city life, but I'm a country gal.
The life of a truck driver is not an easy one. They are away from home for weeks at a time. They live in their trucks. Oh and it's true. If you can live in a truck with your mate for a year, you can live with them anywhere. I think we should set up semi-trucks and make everyone live in them for a few weeks before they get married. Talk about a test on compatibility.
Truckers get little to no respect from the states or the people. People simply assume if there is an accident between a semi and a car it's the semi drivers fault, and sometimes it is. We do have "cowboys" out there that think they are indestructible and have no re-guard for their safety or other peoples.
I think the people driving the cars though are just as careless. You can't pull out in front of a semi truck, go half a block and slam on your brakes in front of them. They can't stop that fast regardless of how hard and fast the driver hits the brakes. They are hauling a lot of weight and stopping that much weight on a dime isn't going to happen.
Since my husband has been driving by himself I've traveled with him some. I could not believe what I witnessed one day. We were traveling along the interstate in some town somewhere. We were doing the speed limit of 65. We were approaching an on ramp. Now anytime it is possible to do so my husband will switch lanes to make it possible for any car to get on the interstate with no trouble.
This day however he could not because he had cars running along beside him. A we approached the on ramp there was a car attempting to get on the interstate. He however actually had to hesitate long enough for us to get by. This guy got angry. He lifted his hand ever so nicely and shot us a bird.
He got on right after we passed and then proceeded to pick up enough speed to pass us. He then pulls right in front of my husband and leaves the interstate on the next off ramp. I looked out my window and low and behold there he was with his middle finger in the air again. What was my husband suppose to do? Slam on his breaks in the 65 mile an hour traffic just to allow this guy access? I don't think that would have been a smart thing to do.
There are so many people in cars who just don't relize just how hard one of those trucks are to stop, or just don't care. My husband is a very safe driver and has never had a accident while driving the semi. He watches around him all the time and does his best to be a cautious driver. So not every accident that happens is caused by the truck driver.
Then there's the no respect from the states. The people in those trucks are allowed so many hours of driving time. Then they must stop for 10 hours and sleep and relax before continuing on. There is not always a truck stop around, in fact we simply do not have enough of them. These drivers by law MUST stop for 10 hours. With that law should also come the right to stop where they can as long as they are not obstructing traffic or bothering anyone.
My husband pulled off the interstate at an abandoned weigh station in some state. he said there were like 40 other trucks parked. He was only there a few minutes when a police officer knocked on his door. He was told he couldn't park there and would have to move on. The weather was bad and the traffic on the interstate had come to a stand still. He saw the officer approach a few other trucks so he assumed they were all being told to move on.
He returned to the interstate and went about 6 miles in an hours time. He saw an off ramp where a couple of other trucks were parked so he pulled off and parked behind them. None of them were blocking any traffic or blocking peoples visual ability.
He went to bed because he was already into his 10 hour off time. A couple of hours later he was awaken by another officer who told him he couldn't park there. So once again he moves. He finally found a McDonald's that had truck parking and was lucky enough to find a space.
We wonder why these drivers pop no doze or stay awakes. Some of our states don't allow them to sleep and it isn't right. Everyone wants them to be alert and drive safely. How do they do that when they can't get any sleep.
Some people don't realize just how important our truckers are. They are the ones who keep groceries in the stores so you don't go hungry. They are the ones who keep clothes on the shelves so you don't go naked. They are the ones who keep the supplies available to all your beauty shops and spas. It's those men and women who keep this country moving and keep you from doing without.
Now people are complaining and trying to get the trucks off the roads. How is that even possible? Are they going to run train tracks into every city? Every tiny town? I don't think so. And if you think about it for a moment most trains spit a whole lot more pollution into the air then a truck does.
Stop and think people. It's a no brainer really. You like to eat, dress, wear your make-up, drive your cars. You enjoy living in your homes, planting your pretty little plants outside. You enjoy going for a swim in that pool you own. Just stop and think. Everything we use is supplied to us through the trucking world, right down to that tiny little nail in your wall holding that picture of that precious family member.
Give truckers some slack. Get out of their way when driving, they are bigger then you and don't have the maneuverability that you have. Give them a place to rest when they need it. Don't continually run them off if they finally find a place to pull over and sleep. Show them some respect. Be thankful they are doing what they are doing.
Without them you would not survive. You would not have the comforts that you now have. you would not have the full bellies you now enjoy. Give them a break and stop being so hateful toward them. They are doing a job the needs to be done. They spend weeks away from their loved ones so you can have the comforts of life. Think.
