Hi all. Sorry about last month but the new job and schedule are a lot different than what I am used to. I normally have to go in and work the dock for a few hours before I take a run. By the time I get home I don't want to see anything but a bed.
I got to say I have gained a new respect for all you freight haulers out there. There is no way a person can understand the joys of pulling triples until they've done it. Going from 80,000 gross to 106,000 is a joy all by itself. Add to that the fact that you are pulling it with a smaller tractor and triple trailers and the term "safe following distance" takes on a whole new meaning.
I have learned that while I am in the Salt Lake Valley, I can maintain a safe following distance by putting my truck in reverse and going as fast as I can backwards down the freeway. This is the only way I can cover for and keep safe all those four wheelers who seem to think I was saving that space up there just for them.
Just to let you know, I didn't totally abandon the computer. The Owner Operators Association had put a notice on the newsgroup Misc.Transport.Trucking, asking for support for some of the issues they are working on in Washington. I wrote and told them that I was a company driver but since most of the issues that affect the owner operators, affect all drivers, I would be glad to help. They sent me the email addresses for my senators that have them, and snail mail for the one that don't. I wrote to these senators and told them that I fully support the OOIDA. I also reminded them that there are now an estimated 3 million truckers in North America. I also told them that they could gain 3 million new friends if they would show the courage to stand up for us instead of against us. It will be interesting to see what if anything evolves from those letters. I would like to encourage all of you to do the same thing . This being an election year we need to work harder than at any othertime to make our voices heard. The knowledge that 3 million truckers were going to be watching and voting would not go unnoticed.
I did forget to ask about that North American Fishing License though. I hope one of you will pick up the ball on that because you know as well as I do that this is one of the most important issues facing our industry at this time. ;)
I guess it wouldn't hurt to also bring up some of the other issues that we face. None are as important as the fishing license but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to discuss meal deductions, lane restrictions, dual speed limits and more driver education for four wheelers who don't have a clue as to what these trucks are and are not capable of. Maybe also mention driver unloads, weight policies that punish only the driver; even if he has no way to scale the load before he gets caught and the fact that organizations like C.R.A.S.H. are financed by the railroads to put us out of business. Not really the truckers' friend as they claim to be.
Well this is a short one but I am learning that one of the downfalls of working for a good company is the fact that I don't have as much to complain about.. For my next article I am going to ask my dispatcher to slap me around a little bit so maybe I can get back in step here. Until then be safe, write and call those lawmakers and remember............