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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 26, 2009 at 10:20am

Hi Dave--Gotta say I'm with the people who say they're scared to be on the road with the (big) truckers--SOME of them ARE scary!! I'm old enough to remember when truckers were THE most safe and considerate drivers on the road. It hasn't always been the way it is today. My dad and I traveled a lot together when I was a child, and my dad always told me, "Susie, if you ever get into trouble on the road, flag down or go to a trucker--they're the best, safest people on the road, and they'll help you." We often ate at truck stops and I remember how many times I sat with my dad while he talkedand laughed with truckers over a meal. They were great guys, warm and friendly. My dad was a white-collar guy back in the days when people took the time to care about other people......

Things have definitely changed, and not for the better. It's not the drivers' fault--they're trying to make a living. But in the public's defense, it seems to me the companies sometimes aren't that careful with the drivers they hire. Some of them are really scary, and mean on the road. I've been run up on, and flipped off by more than one, in situations I could do nothing about....some drive angry, maybe with good cause, but it's scary-dangerous nonetheless to be out there with 'em......and there are so MANY.

The world's going WAY too fast for most people to tolerate. Everything has to be done RIGHT NOW!! My personal opinion = it's mostly the corporate greed factor. Faster means more $$$ for the suits.

My brother-in-law, David. to whom I was VERY close died a year and a half ago from cancer. He was a trucker and absolutely loved to drive his big rig. Worked horrendous hours, like you. I spent a great deal of time with him during the cancer deal, and we talked about everything, part of which included his driving. He worked for a really good company that tried hard to take care of its drivers. But reality in your business is reality. The stuff's gotta get there, and it better by damn be on time.

David also used to talk about how many times he'd end up helping unload at his destination, just to speed up the process, so he'd have a little extra driving time and not have to drive so hard. He worked his ass off for many years and LOVED that job. He drove till he couldn't sit in the cab any longer......

It's a sad commentary on our present culture that people in certain occupations have to work ungodly hours, with not nearly enough down time, to take care of their families (to say nothing of themselves).

You're right, without trucking the economy would grind to a halt. What DID happen to shipping by rail anyway????? (Not that I want to take jobs from people but it would ease the pressure if we still had trains--it was a pretty darn good system, again, my opinion only).

All I can say is I wish you safe travel and, even more important, enough SAFE sleep to maintain your life. Your little girl is adorable--I believe you when you say you just want to live to see her grow up--by then you're gonna want to live to see your grandkids grow! So take care, and slap that CPAP on every chance you get. I'm pulling for you........

Susan McCord :-)


dave foster said:

As truckers, way too often we work insane hours, we drive to and from places that are pretty scary, or dangerous or most often, just plain far away; sometimes all three !! We can actually calculate a percentage of our life on the road. You say to people, 'I work 14, 15 sometimes 16 hours a DAY' , and they think you are b/s-ing them. You say, 'I get 4 or 5 hours of sleep a day, if i'm lucky' and they think you are nuts or sick- hell maybe truck drivers are nuts or sick! We bust ass for people who often HATE us, deliver food, water, clothes, furniture, everything...and they just want us outa there, somewhere else, NIMBY. Just drop off our stuff and get lost asap. Which kinda brings me to my issue. Make time for your loved ones, and yourself! I have been trying to use my cpap as much as possible [i really have issues w/ it] to prolong my life long enough to see my 6 yr old graduate and get married. The doc kinda got in my face for only averaging 65% usage, basically saying i could drop dead from a heart attack or a stroke in the 35% i'm not using it. Well i guess ill have to keep at it. Any of you other truckers having issues w/ the machine? For all you four wheelers out there, pleeze don't cut us off -sometimes we can't stop, which means you are going to die, or at the very least have serious injury! Dont text while driving, its suicide.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on October 26, 2009 at 10:52am

Susan!!! I, too, remember traveling w/my white collar dad a lot and his telling me the same thing about truckers. Back then they really were the "knights of the road". There weren't that many "independents" back then scratching to make a living. When I was traveling a lot on the weekends showing dogs I ran a CB and I really enjoyed the drivers' chatter and often traveled quite a distance w/one or more of them and enjoyed chatting w/them. They got me the easy way thru or 'round many a big city. Cleveland was bad tho. So many ignoramuses abusing the CBs w/their beams and foul language. It was one city I turned my CB off until I got well past it.

I'm so sorry to read about your brother-in-law.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 29, 2009 at 5:12pm

Hi Judy! It warmed my heart to hear that you too had the opportunity to travel with your dad. Some of my very best times in this life were spent with my dad.....

Thank you for your kind remarks about David. He was just the greatest, most courageous guy you'd ever want to meet and was deeply loved by the entire family.

I'm gonna send you a friend request. I just now realized I never had, for what reason I don't know. I ALWAYS appreciate your input on SG, AND your humor!!!

Susan McCord :-)

Judy said:

Susan!!! I, too, remember traveling w/my white collar dad a lot and his telling me the same thing about truckers. Back then they really were the "knights of the road". There weren't that many "independents" back then scratching to make a living. When I was traveling a lot on the weekends showing dogs I ran a CB and I really enjoyed the drivers' chatter and often traveled quite a distance w/one or more of them and enjoyed chatting w/them. They got me the easy way thru or 'round many a big city. Cleveland was bad tho. So many ignoramuses abusing the CBs w/their beams and foul language. It was one city I turned my CB off until I got well past it.

I'm so sorry to read about your brother-in-law.

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Permalink Reply by Judy on October 29, 2009 at 7:01pm

Doggone, Susan McCord! What took us so long? To become friends, that is.

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Permalink Reply by sleepycarol on October 29, 2009 at 7:06pm

Hubby thinks he may have to take a load to Mexico. He is soooo not looking forward to it. He spent several months in Panama a year or so ago. He was amazed about the differences in the cultures and the lack of a middle class (at least where he was). He said they were very very poor or very very wealthy. He has pictures of both societies and it is shocking to see what some have to endure to eck out the bare necessities.

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Permalink Reply by susan mccord on October 29, 2009 at 7:34pm

Beats the hell out of ME, Judy. I thought we already WERE!! Ahhhhhh, the sweet fog envelops once again.....lol

Hey, I sent you a PM that I'd like you to check at your convenience. Thanks!

McCord :-)

Judy said:

Doggone, Susan McCord! What took us so long? To become friends, that is.

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