I am a “Truck Drivin Man”….
Well, actually, I’m a good “Truck Drivin’ Passenger”, although I did get to sit in the driver’s seat for a photo…. J.J. came through on his offer to let me ride along on a short run to Dallas and back….
You definitely get a different perspective on driving when you’re sitting way up above the rest of the traffic and takin’ up about 70 feet of roadway all at the same time….. Boy, are newer cars ugly from that angle…. I wonder if the designers ever looked at them in that way?….. Anyway, this was a brand-new 2006 truck, and man, you talk about all the bells and whistles!…. Automatic transmission, super sound system, cruise control, and all power including power windows and door locks!…. Soft comfortable air-cushioned seats and less road noise than a BMW…. The instrument panel still has more gauges, switches, and thingy’s than a jet airplane….. Notice the “Redneck Horn” button….. Not original equipment, but loaded with appropriate sayings for Yo-Yo drivers to calm your nerves after they pull some of the stunts I saw on our short trip…… Makes you think truck drivers have it made in the shade, and they would if it wasn’t for all the bad drivers on the road, mounds of paperwork, bad roads, bad weather, and definitely not the greatest pay for all the hazards, constrictions, and enormous amount of mental and physical concentration it takes to safely navigate a vehicle of this size on the roads of America…. It was a learning experience I would recommend that everyone should have…. I enjoyed it and I thank J.J. for giving me the opportunity for an inside view of the industry…. I have a new found respect for Truckers….. I don’t think I could do it without runnin’ some Bozo off in the ditch….. Keep On Truckin’, J.J. – Safely…..
June 14th, 2006 at 10:13 pm
Is that blob your face? Is that what happens when you truck for too long? “That bowling ball. It’s… M.. R.. !” 😀
June 15th, 2006 at 2:23 am
caption for photo on lower right:
I’ve been from Tucson to Tucumcari
Tahachapi to Tonapah
Driven every kind of rig that’s ever been made
Driven the back roads so I wouldn’t get weighed…
June 15th, 2006 at 7:26 am
Jek, I could say that was J.J. in his natural state, but the truth is that being under the Federal Witness Protection Program, I just can’t let everyone know what I look like, you understand?….. The truck is also under the program, hence the smudged company name….. Oh, yeah, the “Bowling Ball” reference is J. Geils Band – “No Anchovies Please”…. Thought you’d slip one by?….. eh?
RtG, did you write those words?… If so, I didn’t know you were a country fan…. We could whip-up a country classic in no time…. In Oklahoma, I found out from J.J., you don’t have to drive the back roads to avoid being weighed, you just have to time it right and drive right by them when they’re closed….. No 24-hour (not in a row……) weigh stations in OK…..
Jek, here’s one back to ya……. Where’d the “No 24-hr – not in a row” reference come from?…..
June 15th, 2006 at 9:55 am
Easy one: It’s a Steven Wright quip.
June 15th, 2006 at 12:39 pm
Still sharp as a “bowling ball”…. eh?….. But, completely right, or is that Wright?…..
June 15th, 2006 at 7:43 pm
MR, I can’t believe you’re not familiar with “WILLIN'” by Little Feat. The lyrics are by Zappa alum Lowell George.
I was discussing the truck driving trade with my brother when I was in OK last week, and he told me of a trip that
he once made over Raton Pass in a blinding snow storm. He said the snow was coming down so hard that he didn’t realize
he had passed the weigh station until the New Mexico Half-way Patrol chased him down and made him go back up to the top
of the pass. As I’ve said previously, my brother’s cb handle was Laid-back Lynny. Laid-back now owns a thoroughbred
race-horse with the same name. The equine Laid-back Lynny should run his first race at Remington Park in august if all
goes according to plan. This stallion is looking good in training, but I’m not suggesting that anyone go and bet the
farm on him—that’s why they call it “gambling”.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:16 am
MR’s feats (I mean memory) must have failed him now.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:18 pm
“Feats Don’t Fail Me, Now”….. I haven’t listened to one of their albums in a long, long time…. Always liked them and have them on vinyl, and all my LP’s are a little hard to get to right now…. I usually remember the music more than the words anyway, and, I was just trying to see if RtG had gone country….. Ya just never know these days (AC/DC)…..
June 23rd, 2006 at 10:12 pm
Back to the original thread, I had a lot of fun traveling with our esteemed Blog Master, we have not went on a road trip in quite a while and spent the time catching up and listening to some EXCELLENT Ear Candy. It was nice to have the company, and as an added bonus I always like showing the general public what my profession is all about.