Amusing factual stories - real life experiences in trucking

[Doctor Who]

Teach your children well, part deux!!!

Many years back, when my children were younger it was extremely difficult to leave out on an extended road trip. In a conversation I had with a J.B. Hunt recruiter, yes a JB recruiter, he suggested I get a map of the US, hang it on a wall and when I called home have the kids put a pin in the state and city I was calling from he said it was a great way to keep close to the kids plus, they were learning geography and possibly history and not even know it!

Well, I took the recruiter up on his suggestion and it worked real well, I?d call home and tell the girls where I was at and a little bit of history about the state and city, if I was near a major city. I also picked up state trivia from the welcome centers.

Flash forward a few years; I came home off a road trip and my wife handed me a letter from the oldest child?s teacher stating that she had cheated on a geography and history test. I asked the wife why didn?t she handle it and she said it would mean more if I confronted the educator. I did have a few days off so I arranged for a meeting with the teacher, the principal, and my daughter.
First question I asked the teacher why was she so sure my daughter cheated and her response; not one child in the class could get all the state capitals correct nor, did they identify the state of Rhode Island correctly except my daughter. I then explained to the teacher what I had done over the years leading up to this incident and then explained that I excelled in geography and history in school, so why should my daughter be any different!
A long eerie pause engulfed the room as the principal and teacher both searched for a reasonable come back. I continued by asking the teacher about the history test in question and was immediately told that the test was fine and the grade will be applied forth with.

I thanked them for their time and as I walked out of the room I left this parting shot.
?Just think there are two more coming up behind her and yes they too have been taught the same way!!!? and I bid them a fine afternoon.

OH WOW.... PAGE 21

[magician_73]

12,700 and 21 pages

We just may see 13,000 by Labor Day weekend, Doc.

[trckndadsangel]

We also have done the same thing with our kids with a map of the U.S. We also bought our kids a motor carriers road atlas so that they can take a pencil to track where there Dad is at and this also helps them read a map too.

[Doctor Who]

We just may see 13,000 by Labor Day weekend, Doc.

Yeah it just might but it'll be all for naught if Hurricane Frances attacks as planned... The NWS has just commented that Eastern NC does not fair well with Hurricanes that start with "F" ie: Fran and Floyd and God knows we took a beating with those two storms!!!

[Doctor Who]

Ah the Mustang and the ill fitting bikini top!!!

About a week or so ago the company I?m driving for sent 5 trucks to the Outer Banks of NC to haul sand for a new highway project. The ride from the pit to the site was insanely boring at best and wasn?t any better on the way back with the exception of one trip.
On this particular return trip there were four dump wagons all headed back to the pit when the first had passed a red ragtop Mustang going eastbound. I?m guessing the slip stream from the first truck disturbed the air around the car as the bikini top on the young lady driving blew up as I got to the car, I looked down and was shocked and almost turned the truck over! I quickly regained my composure but not so the drivers behind me as I could see tire smoke in my mirrors.
I?m quite sure the young lady realized what was going on as she made no attempt to pull over and readjust the ?wardrobe malfunction?
Ah yes, the entertainment of beach traffic is just great at certain times of the week!!!!

[magician_73]

Yeah it just might but it'll be all for naught if Hurricane Frances attacks as planned... !!!

And pray tell, just why would that be, Doc? I can't visualize the waters rising to flood out CAD hdqtrs in KY....although...never mind. Yea, we'll make 13,000!

And now for more.........speaking of kids....I used postcards to keep mine informed as to dad's location....then, when they were old enough to take a couple of trips....summertime...I would take one of them at a time (with two daughters, I learned early - both at one time is a definite 'no-no'....and as it turned out, by the time they both graduated from high school, they had been in every state in the continental U.S. They could name each/every state and it's capital - something the majority of kids today cannot do!

After each trip in the summer months, they would then return to school and entertain their classmates of tales of where they had been, what they had seen....places, things which the vast majority of kids never see, just read about. Traveling with dad was a vital part of their education....And since we stayed out longer in those days, it also was 'quality' time for me to spend with them. To see the country first hand is far better than seeing/reading about it in a textbook.

[Doctor Who]

To see the country first hand is far better than seeing/reading about it in a textbook.

Now this I can concur with without reservation!!!

[Twilight Flyer]

You know, I hate to rain on your parade, guys, especially since the stories are great. But the KBR is the current view leader:

http://classadrivers.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2288

It only has about 70 or 80 posts, but has nearly 29,000 views. That's a pretty substancial lead. You'll have to do a lot of clicking to overcome that lead anytime soon.

But definitely keep the stories coming. Regardless of the number of views, they're definitely entertaining.

[Doctor Who]

You know, I hate to rain on your parade, guys, especially since the stories are great. But the KBR is the current view leader:

It only has about 70 or 80 posts, but has nearly 29,000 views. That's a pretty substancial lead. You'll have to do a lot of clicking to overcome that lead anytime soon.

Was there a reason why you, oh Flyer person, posted this piece of trivia????

I know the KBR thread has 6 pages and the count I'm really beginning to question but it's not impossible to have that many views!!!

So again oh Mouse With Wings, was there a point to this???

I'm kind of behind in my story detail and I have been rather busy, I can't do it all by myself but if Magician gets upset then the thread will probably die. I find it rather odd that other drivers(?) don't have tales to tell that will fit in with this topic!
Plus, I'm quite sure a recruiter or two can come up with a horror/comedy about potential recruits...

Be on the look out for "Graffiti and the Governor"
No it's not a lame Sit-Com!!!

[trckndadsangel]

A few months back we had a three dropper headed for Lousville, Kentucky. On the way we stopped at this whole in the wall truckstop for the night. We went in to get some dinner. I had realized that I had forgotten my id and went back out to the truck to get it. I get to the truck and this man comes around the corner of our trailer. I look up at the driver next to me who had his window down. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. The driver next to me said "I see him back there your ok I will watch him" I had a good feeling about the driver so I got into the truck grabbed my id locked the truck and as I was getting ready to step off the truck the driver next to me said for me to stay put. He gets out of his truck walks in front of our truck and tell this guy you best leave. The driver watched for me to get back into the resteraunt. A few minutes later he came in with his wife. I thanked the driver for watching out for me. His reply to me was we should all watch out for each other. I have heard that same thing growing up and have always remembered that piece of advice. I may be 33 years young but I have gotten some real good advice through the years from my Dad and Uncles that I will be passing onto my kids as they get older.

[Doctor Who]

This is not too humourous but it shows how drivers really should look out for each other in times of need!!!


Earlier today I came across a flatbed with a load of 6? pipe and the load was leaning rather hard to the right. Me being the driver I am pulled over to assist the distraught driver if I could.
The driver, needless to say, was very upset that the load had shifted. I asked him where he was at when it started to lean and he told me he had made a turn off of highway 96, which was the same highway I turned off of. I am vaguely aware of the new rules regarding flatbedders and load securement. I asked the driver if he was absolutely sure he had everything tied down properly, he did say he thought it was. Since I wasn?t at the loading site I took his word for it?
We tried several things to pull the load back straight, nothing would get the pipe to budge. I looked at the dump wagon, looked at the driver and told him to guide me as I back around his truck and to make sure the dump body did not come in contact with any wires. I tried backing into the load with the bed down, nothing. I then raised the bed slightly and nudged the load back. On the second attempt with the bed raised the pipe was just about straight and the driver feverishly went to work at re-chaining the load before I pulled away.
He offered to pay me for the service and I told him to keep his money, just get on down the highway safely and that he may just be able to help me one day!! With that said we shook hands and bid each other a good holiday and went our separate ways?

I do hope he got the load to its destination without any more trouble!!!

Just another day in paradise....

Oh by the way Magician??? It's over 13,000

[magician_73]

I know the KBR thread has 6 pages and the count I'm really beginning to question but it's not impossible to have that many views!!!

I think you're on the right track Doc, about a flying mouse. Originally began on Dec. 16th, that's 229 days ago and with a view of 28021, that comes to an 'average'....an average of 122.36 views a day! Highly improbable, I would say!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yes Doc, I see we made the 13,000 and by Labor Day weekend !

[magician_73]

This tale takes place 'way back when' - when we didn't have cb's and cell phones.... and relates the 'rewards' of being a 'highway hero'.

It was a dreary, cold winter evening and I was heading down US 97 towards K-Falls, Or....road was icy, snow was falling and as I glanced ahead, I spotted a four wheeler sitting on the shoulder of the northbound side of this two-lane highway. As I slowed I could make out a person sitting behind the wheel, but the car wasn't running, no lights visible. I eased on up the road for another couple hundred feet til I found a wide spot to pull off..I stopped, got out and walked back to the four-wheeler. Sitting there all wrapped in blanket was a young lady (22 I later found out) who was on her way back to The Dulles after visiting some friends/family in Northern California.

I asked her what the problem was with her car (a 1949 Packard) and she said it just died. She had plenty of gas, etc. and had tried repeatedly to restart it but without success. I opened the hood and had her try to restart it....it barely turned over, but just wouldn't kick in. My guess was the fuel pump. There was plenty of gas showing on the guage and she remarked she had just filled up in K-Falls (about 26 miles back). It was getting colder and the snow was coming down harder. I asked her what she wanted to do? I suggested she ride back to K-Falls with me and we would arrange for a towtruck to come out and get her car. She said that was fine except for one problem. She had little cash, and only a Texaco credit card. I told her we would worry about that when the time came, but lets go get the towtruck. She took a small suitcase out of the car, locked it and followed me to the truck. It was a 53 bubblenose KW and the heater wasn't all that great, but at least it was warm. She climbed in and we started down the highway towards K-Falls. There was a diner/cafe just on the northern outskirts of K-Falls and I pulled in there. We went inside and I suggested we grab something warm to drink while looking in the phone book for towtrucks, etc.

We grabbed a booth, a phone book and found an emergency 24 towing service. I went over to the payphone and called the number. Yes, they were available to tow her car into K-Falls and asked what shop she wanted it towed to. I asked the guy on the phone if he had any suggestions and he named a shop just down from his garage. I said that would do. He asked where we were, I told him and he said he would pick us up in 15/20 minutes.

I went back to the table, sipped on the coffee and began the conversation. I introduced myself, she introduced herself. I found out she was a nurse and had a few days off, so she decided to drive down to northern California to visit some friends/family. The trip down was uneventful. She had inadvertently left her checkbook at her family place in California and didn't miss it til she stopped for gas. We chatted for a few minutes, ordered a piece of pie to go with the coffee and waited for the towtruck.
I asked her what her plans were after the towtruck brought her car into town. She said she didn't know, that she probably would have to call someone in the Dulles to come down and get her. With the weather getting that bad, I told her they may not want to come down til the storm passed.
The towtruck driver left with instructions on where the car was located and I told him we would wait here at the cafe til he came back. I told her I had to continue on, for I had to be in Stockton tomorrow afternoon. I told her I wouldn't leave her stuck there in the cafe. I went over to one of the waitresses and asked her about a cozy little motel, easy to get to and not too far from the shop where her car was headed. The waitress gave me the name and I called them. They had two rooms left and I told them to hold one...gave them my name and said I was bringing a lady in who had broke down on the highway.
We sat there and chatted til the towtruck driver came back. He came in and once again confirmed where he was taking her car. He gave her the address and phone number. I told him she would be in the motel right up the street. She eyed me kinda funny and as the towtruck driver left, said, she couldn't get a room, she didn't have her checkbook. I said 'don't worry', you aren't sitting in this cafe all night.
We went out to the truck, drove a few miles in towards town, spotted the garage where the towtruck was dropping her car, and just past it was the motel. I stopped on the shoulder, walked over with her and told the clerk I was the guy who had just called and this was the woman who was broke down.
I paid for two nights at the motel, in case they didn't get it fixed the very next day, and told the desk clerk to give the refund to her, if she didn't need to stay over. I walked her down to her room, went in with her, gave her my name, address, phone number and she did likewise. I told her I would call her around noon, before checkout to see how she was doing.

I also gave her $100 just in case. She said she would have her bank transfer $$$$ to oay for the repairs to her car, whatever amount it came to. We chatted for a few more minutes She thanked me over and over and promised she would repay me, and I left.

The next day, I called her room at the motel around 11 am and she answered, said they found the problem, it was a plugged fuel line and her car would be ready about 2 pm. They said it was going to cost her about $40. I had already paid the towtruck driver on the side, unknown to her.
When she mentioned she would have to pay the towtruck guy, I said no, he was already taken care of. She sounded a lot more cheerful and said to 'please stay in touch'. I said I would.


To make this long story short....we kept in touch and 15 months later, we married. We have two daughters, (one a nurse and other a CPA). Unforunately we were divorced . But there are no regrets!

[magician_73]

. I find it rather odd that other drivers(?) don't have tales to tell that will fit in with this topic!
Plus, I'm quite sure a recruiter or two can come up with a horror/comedy about potential recruits...

Totally agree with ya Doc. there has to be others with tales of amusement, including those 'recruitment horrors/unbelievable' funny incidents.

[Twilight Flyer]

I brought up the post count to yank on Doc's chain. Someone has to keep the old gimp honest.

As far as stories, I could certainly add a goodly number, but alas, the fact that I am STILL recruiting prevents me from sharing...at least some of the really funny/horrible ones.

[magician_73]

I brought up the post count to yank on Doc's chain. Someone has to keep the old gimp honest.

Doc, I didn't know you had a chain, I thought it was a yoyo string? And what's this old gimp?

As far as stories, I could certainly add a goodly number, but alas, the fact that I am STILL recruiting prevents me from sharing...at least some of the really funny/horrible ones.

Pray tell how does the fact your are 'STILL' recruiting prevent you from sharing? If you don't mention specific names, we won't know anyone! Doc, I think it's just a lame excuse - how about you? May the almighty :moose: :moose: deposit havoc on his bed sheets!

[magician_73]

Wow, it rolled over to page 22How about that, Doc?:rock: The ole :moose: is getting the ole miles on him, too! The Bros. would be proud!

[Doctor Who]

And what's this old gimp?

The Bat Guy has taken great delight in the fact that I can't walk like normal people, I kind of lean to the right since the Honda ate my knee and just left the pits.... It really sucks but I'm managing to ambulate however, it is still fodder for humourous banter between the Bat, the Beetle and the Who!!!!

The Bros. would be proud!

Yeah the Brothers would definitely be proud.....

[Doctor Who]

Graffiti and The Governor....


Back in the ?70?s the governor of NJ declared war on trucks that had graffiti written in the dirt on the back doors, or on the rare occasion, on the back of the tank. It seems that the then governor?s wife and/or daughter got offended by a piece of graphic graffiti drawn on the back of a truck. This is not the modern day version of graffiti known as tagging by bored teenagers and spray paint. The dirt drawings and scrawl were usually crude in nature but some of the dirt ?art? was quite good.

Well since the governor declared ?war? state troopers and local cops were ordered to be on the look out for ?dangerous? graffiti, like they didn?t have enough to do as it was!!!
Yes, Dad was on the prowl also, which made it a bit tough for me since I liked to write in the dirt on the trailer doors and such.

First time I was pulled over for questionable material, I was pulling a very dirty chemical tank. Someone at a mine in Kentucky thought it would be great to draw a very well endowed lady(?) on the back bulkhead. I knew it was there but forgot about the new decree in NJ. The trooper that pulled me said I had to clean it and I told him I?ll bring the truck to his house and use his hose. He was not very happy as he handed me the ticket for lewd art on a transport vehicle. It was thrown out of court; the judge asked the officer if he was an art critic!

The second time I was pulled over I was driving up the NJ Turnpike when I saw the familiar flashing red light behind me. I pulled over and the trooper came up to the truck and told me to get out real slow so, I obliged him by moving in very slow motion, which did piss him off a bit. I then asked him, very slowly, what I had done since I knew I wasn?t speeding. He escorted me to the rear of the trailer and showed me the words in the dirt: ?Caution this driver is subject to LSD flashbacks!!!?
I started laughing and the more I did the more pissed the officer became. Finally he shouted at me asking what was so funny and I said he was... I asked him if he really believed the words on the door or, was he extremely bored...
He whipped out his ticket writing instrument when Dad pulled up and got out of the cruiser. He looked at the statement on the door, looked at me, and asked the officer what was going on. The trooper explained his position and Dad told him to get on his way and find some real traffic offenses, the trooper didn?t put up much of an argument since Dad was a sergeant at that time.
Dad did pull me to the side and asked if I had written the statement and I told him I didn?t but had a damn good idea who did.
I will say this; I did get a lot of odd looks as people went by me the rest of the day. I dropped the trailer in Long Island and when I got back to the yard the boss asked me about the incident. I just told him it was nothing but I have a huge surprise for the gentleman who wrote the ditty!!!

The governor lost his job three months later and the stupidity stopped!!!

[Doctor Who]

Well the thread has staggered over 14,000