Amusing factual stories - real life experiences in trucking

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>As many drivers have noticed riding high up off the pavement has some real advantages. I won't state the obvious, but will concentrate on the not so obvious.

On any given workday the chatter on the CB is full of complaints about the [iost_uid0]TRAFFIC[/iost_uid0] and how bad it is in the AM and again in the PM. I used to be one of the many complainers until I realised that "Rush Hour" traffic can be entertaining.
The height advantage a truck has makes observing the goings on in other smaller vehicles a great pass-time.

I'll try not to be grossly graffic, but most will get the idea.
I will state for the record that I have been in almost all of the major cities in the US and Canada, there may be a few I have missed. So I have been in "Rush Hour" traffic in some of the best places in the country.

As a driver it is a given that traffic jams are an inconvenience or a down right a pain in the ass. This fact is true, but if it is taken as entertainment the blood pressure lowers and the day looks a lot brighter..

Case in point: I-285 in Atlanta, aka The Watermelon 500! Early one Tuesday morning stuck in slow rolling traffic a gentleman driving a Buick was eating a bowl of Frosted Flakes as he manuvered lane to lane.
Same day, different section of the 500, woman putting on bra and blouse while driving her VW Jetta. I did get a photo of this!

Cross Bronx Expressway NYC Friday morning(1979) Not sure what was driving, but person was reading a book while steering with their knees. This person wound up hitting a bus!
L.I.E eastbound same friday, Two women engaged in a kissing contest.. I'm not going to say anymore.
Cross Bronx Expressway at the George Washington Bridge that Friday afternoon. I can't find the right words to describe what was going on in the Chevy van next to me, but I can say that I was too shocked to get a photo!

California I-405. It is absolutely amazing what some folks could do with certain vegetables. Again the shock factor alone precludes me from finishing this scene!

The same can be said for Chicago, Denver and OKC.

Houston I-610 Thursday AM. Everything I heard about Texas was true, although I don't think the lady passenger was too thrilled to see me looking inside the pick-up. She told me I was number one and I laughed for the next 2 hours!

NJ Turnpike around East Brunswick NJ Thursday evening (1982) A call from another driver peaked my interest as a Ford Torino passed me. I looked down and all I could see was the back side of a rather chubby lady. I called the driver in front of me and asked him to confirm what I thought I saw!
The driver said he would do so, but he never got the chance. The driver of the Torino swerved and bounced off the trucks tyres, then hauled ass down the highway. We figured the guy driving the car realised that the truckers could see down into his car. We also came to the conclusion that he would have to clean his seat off at the next service plaza... We were right!

This is, but a sample of what goes on.
I look at it this way, it is great entertainment and I'm getting paid to watch it.
I will also admit that there were times when I would go hunt down a traffic jam just to sit and watch the "Greatest Show On The Planet"

One other thing! My XYL rode with me on a few occasions and on one in particular I had passed a car and she turned and looked at me and said that the guy flashed her. I took it all in stride and told her "Well, flash him back!"

Ah the joys of driving!!</span>[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Driving for a LTL company, such as Roadway, Yellow or Overnite or driving for a small package company like Fed Ex, Purolator or UPS can be very enlightening and someitmes really entertaining.

Most LTL companies, with the exception of Jevic, do house deliveries, which are a pain on good days and down right miserable on bad days.

On a rather warm July day in the late 70's I was a casual driver for Roadway. I stopped for lunch when another Roadway driver came in and looked like he was in shock. I had asked him what was wrong and he said nothing was wrong, but he had an odd experience.
Of course, I asked him to enlighten me and he did. This driver made a house delivery, he got to the door and was met by an older woman dressed in nothing but her panties. He told her that there was a delivery on the truck for her. She asked him if he could bring the freight in the house. Of course he was rather hesitant, but he gave in and brought the box to the door.
I asked him if that was it, he said no and continued. He opened the door and brought the box into the living room. The lady signed the freight bill and he turned to leave when a younger lady came down the stairs. The driver stopped in his tracks. He said that the young lady asked him if he had never seen a naked woman before. He said all he could do was run out the door and get into the truck and get away as fast as he could.. I hated that I missed it!!

As I had written else where I did drive for Purolator on Saturdays in the middle 80's. I did an afternoon run picking up receipts and payroll from Joyce Leslie a womens clothing chain in New Jersey and New York.
One Saturday, I was not in the mood to do the run, but I knew the job had to get done. I begrudgedly headed out to Woodbridge NJ and then worked my way to Upstate NY and then down to Greenwich Village, lower Manhatten. I got to this stop a tad early and had to wait for the manager to get the package together. While I waited in the store I heard a womans voice behind me, I turned and stood face to face with a lady who stepped out of a dressing room wearing jeans and a bra. She asked me if I thought the bra fit her and did I think it looked good on her. I looked around for the ladys husband or boyfriend or maybe a camera.
I told the lady the bra looked fine and I hauled ass out of the store. I waited for the manager by the van. I told her what had happened. She apologized and went on to explain that the customer was a bit odd and it wasn't the first time she had done something like that. The manager also said that the lady would walk out of the store without completely redressing. Only in New York!!
Before I left I looked up at the moon and saw it was full. A definite bad omen..
When I got back to the terminal I told a few of the other drivers about the incident.
The next Saturday 5 guys wanted to do that run!!</span>[/colorost_uid0]



Edited By Doctor Who on 1053996019

[color=#000F22ost_uid0]Now here's something I can relate to.
doctor who did we work for the same company at one time??
The Purolator story sounds so familiar.[/colorost_uid0]

[Twilight Flyer]

[color=#000080ost_uid0]Doc, one of my best friends from high school drives truck and he's had some pretty good stories, too. From what I've gathered, a car passing a big truck is an exhibitionists dream.
::[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>You betcha, as I said the entertainment value alone is worth the inconvenience.
I put down just a tidbit of what goes on. I could have written more, but out of respect for Jeff and Lucinda I just picked some of the lighter moments. I couldn't tell you how many times I've just about run off the road after seeing something I didn't really believe!!
I'd have to tell you off line about some of the risque scenes!</span>[/colorost_uid0]

[Silver Bullet]

[color=#000000ost_uid0]Doc, I have been off-line for a few months, but I am pleased to see that you are still entertaining us with your stories. I had alot of reading to do to catch up on all I've missed, but I have to say, it was all worthwhile reading.[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Good to see you made it back. Yes there is nothing like getting caught up on your reading!!

Another interesting point this thread has broken the 1000 mark.

Another cause for celebration: Wooo-Hooo confetti is flying and someone stole the balloons.....
Stick around there is more to come!!

Brian, you don't realize what you have started. </span>[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Do logs have eyes??

Another visit from the [bost_uid0]OLDER[/bost_uid0] half of the Chemical Brothers and another Tale or two from the Dark Side:

After unloading at a chemical plant in downtown Louisiana I asked my brother to pull over so I could "cool a hot tyre"
He found a safe spot to get the truck off the road and stop.
I jumped out and wandered over to the drive wheels. Before I did anything I looked around and noticed there was a small canal or river next to the road. A very eerie feeling swarmed over me. I looked back at the water and noticed two little bubbles on what I thought was a log.
I yelled to the brother "Do logs have eyes??"
I didn't wait for the answer I jumped back in the truck and told him to get the #### out of there!!!

Another animal tale, or is it tail?

On a cold winter night back in the 80s I just crossed over into Pennsylvania from New Jersey on I-80 and started to climb the big hill rising from the Delaware Water Gap. I was just about to the top when I heard a loud [bost_uid0]BOOM![/bost_uid0] Yes, a tyre had let go I pulled over at the top of the hill to inspect the damage. Fortunately it was an inside right rear tyre and I had a light load, which meant I could continue on to the next Truck Stop and get it fixed. While I stood looking at the trailer I felt something stick me in the back, my first thought was I was being hijacked. I slowly turned my head towards the rear of the truck and didn't see any other vehicle and I turned towards the front and didn't see anything. I then turned around and just about jumped out of my boots. The "stranger" jumped also and then hauled ass back towards the woods.
I climbed back into the cab and started laughing. I wondered how many times the [bost_uid0]FAWN[/bost_uid0] tried to hijack a truck?</span>[/colorost_uid0]



Edited By Doctor Who on 1055167343

[Silver Bullet]

[color=#008080ost_uid0]Doc, you never fail to make me laugh. I especially liked the "hijacking fawn" story, seein' as I used to live in Pennsylvania.[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Thanks, Bullet. The little critter had me sweating a bit, but after it was over and I went on to the Truck Stop I told the trye guy about it. He asked me if he could have a hit of what ever it was I was smoking! Oh well!!
I like Pennsylvania, I may end up moving there..

There was a bad side to that tale. On the down bound trip the next morning a serious fog had settled in over the gap creating an extremely hazardous situation.
I was rolling along in the right lane at about the speed limit, when 5 Monfort trucks shot down the left lane at the speed of sound. They looked like a rocket sled, or more accurately one big assed truck. I saw the hood of the first and the tail of the last disappear into the fog.
It couldn't have been more than 5 minutes when all #### broke loose on the radio. The first words were [bost_uid0]"OH SH*T"[/bost_uid0] followed by "There's a whole herd of deer down here"
The slower trucks, including me, slowed down even more and put our 4 ways on.
Then we all came to a stop. I-80 looked like a battlefield. Number 1 Monfort was hit in the rear by number 3. Number 2 was laying on its side in the grass on the right side of the highway. Number 4 was in the median and number 5 was across the Eastbound lanes.
All the drivers were OK, couldn't say the same for the deer, they were scattered all over the Interstate.
What a way to spend a morning!!!</span>[/colorost_uid0]



Edited By Doctor Who on 1055260540

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>I did forget to mention this!!!
The [bost_uid0]OLDER[/bost_uid0] half of the Chemical brothers claims he is going to make an appearence on the board.
He says it is to defend his honour!!

[bost_uid0]YEAH, RIGHT[/bost_uid0] </span> ::[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:15pt;line-height:100%'>[bost_uid0]YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT IN THERE!![/bost_uid0]</span>

<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Way back in the last century I had a delivery to make in Brooklyn, NY. Keep in mind I was driving a W-900 KW and a 45' trailer. The 45' was the biggest trailer at the time.
I made my way over to the Bedford Stuyvesant section of the Borough. I had to turn on a one way street and go about three blocks and the company was on the right, at least that was what the directions stated.
I found the place and it was on the right side of a narrow one way street.

I walked in and handed the bills to the receiver, who had a big grin on his face. I asked him what was so funny and he said that I would never get my truck in the dock.
I told him I loved a challange and I'll back it in.

I wandered outside and measured up my possibilities, couldn't go down the street and turn around and come up the wrong way. Although that would have been the smarter thing to do.
Well, being the headstrong person I was I proceeded to back in on the "blindside"! The W-900 did not have power steering, which made the situation all the more interesting.
It took about a hour to get the bloody truck in the dock, but I did it even though I had ####ed off cops, taxi drivers and one old Greek lady with a mean umbrella.
I stepped out of the truck and I heard someone cursing up a storm. I walked into the warehouse and asked what was going on. The receiver told me he had placed a bet with the owner and the owner lost. Made me feel good.
The owner of the company had to buy lunch and I'll state for the record the Calzone was good...
I did have a harder time getting out!!</span>[/colorost_uid0]

[magician_73]

[color=#000000ost_uid2]Doc Who - I am curious as to 'how' and 'who' started this thread? It's one of the best in any other the message boards![/colorost_uid2]

[Doctor Who]

[color=#8D38C9ost_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Thank you for the compliment!!!

Now to answer your question.

The thread was started by a friend last July. He was a moderator and decided to liven up the board by starting a thread based on Trucker Stories. Due to some bad events that occured he left and the thread died. That was until I decided to bring it back to life by taking events out of my personal journal, which are supposed to be published as a book sometime in the next 40 years or so!!! With all the years I've been driving, 30 to be exact, I have amassed at least 750 handwritten pages in a ton of journals...

To lessen the confusion. The posts by Groucho are mine. Awhile back the board hiccupped and some posts were lost along with the original Doctor Who(me) so there are a few stories that a guest had submitted, but they were from me also!!
Enjoy the stories, there just may be more to come</span>[/colorost_uid0]

[Doctor Who]

It would seem on the surface that the last tale was thrown into Cyber Oblivian, but underneath the surface there are BUGS

I'll try this one again...

A few days back my oldest daughter and I were having lunch at a Bojangles and we were watching a driver from a non-descript car hauler trying to load used cars.
The driver got into the first car in line and drove it up the ramps only to have it stall at the top. He tried three times without success.
Finally, in which I guess was a fit of anger, the driver stood on the gas and the car shot up the ramps across the top of the trailer and rolled off the top of the tractor.
My daughter said "Cool!!!"
I told her we better go check to see if the driver was OK. He was, but he was also rather belligerent, so the daughter and I went about our business.

When we got back to the car she asked me if I had ever done something like that.
I told her I did and it went something like this..

Back during the Casual Car Hauling Days on a rainy, icy February day I had a load of cars to deliver in Pennsylvania and end up in Buffalo.
I wandered through the yard looking for the vehicles to load and lined them up according to delivery.
The first car was a Ford LTD Wagon, yes with the woodgrain sides, I started up the ramp only to slide back down. The second attempt was a little better, at least I got the car on the trailer.
I wasn't about to let a little rain and ice stop me, so I backed the wagon up, stood on the gas and the car went up the ramp and on to the trailer. All was well until I realized I couldn't stop when I got to the head rack.
What a sight, the LTD wagon, with me inside, going right off the top of the tractor..
The Terminal Manager came running out of the office yelling and cursing. He didn't ask me if I was OK, all he kept saying was "I was fired.."
All I could do was laugh and tell him it was just like the Dukes of Hazzard.

I didn't get fired, but I figured it was time to quit car hauling, so I thanked the T/M for the opportunity and told him to tear up my phone number.

My boss was happy I was no longer casual and I was happy that he didn't follow through on his threat to buy a couple of car trailers..

[Doctor Who]

Oh Magician, if you keep hanging out with Flashflood your reputation will be ruined.........................................

Well the flood waters have subsided for the time being and the Tornado Warnings have been lifted....

Earlier today this half of North Carolina was under watches, warnings and a lot of rain, thanks to Bill..

A woman , who lives across the street from me, called and asked if I was going storm chasing. My first reaction was "How did she know I was a storm chaser?"
Answer? My 13 year old told her and her daughter. It seems they both are fascinated by severe storms especially the daughter.

I didn't go storm chasing, but did wander outside and had a chat with the people.
The little girl asked if I had chased any tornadoes and I told her I did both in a car and a truck.

The truck perked her interest..

DON'T TRY THIS WITH AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER!!!!

If you do, don't let the boss know..

There have been a few times over the years I have chased, or been chased by "The Tail Of The Devil!" Fortunately I'm still around to reminisce.

Dateline: Late June 1998...

Another stormy evening in the Tarheel and I had just finished unloading 9100 gallons of gas at a station in Richlands, NC, which is not far from Jacksonville..

On the ride back to Selma, NC the mild thunder shower became extremely violent. The rain came down so hard I couldn't see the hood of the Kenworth T-800 I was driving and as drivers, who drive these, will atest to there isn't much of a hood to begin with.
I switched frequencies on my Amateur radio and tuned to 146.820 and the Skywarn Net in Wilmington.
I checked in and told the Net Control Operator I was in the county under the warning.
I turned onto a narrow two lane state highway, when the operator called me back and asked me what I was seeing out the windshield.
First I told him it was raining. No more than a few seconds past when hail the size of ice cubes started pelting the truck.
I told the operator and he confirmed it by saying he could hear the hail hitting the truck over the radio.
I told him he should be in the truck with me, the hail hitting the trailer sounded like a Caribbean steel drum. It woke people up in the houses I had passed. Not to mention the headache I was getting.
I also told him that I was a few miles from Beulaville.

The hail storm lasted for about ten minutes, I hated to see how much damage was done to the tank, since there isn't much metal to them.

My thoughts were interrupted by the operator asking me where I was at. I told him I had just turned onto the main street in Beulaville. He then said the NWS people would like to know what I was seeing.
I did have a real smartassed answer for him since it was dark, but thought better of it when all got unnervingly quiet.
I asked him why and he said that the operators saw a hook echo on the radar and it was over the place I was at. The feeling of "I need to get the Hell out there!!" crept over me.
I told the operator that I was stopped and I couldn't see anything.
It was then that I felt a tugging on the trailer. I looked in the mirrors and didn't see anything. First thought was. "Someone hit me!"
I felt the tug again only a lot harder, it was then I noticed the back end of the trailer lifting off the ground and being pulled to the right.
I jammed the stick into fourth gear and stomped on the throttle. I told the guys in Wilmington there was in fact a Tornado on the ground and I wasn't sticking around.

I drove through the town and made a turn onto another two lane highway, when I heard a guy, who had drove through the town earlier, yelling on the radio that the twister had touched down at a small crossroads a few miles from where I was.

I made it back to Selma, pulled back in the yard and checked the truck for damage. There were dents in the trailer and both fenders on the KW were cracked.
I had the dispatcher document the damage and went home. I didn't tell him about the Tornado.

The next morning the phone rang and when I answered I had to hold the receiver away from my ear. The T/M was a tad upset, to say the least.
He wanted to know why I chased a Tornado.
I told him I didn't chase it, it chased me. I also asked him how he knew.
I had forgotten that the radio operator in Wilmington knew who I worked for. To make it better, one of Eagles drivers in Wilmington was listening on his scanner. So, the phone at the terminal was ringing as soon as the sun came up.

Until the next board hiccup........................

The neighbours kid asked me if I would take her the next time I chased a tornado with a truck... I told her the truck days were over.
One other thing. This kid watches the Weather Channel almost day and night. I told the Mother that the kid could be watching shows a lot worse..

[Doctor Who]

OK, what's up with with this board?
I signed in to post this story and when I was done, I was no longer signed in!!!!

The above story was posted by me.......

[TennesseeAngel]

Hey Doc,
You all have had some rough weather up that way this afternoon. Did you do any chasing this afternoon because of it? We have had wind gusts around 40 mph here in Myrtle beach but nothing worse than that except alot of rain and thunderstorms. It was enough for me to wear a path out between windows and doors here but nothing in the way of tornado warnings. All that was across the border and your way apparently.

[Doctor Who]

It was enough for me to wear a path out between windows and doors here but nothing in the way of tornado warnings. All that was across the border and your way apparently.

It has been a day to put it mildly..

I did get to chase two Tornadoes this afternoon, I got a PM from Beetle and the Weather Radio went off at the same time. Well me, my 13 year old, the little girl across the street and her mother went storm chasing.

Well, we spotted two Tornadoes, nothing too spectacular, but it was enough for the little kid and her mother to talk about for the next year or so.. One actually touched down and tore up a couple trees, a fence and a chicken coop.. No-one was hurt, not even a chicken...

More fun than one person can legally have on a Wednesday.....

Well the Weather Radio went off again, time to roll again.....