[color=#8D38C9:post_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 [i:post_uid0]TRAFFIC[/i:post_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>[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#8D38C9:post_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>[/color:post_uid0]



Edited By Doctor Who on 1053996019

[color=#000F22:post_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.[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#000080:post_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.
:;):[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#8D38C9:post_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>[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#000000:post_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.[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#8D38C9:post_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. :p</span>[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#8D38C9:post_uid0]<span style='font-size:9pt;line-height:100%'>Do logs have eyes??

Another visit from the [b:post_uid0]OLDER[/b:post_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 [b:post_uid0]BOOM![/b:post_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 [b:post_uid0]FAWN[/b:post_uid0] tried to hijack a truck?</span>[/color:post_uid0]



Edited By Doctor Who on 1055167343

[color=#008080:post_uid0]Doc, you never fail to make me laugh. I especially liked the "hijacking fawn" story, seein' as I used to live in Pennsylvania.[/color:post_uid0]

[color=#8D38C9:post_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 [b:post_uid0]"OH SH*T"[/b:post_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>[/color:post_uid0]



Edited By Doctor Who on 1055260540