Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/232692
VOICES Some stressful situations lead over-the-road blogger Wendy Parker to get the "Ernest Borgnine eye." SHORT FUSES AT THE FUEL ISLAND I'm reminded of a comedian's bit about how an automated world has made us all impatient. He said he stood in line at the bank behind an agitated woman who verbally assaulted a teller after waiting nine seconds in line. It's true. We're an instant-gratification kind of society; we really don't wait for much. Except when it comes to the fuel isle, or getting unloaded, or getting out of a traffic jam, or just about everything that has to do with trucking. I've gotten a lot better. The first time George and I waited 45 minutes for the fuel isle, I nearly stroked out. I get perturbed sitting at receivers, Commenting as mlkmade at I'm annoyed by traffic jams, but for OverdriveOnline.com: Oh Wendy, can some reason, the fuel isle thing makes I relate to your article! Just a few weeks me murderously angry. People should ago, I went ballistic on a guy washing his know better than to disassemble their truck (including floor mats) at the fuel truck at the pump and go over every island while the islands were three deep! My poor husband stayed on the other side single wire and hose while six other of the truck. It wasn't pretty. trucks wait to fuel. Rick Biehle: The Love's at Pittsboro, Secondly, how hard would it be for Ind., has attendants watching those fueling the big three to have pump attendants, and telling them to park. I also saw that who are there strictly for jerk patrol, somewhere else. since we can't depend on society to John Scott: It's a lack of respect for self-monitor and just know inherently other people and property. It's the same not to be one? drivers who park and sleep in no-parking Anyway, I'm lucky to be riding with areas and block the rest of us legally someone who tempers my pinging parked. Or the ones who leave pee bottles off the walls. George will agree with and garbage on the ground when a can is less than 10 feet away. all my proclamations of what kinds C.J. Marley: It doesn't really bother of torture should be inflicted upon me if a trucker grabs some to-go food or those who go inside to get chicken a coffee while he's at the pump. We're all while their truck is parked at the wanting to keep moving, and going through pump. He pats my hand and feeds me the whole process of parking just to grab a blood-pressure meds, and I really aphamburger is just a pain in the butt. But I've preciate that he usually doesn't remark seen guys who will go in and sit down to eat about my Ernest Borgnine eye. The or even take a shower while at the pump, headlines should read, "George Parker and those are the guys I want to strangle. Saves Lives at the Fuel Pump." VIDEO: Piss'd Off Pete grabs 12 minutes of celebrity and roars on Of the 250+ videos on Overdrive's YouTube channel, one accounts for a fourth of all our 935,000 views. It's a glimpse of a phenomenal tractorturned-hot rod, Piss'd Off Pete, shot by Bruce W. Smith, former editor of Overdrive's Custom Rigs. The creation was designed by one of the premier automotive stylists, Randy Grubb. It's powered by a two-stroke Detroit Diesel 12V71, the 71 referring to cubic inches in each cylinder. The engine is a non-turbo version made in the '70s, producing nearly 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque and just under 500 hp. Of several YouTube videos featuring the truck, the best is a 12-minute treatment as part of the "Jay Leno's Garage" online series. Read the Nov. 5 post on OverdriveOnline.com/overdrive-extra to find out where it is today and to see the Leno and Overdrive vids. Or scan the QR for the Overdrive vid. Wendy Parker chronicles her journey on the road with her owner-operator husband, George, in the George and Wendy Show blog on OverdriveOnline. com. Scan the QR to read more from her on your phone or tablet. 6 | Overdrive | January 2014 Voices_0114.indd 6 12/20/13 10:09 AM