Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/270298
trailer. LOL; yes, I read my forecast. Sometimes it's right on, others it's not. Depends on my mood if I believe it or not. Ben: I pray daily for not just me, but every- one around me, to make it home safely. It has been working really well so far. I don't read my horoscope. What about a special prayer to keep you safe? Naomi: I have both a small wooden cross my grandmother made me and a small metal angel my mother-in-law gave me on my visor. My prayer every night when I start to drive is this... "Do NOT swerve. Watch for changing conditions. If tired, take a nap. Keep us safe. Thank you." Ben: I like the Lord's Prayer. I also like Psalm 25, a prayer of guidance, pardon, and protection. New challenges? Naomi: Being sick on the road sucks. Be- ing sick in the truck is worse. I had stom- ach fl u; it fi rst hit me as I was climbing Cabbage Pass in Oregon in a snow storm with nowhere to pull over. Just grabbed the trash can and hurled until I could get to a safe place to stop. Ben: I had a run through Illinois during the fi rst storm this winter. It was rough. I helped another trucker and a 4-wheeler who'd run off the road get back onto the highway. A day later I needed help be- cause I was stuck on ice at a truckstop in La Salle, IL. It was a stressful time but I made it through the ice and snow, using prayer and luck. Interesting experiences? Naomi: I lost someone I thought was a close friend. Women are so harsh on each other. We should be supporting each other as we're the minority in this industry. Instead, every woman I know is critical of each of us to a degree I've never seen in any other industry. Ben: I was stuck on a sheet of ice. Being empty was the main reason I couldn't get any traction. I rocked it and rocked it, still no luck. Another driver came with cat litter and was throwing it under my tires while they were spinning. It took some time and patience, but it fi nally caught and I was off the ice. Advice for someone just fi nishing school about keeping luck on your side when OTR? Naomi: Pay attention. Watch conditions. Follow a routine. Do NOT get into a hurry. Be nice to each other. We're all doing the same job. PAY IT FORWARD. Ben: During the winter, always keep a bag of sand or cat litter on the truck. It may get you rolling again. Remember if the snow plows aren't out clearing the roads, it's not a good idea for you to be out there go- ing 15 miles per hour either. Think Safety Always! Here's to your future great loads and great roads. ◆ Timothy Brady © 2013 To contact Brady go to www.truckersu.com 10 www.studentdriverplacement.com March '14 to Trucking Introduction intro trucking 0314.indd 2 2/19/14 3:30 PM