Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/522363
VOICES 6 | Overdrive | June 2015 I fi gure I'm a full-grown human being with a pretty good idea of what's right and wrong, and I shouldn't have to be forced to do anything. That being said, there are times when I have no choice. Yesterday was one of them. We came up U.S. 27 out of Home- stead, Fla. Trying 27 ended up being a mistake because there are about 9,001 stop lights. George since has stated he would pay whatever it costs on the turnpike to avoid this from now on. Live and learn. We got behind a company truck that had no brake lights. George did what he always does – he got on the CB. "Hey man, you got it on?" "Come on." "You don't have any brake lights on your trailer." "Well, if I get hit, I'll just say that's what made 'em quit working." George got his "disappointed dad" look. "Just letting you know, brother. Ride safe." We expected the guy to pull off . We hoped his fl ippant answer was a feeble attempt at humor. He never pulled off . He was heading for a 70-mph high- way in a 64-mph truck with no brake lights. Visions of a Prius with a family of vegetarians wedged underneath his trailer were conjured in my mind. We pulled out around him. Neither of us said anything, but we both knew what we had to do. I got his truck number, called the company and let them know. We went about our busi- ness, both feeling like jerks for being tattletales. We are some of the most "live and let live" people you will ever meet. You can worship a potato chip and wear socks on your hands, and I wouldn't think twice about it. I couldn't care less what you do as long as you're not hurting other people. I was mad at the guy for a number of reasons. First, did he even do a pre- trip inspection? Second, why the hell would he be so nasty about something so very dangerous? And third, he made me do something I hate to do, which is police other full-grown humans. The "you drive your truck, I'll drive mine" attitude isn't helping anyone. If someone gets on the CB and tells George he has a problem, he thanks them and pulls over to fi x it. He'd much rather get the heads-up from another driver than a Care Bear. Wouldn't you? Todd Dills DOTHE RIGHT THING 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. " The 'you drive your truck, I'll drive mine' attitude isn't helping anyone. " " I think the experience you had is typical of the battle between the force and the dark side. I couldn't tell you which was which, though. My indecision comes from watch- ing company drivers screw companies and companies screw their drivers. Last summer, one had a CB and was whining about having no A/C for a week. We were close to my home, so I told him if he stopped by, I would recharge it, and if that's all he needed, he'd be back on the road with his break under his belt. Recharge worked, I gave him a receipt for 40 bucks, then listened to him tell his dispatcher the bill to repair the A/C was $640 and the parts would be in the next morning. Dispatcher gave him a Comcheck, and he was gone. I don't think everybody is like that, but there sure seems to be more and more all the time. " — Commenter posting as "Bborn1" " Wendy, you done good. I am a lot like you — I do not want to 'tattle' and do like to warn other drivers of any potential problems they might want to take care of before someone with flashy lights warns them. Brake lights are not a little issue — they impact all other drivers behind the trailer. " — Linda Kay Guiette " Whenever I get that kind of attitude on the radio, I always ask if they would rather hear what's wrong from another driver or someone with a badge and a clipboard. " — Kurt Keilhofer