Magazine / A Likely Story
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“Forgot Password”
To access my company email with the phone requires a password. So does my payroll. And Per Diem. Gmail. Social Security. Medicare. I even need a password to log into my passwords, which doesn’t faze the folks in IT at all. Clearly, they’ve never ... -
A Likely Story
For years I’ve been passing through a time warp between oil fields and windfarms. From the dawn of Y2K to yesterday’s sunset, a lot of my trucking has been hidden in the dust clouds of pump jacks and windmills. Despite a significant reduction in ... -
No Thanks, I’m Driving
Like many of us, I devote sixty hours a week to making sure a load of greeting cards, gift certificates, child support checks, and my sister-in-law’s hand-made envelopes make it safely to their destination. Reading Jen’s letters is a twice-weekly... -
A Likely Story - Adjust In Motion
I like to think there’s no rig I can’t handle. My second cabover, after all, was a 1978 IHC powered by a six-banger Detroit, backed up by a 13-speed Roadranger. You know, one with a splitter over the plunger, which was harder to learn than a Moza... -
Counter Clockwise
The Daylight Savings change happens in March and November. There’s good reason for it, but something different every year. Back in the day, it was for the farmers. Later it was for the kiddos waiting on the school bus. Then it was to distinguish Cl... -
The Night Shift
It was a cold April night in the countryside outside El Paso, and drivers were just settling in the TV room when word came down from dispatch. Five trucks were immediately needed to bobtail for Dallas, scheduled to arrive first thing in the morning. ... -
“I Did That!”
There are now YouTube channels celebrating the dumb stuff truck drivers do. The people creating those videos are just trying to be funny. But in the words of Jay Leno, “If you’re not funny, don’t try!” These influencers are showing mistakes a... -
“No Business Like Snow Business”
“What the hell was I thinking!”, I said to myself as wind driven snow pelted the windshield. It was the middle of January, and middle of the night, in the middle of Minnesota. My load was a big green machine, chained to the stepdeck, destined for... -
My First Ever
I’ve had a lot of ‘firsts’ in my trucking career. It was my first time in Canada, first load to Mexico, and first delivery to Trump Tower on 5th Avenue. It was my first ever drug screen, first serious injury, first time in business, and first ... -
But Wait! There’s More!
Recently I flew for business to Bozeman, Montana, and forgot how much turbulence there could be, even before taking off. Checking in at the ticket counter in Wichita, they asked for everything, Driver’s license, credit card, confirmation number, an... -
“Truck Driving For Dummies”
We were circling Yellowstone Park, awhile back, and my student driver was behind the wheel but ahead of his time. Stopped at a crosswalk, we were waiting for a pedestrian to reach the opposite curb. “Hey, Mike!”, I said quickly, “is that a guy,... -
Five Words Spoken Four Times
I was just now reminiscing about my time as a bachelor. You know, the days of burnt toast, dirt-caked clothes, and nothing but dust bunnies and bills in the mailbox. Oh yeah, the good times, right? Headaches caused by smudged glasses, burger bags stu... -
Dedicated Runs
Many companies advertise dedicated runs, and every outfit has a different idea what, exactly, is a dedicated run. Some say it’s a turn-and-burn, and others think of a one-way delivery. Still others think it means the same kind of freight, and a few... -
“Taking The Wheel”
The driver sitting across from me at an Oklahoma truck stop claimed to have never had an accident, or received a citation, failed an inspection, or been reprimanded by his employers. I’m sure it was true. Or could be true. It wasn’t a fairy tal... -
“Mirror, Mirror On The Wall”
Trucking down southwest Missouri highway 59, it’s a very scenic drive. And very narrow, in places. As I passed a northbound reefer, we actually touched mirrors with a resounding clack. “Are you okay?”, he quickly hollered on the CB. “I’m ok... -
Fire In The Bay
Now that the TSA is in charge of issuing hazmat certification, the training is simply three steps. First, determine the nature of an emergency. Second, take note of the wind direction. Third, run like your life depends upon it, because it probably do... -
Nowhere To Go But Overboard
My father wore a suit & tie to the office. By all accounts he carried it off well. But deep down he was an authentic river rat. He spent every available hour, and a few that weren’t, boating on the Minnesota River. From its source on the shores... -
Pulling My Heartstrings
It was a routine appointment with my cardiologist, checking on a plain old heart stent. They rolled me into the hospital Cath Lab without a rush, where I was padded, prodded, sardined, and packaged upon the table. Then they very routinely shut my lig... -
“Wait For It”
As you may have noticed recently since 1950, we wait for a lot of things in this business. We wait for showers, permits, pickup numbers, and cash advances. We wait in line for fuel, then wait to pay for it. We wait in line to scale, then wait in line... -
“Cruise Control”
I’m a big guy. I drive a big truck. I dream big dreams, and that’s a big deal, but some things can make me feel small in the blink of an eye. That would include the Northern Lights, red cliffs of Moab, and stars so close you could pluck them from...