Life Changes

Growing up, I didn’t know what I wanted to be. I guess I probably had the same thoughts as any young boy did, the thoughts of being a super hero, or a fireman, police officer. I did at one time want to follow in my father’s footsteps to become a farmer – but I soon grew out of that notion as there is a lot of work involved for very little money. I never dreamed of becoming a truck driver.

I grew up on the farm doing most jobs that are required to have a successful farming business at a very young age. We were a long way from being rich with money, but we survived and my parents made sure that we had what we needed. I say “we” because there were six of us kids and I was the “baby” of the family. All my brothers and sisters went to college. They are all successful people with families and good jobs. I never went to college I consider myself the “black sheep” of the family.

I worked for my father on the farm and was paid minimum wages – with no taxes held out – because I lived at home up until I met my wife. We moved in together before getting married. After getting married – I decided it was time to get a real job. I began working as an EMT – but only lasted for a few months – I got tired of really long hours with very little pay.

I decided after looking through some newspapers that I was going to give trucking a try. I enrolled into truck driving school, and completed the school at the top of my class – which amazed me as I had never been in or around a tractor trailer before arriving at the school. After graduation, I got hired with a company and went out with a poor trainer who used the opportunity to run like a team – and me as the nighttime driver – so he could sleep. I soon quit the company after an argument with the trainer at the TA truck-stop in Gary, IN.

I made it back home in Kentucky and ended up going to work locally for a guy that lived up the road from driving a truck pulling a “coal bucket” – I must say that was probably the best driving job out of a few different jobs that I had. It really taught me a lot about trucking – because I had to treat the truck as if I owned it – or I wouldn’t be working. I learned how to be easy on the truck and still be very productive. I also learned how to repair my truck if it ever broke down. It was not like most people today that work for companies – If I broke down I had no break down department to call into – I had to fix it myself – if possible.

I went on to a few other driving jobs that all taught me even more about trucking and life. I have pulled all different types of trailers and loads in my career as a truck driver. Trucking has taught me that the happiest of people do not necessarily have the best of everything, they just make the most of everything they have. I loved trucking – because I was good at it. I could sit and drive and drive and drive and it was fun.

July 1st of 2009 my career ended. And after March 2010 it was official I was ordered by a law judge in good standing in the state of Kentucky that I would never drive another tractor trailer again. So, I have also learned that life changes without a moment’s notice. Everything works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end. Never regret your past, only regret it if you have not learned from it.

I will end this article with assurance that I will be around – God willing – to still act as a watchdog and activist for truckers. Be safe on the highways and always remember you are needed even though it may seem like nobody cares – you are needed.

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