"North bound cattle wagon, neon lights, driven by a man you couldn't pay me to fight. I swear I haven't seen a zombie until now. Looks like he's been up for days, just driving through the asphalt haze, right now I'd be nervous if I was a cow". Jason Boland Truck Stop Diary.
Holding down the passenger seat gives you a unique perspective into the truck driving
world. I have seen a few deliveries and pick ups when my husband drove a dry box around. Most of those places were built or fixed to accommodate large trucks delivering goods to their docks.
In the month that I have been traveling the road with a cattle hauler though, I realize how fortunate we were when the dry box deliveries were completed. I have one word to describe cattle haulers and that is "determined".
These drivers endure some of the most challenging driving I have ever seen.
The twisting, back roads of Virginia's western mountains. Where an oncoming car can't pass without driving down into the ditch. A Dairy farm that has never had a semi load of cows delivered before, that requires 90,000 lbs of truck and trailer to cross a bridge made out of wooden 6x6's, with only inches to give on either side of the tires. I was laying in a motel bed last night watching an episode of IRT in India. The whole time, thinking to myself, that feeling of doom and gloom those truckers have at every turn in the road or passing vehicle, is the same feeling that I get as the passenger in this truck. The anticipation of what could happen. I would have given up about half way down those narrow, turning roads. My husband on the other hand, handles the pressure like a pro. A little bit of cursing about backwoods hillbillies, and he is back to his normal, cool collected self. The song that I quoted earlier sums up the cattle hauling world for me. I understand the rules and regulations that are put on drivers by the government. But, to look a farmer in the eye and tell him, sorry pal but I have to stop after so long and rest for 10 hours just isn't realistic. Those farmers have money tied up into the welfare of the animals we haul. The Cattle dont deserve to stand in a trailer for 2 days when the load can be delivered in one. I have witnessed sheer determination keeping my husband awake long enough to deliver the load safely. The red eyed, black circled look in his eyes after all of the cattle walk off the trailer safely, is one of relief. I never understood how hard he worked to help keep America fed until I took up residence in the passenger seat of this truck. I am proud to be the wife of a "bull hauler". I am proud to be sitting in this truck and bearing witness to the life of cattle hauling. And, to all of the drivers that poke at the fact that a cattle trailer stinks or manure ends up on the road in front of you; 1st remember that it is just the other end of the burger you are about to shove into your mouth for lunch and 2nd keep your distance.