It was maybe 2005, and I was maybe just over a year in the industry. I got out of my pumpkin truck next to this old timer who was pulling boats in a specialized trailer. I thought that was kind of cool, so I struck up a conversation.
We stood there a good long while, and he finally asked me if I had enough spare time to get a meal. I said sure.
Over lunch, he gave me the GAME: what Schneider was for me, what I needed to be looking for in my next company, specializing the type of trucking you did...this guy was WISE. It's not an exaggeration to say that I modeled my entire career after this guy's advice. I think about him often.
He picked up the check at the end of the meal, and said I should do the same for a rookie down the road once I'd found my way. Just a beautiful guy. I've done that for probably a dozen guys since then.
But where it goes awry, I went to the bathroom while he was paying the check, and when I came out, I didn't see him, and out the window I saw the tail end of a blue specialty trailer leaving the parking lot. I hightailed to my truck not paying attention to anything but catching up because I wanted to continue talking to him on the CB.
When I caught up to the truck a little while later (I had a retired team truck that did 67), I realized it actually wasn't him. I had seen the tail end of a blue car hauler. I didn't even look to see if the guy's truck was next to mine when I got in my own truck because...well, 24 and ####ing stupid.
I ditched him back at the truck stop. Oh my God.
I still wonder if that old man thinks that I am an ungrateful jerk, because I literally could not be more thankful to this day. What that man told me is the gold standard I have lived by for the entire rest of my career.
It's funny. I've sat here typing this out, and I just realized that this is the very first time I have ever talked about this, because it bothers me so much. For 15 years.
Well if you're out there...thanks man. I'm sorry about the misunderstanding, but I've tried to do you proud. And I've done my best to pass it on.
A misunderstanding that still haunts me.
Discussion in 'Road Stories' started by LtlAnonymous, Apr 19, 2020.
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Don't worry. I didn't take it personally. I just thought you had somewhere to be and then went on with my life.
LoSt_AgAiN, Rideandrepair, LtlAnonymous and 1 other person Thank this. -
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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