i just need gas i just need food for my kids...

TruckerDragon · Oct 30, 2010

Rat Fink said: ↑

My coworker had a panhandler come upto him at a truckstop and acted like there was some kind of emergency. He was saying his wife was having health problems and he needed some gas money to get her to the hospital. My coworker said he was a trained paramedic and would go take a look at her problem asap. The guy just turned around and walked upto a different truck instead.

I have problems with panhandlers. Like Texas-Nana said, you can tell the difference.

The guys I don't mind are the ones who offer to polish wheels and stuff like that. I've seen some guys walking around with polishing kits and do good work for $5/wheel.....providing an actual service in exchange for money.

There is a man who works for an airline in Canada that I had the pleasure of working with a few years ago. He spent his teenage years on the street with no home. A library let him borrow books and he self educated himself to get a decent job. From there, he took night classes and moved up to better jobs and is now fairly high up in the Customer service department with a major airline. There has to be the will to succeed.
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Nana, Injun and soon myself can help the wheel polishers AND save....we only gotta get them to polish the left hand side

DJ trucker · Oct 31, 2010

west memphis tn on 78, there are 2 pilots. a fellow comes thru almost every day needing just $ 1.82 more to get a fuel filter. while on weekend layover, i am asked fri/sat/sun to help. same memorized story then ...um... once he realizes its the same driver, he walks off.

i cant blame anyone on the street for trying to panhandle a meal or a drink, and i dont mind flippin a few bucks if i got it to spare, as i have been there a few times myself, and it really does suck being homeless.

but jeez dude- change your line every once in a while

Rug_Trucker · Nov 5, 2010

"you probably heard about the lot lizzard that robbed me down in Birmingham yesterday. Please buy one of these gold chains, I need to buy some food."

If the story was true.........you got what you deserved!

truedetailer · Nov 9, 2010

I'm amazed at how many of you guys allow these people to get the bs story out of their mouth. As soon as i hear the "excuse me sir, or see them walking my way" I tell them i don't care, i don't want to hear it, i don't have no money to give you and i keep on moving.

Scrumdog · Nov 10, 2010

TruckerDragon said: ↑

Nana, Injun and soon myself can help the wheel polishers AND save....we only gotta get them to polish the left hand side
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Do you even HAVE a right side?

Dna Mach · Nov 11, 2010

Yea they have a right side. Saw it once. A guy in a Swift truck moved over once for me as I was getting on the highway. I held up for him so he could get back over. He signaled, came on over...and over...and into the ditch!! I stopped to make sure he was okay. He was fine thankfully, said his turn signal got stuck.

TruckerDragon · Nov 11, 2010

Scrumdog said: ↑

Do you even HAVE a right side?

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PLease see Injuns sig.

mika84 · Nov 13, 2010

Texas-Nana said: ↑

There will be those who read this and think I'm bragging. I'm not....I'm explaining in hopes that someone else may join me in this.

I give. I just don't give to panhandlers.

I watch people. I watch in the stores for the people buying food for their kids and counting out a change jar. Then I pay for the groceries for them.

I watch for the people in truck stops pulling food out of the dumpster behind the restaurant. I buy them a meal inside. I buy them food that doesn't take refrigeration.

I watch for the guy with the family and he goes inside to pay for $5 of gas. I pay for a fill up.

If you watch people, study them....pay attention to their eyes, the lines around their mouths......you'll begin to see the difference between panhandlers and the ones with their backs to the wall. It's strain, worry, and sometimes shame.

What I try hardest to do is to do it secretly. I go to the manager, clerk etc. I don't want someone to know who I am or that I gave to them. I want no thanks no recognition because then they must feel gratitude and sometimes especially for men.......they feel "small".

I ask the manager, the clerk etc to tell them "pass it on when you're on your feet".

I enjoy doing this. But then you see......a long time ago....I was the one in need and it was given to me. I'm simply passing it on.
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There are some awesome truck drivers out there. I'm just getting into the biz, but I've driven cross country once to better myself. I was sleeping in my car, and showering at truck stops. I never asked anyone for anything, it's just not my style. We all have problems, and mine aren't yours.

In any case, during a 5 day trip, I showered every single day, and didn't pay for 1 shower. Every single time I was in line to pay, a trucker was behind me and put it on their points. 5 freaking days in a row. Obviously a different trucker every time. It was an amazing experience that I've never forgotten, and I'll bet all 5 of those guys forgot about it a long time ago. Much love to truckers, my new brethren. I will pay it forward. Repeatedly.

mika84 · Nov 13, 2010

LavenderTrucker said: ↑

My brother just had his 8 year clean from drugs birthday... First, I am of proud him for turning his life around and grateful for his prenence again in my life.
Anyway, of course I was there when he got his 8 year medalion and spoke.
There was another guy there who was also getting a medalion, had proud and grateful family members there, and spoke... Well, was deeply touched and inspired by his story.

He talked about how he had gotten so low... he would bum money and as soon as he hd enough he would run go get drugs... he did that every day, and that was pretty much his life... He talked about how some people would be rude and that was easier to take then when people were nice... he talked about how the nice people made him feel guilty and almost inspired to do more with his life... but, he would go get high and the guilt ould leave...
Then one day he was at a truck top and hitting up truck divers for money... for gas, food, whatever he thought would work... some were rude, some gave him food, some gave him change or a buck or two... He almost had enough and approached this one driver... gave him a sob story and the driver got out.. reached in his pocket and got out his wallet... Then he took a $20.00 bill from it... and he said he was excited that his guy was going to give him $20.00 and couldn't wait to go get high... Well, beforethe driver handed him the $20.00 bill he held it in his hands and said a prayer out loud...
Something to the effect thanking God for providing for him and asking God to help this young man... that he was willing to share what God had provided him and that he hoped it helped this young man in his time of need... then he gave it to him...
Well, he said he rushed of with the money to get drugs... he was at a drug dealers and reached in his pocket where he had shoved the money... as he held the $20.00 bill the driver had given him... he said something came over him and he didn' get the drugs.. he went to a near by Denny's, got some coffee and finally got the courage to call his family and ask for help... His dad came and got him and got him into treatment... and he has been clean from drugs ever since... that was five years ago... and now he works a steady job and is a productive member of society....

Anyway... I was touched by the story... and who knows... maybe the driver who changed his life and his families with that $20.00 and a prayer is one of us here... and wonders what ever happened to that kid....
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Wow. Where did all this #### saw dust come from.............

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