Hi, I'm Snazzy and I'm Trucker

Wow Snazzy--you go from bad to worse! As if shane wasnt bad enough--now you gotta be a warden too! Snazzy--i think you should ask for bonus pay for this one. Good luck Snazzy and Be safe out there!

 

Well after a month being out and several pages later.
Now it's seem your tagged has an instructor/trainer. That's great!
Your great past is catching up and slapping you with some good ones.

 

Hey -- Tyrone should be a piece of cake, right? After all, as the man says, Barney IS an ex-cop! No problems... nothin' to worry about.

​

Yep, my money says Barney has it all under control. (Right, Snazz? Uhhh... Snazz? C'mon -- agree with me here. )

 

First, a big Snazzy welcome to pjw044 and I see that Renorcr made it back. Yep, Big Duker and Lady Trucker, it looks like I'll have my hands full for awhile. Now Ducks that's a great picture, but even the great Barney.. Well, let's see what happens, as Life Goes on.

The first thing that stuck out about Tyrone was the windshield tapped ontop of his nose. Yep, that man had the biggest, thickest, pair of eyeglasses that I'd ever seen. Yep, they sure stood out and what made it worse, they magnified his eyes ten times over. It was like talking to a pair of giant eyeballs, that talked back. What a deal ! Anyway, by the time Tyrone was through with his orientation we were cutting it close. But hey ! You know, safety first, so I tried something new. Yep, maybe a few words spoken before any training might help. Of course, I had sized Tyrone up before a word was ever spoken. Let's see, he was a lot older than I'd expected, in his early 30's, tall at least 6', thin around 160 lbs, had thinning short hair that was receding, wore rags, and holey tennis shoes. Yep, with them glasses on he sure stuck out from any ordinary bum. Yep, he had the same taste in clothing as Mike the Beard. You know, classic dumpster dive wear that never was in style. Yep, yellow plaid dress slacks that had grass stained knees, a pull over turtle neck complete with turtle, and the ugliest bear skinned coat that I'd ever seen. Well, you know, we don't judge folks on appearance alone. I felt sorry for him right off, but tried not to show any empathy. You know, we could work on his appearance and maybe downsize them window panes.

I shook his hand, " How's it going ? I'm Barney Goose and I guess we might as well take a minute. Is everything going ok ? "

Tyrone clutched his paper sack, " I'm a little mixed up, because they didn't tell me anything in there. Are you going to be my trainer ? "

I pointed to my truck, " Let's get in there, out of this weather. Is that all your planning to take ? "

Tyrone took his seat, " This is all that I have and when can I use this credit card ? I sure need some money to eat on. "

I sat behind the wheel, " We'll stop and fuel, as soon as we leave here. Now Tyrone, I'm going to be honest with you. I want you to understand, that on this truck we're both in the same boat. We can work together and learn from each other. I'll do everything that I can do, to get you back here and ready to roll. Now, the only thing that I ask of you, is that you do your best. This truck doesn't move an inch unless it's safe ! If I tell you to do something and you feel that it's wrong, you tell me ! Tell me quick and tell me why. Now, I'll have the final say, but that doesn't mean that I'm right. It just means, that I have my reasons and I'll try to explain them. If you don't agree with me, that's fine, but do it my way ! "

Tyrone's windshield nodded, " I understand what your saying ! In school they went all over this and I agree ! Do you want me to drive ? "

I wanted to make sure he that he understood, " Alright, let's say that you can't see your blind side and I tell you to take the next exit. What would you do ? "

Tyrone puffed up, " I'm not blind ! I can see just fine ! Who told you that I'm blind ? "

I was shocked, " I'm talking about the blind side of the truck. "

Tyrone eased up, " Oh ! Well uh, I guess I'd hit the brakes and move over real slow like. "

I rubbed my face, " No Tyrone ! Just tell me that you can't move over and I'll understand. I'd much rather miss an exit than to have an accident. "

Tyrone wasn't a patient man, " Well, can we get going now ? It's getting late and I'm starving. "

So, I made a mark, pushed in her knob, and set sail. Tyrone tossed his brown grocery sack into the sleeper and sat pouting. Yep, I guessed he thought that my pop quiz was a bit too much. Oh well, I was sure that he'd had a tough day, with his orientation, drug test, physical, and parole hearings. Yep, he'd feel better after a hot meal and a little time to settle in. You know, I had a few weeks to work with him and there weren't any reasons to make any hasty decisions. Yep, we'd do just fine. So, I parked at the fuel pumps and had Tyrone wipe her windows. Yep, I was tempted to sponge off his panes and wipe em clean. Man, those were some big glasses that he had. Anyway, I showed him how to use the fuel card and he got his $50 cash advance. I went ahead and let him take first shift, as I sat shotgun. Now, ole Tyrone wasn't much of a driver. He ground her gears, like a butcher grinding sausage and he braked way too hard. Yep, he had her farting air, like a bean eating hog. I coached him a bit and assured him that he was doing good. You know, I wanted to help him build up some confidence and feel at ease.

Well, it was just turning dark, as we made our way and we were just a few exits, from the 76, in West Memphis, ARKANSAS. Yep, I'd been there a hundred times before and was looking forward to a steak dinner. I noticed that we were the only ones running without lights.

I spoke politely, " Hey uh, Tyson..err, Tyrone. You think it's dark enough to put on some lights ? "

Tyrone started searching, " Is this it ? "

I gave a caution, " Keep her in your lane, your too far over. "

Tyson swung the wheel, " Turn here ? "

I grabbed the wheel, " KEEP HER STRAIGHT ! #### ! "

KABOOM went the trailer, as I steered her to the shoulder. Yep, ole Tyrone had screwed the pooch. I pulled the yellow knob and flipped on the flashers, as I grabbed my flashlight. Yep, Tyrone had barely clipped a guard rail that protected a small bridge. I inspected the damage and luckily all of it was just to our outer rear trailer tire. Yep, she had her sidewall knocked plume off her bead. I doubled checked the guard rail and then returned to the truck.

I gave Tyrone the look, " Move over ! Your lucky that you didn't roll us over and kill us ! That was close ! "

Tyrone plopped down in the shotgun seat, " You told me to turn ! That's all I did, so don't blame me ! "

I held my temper, " Look ! If I can get us to that 76 and if her rim isn't bent, maybe they can remount that tire. If not, we'll just buy one, and write this off as a blowout. Now Tyrone, you better start paying more attention. This could of been a lot worse ! Just mellow out and remember that these outfits will fire you for stuff like this. "

Tyrone sat silent, as I swung up to the shop. The mechanic remembered me from a few weeks before. I was honest with him, on what had happened. Luckily, he was able to remove the wheel and used a sledge hammer to straighten her rim out. The tire was too badly damaged to repair, so I used my fuel card, and bought a used recap. Yep, so much for that steak dinner and because of that screw up, I had to hammer down the highway. Now get this ! Yep, while I'm cleaning up Tyrone's mess, he's over at the diner pigging out. What a deal ! Well, I partly blamed myself. You know how you do. You want to share in the responsibility, whether it's good or bad. Yep, there was enough blame to go around. I shouldn't of let Tyrone drive at night, on his first day out. Yep, and I should of made sure that he was familiar with all of the switches and stuff. Yep, and I should of told Ed to kiss my butt ! Yep, and I should of punched ole Silly out cold. Yep, and .., oh well, ya'll know what I mean, as Life Goes On.

Nightie night Snazzers, your Snazzy1.

 

Sounds like a great start to a newbies career. Hope things get better
as the time passes...Take care out there and always C.Y.A.

 

Aww poor snazzy got screwed outta his steak--thats reasons for killin there! Maybe ole tyrone needs to clean his ears out or invest in a hearing aid. Maybe day 2 will be better! Good luck snazzy and try to be safe out there!

 

Lady Trucker and pjw044, fasten your seatbelts, as Life Goes On.

I didn't want Tyrone to feel that he had screwed up too bad. You know, it was his first day out and I figured that with him being a new bee. Well, you know what I mean. Anyway, I let him sleep all night, as I drove closer to our cosignee. Yep, that's just a fancy word for whoever accepts the delivery. The Shipper is the one where the load originates, but either one can be paying for the shipment. Yep, there's alot of paperwork that goes with the job and just learning it takes time. Then there's that satellite communications, logbook, map reading, DOT rules, Federal laws, State laws, company rules, and all of the other crap. Yep, a student has to pay attention and soak up as much as possible. Now, I had assumed that the trucking schools had taught basic truck driving 101. You know, I didn't expect a student to be a pro. at it. But hey ! You know, at least be able to shift without grinding every gear and able to hold her in her lane. Nope ! Ole Tyrone couldn't even shift and I had to grab the wheel a couple of times to keep us on the big road. Now, I was more than patient and really was trying to help. Well, ole Tyrone acted like I picking on him. You know, he acted like he had a chip on his shoulder. About our third day out I decided to speak my mind.

I sat behind the wheel, " Now Tyrone, I'm going to be honest with you. I'm a little disappointed on how things are going. You've driven enough now to where you should be able to get down the road. Now, don't get me wrong we still have plenty of time, but you need to ..."

Tyrone cut me off, " What difference does it make ? Your not going to pass me anyway ! "

I bit my tongue, " I don't know where you got that from ! If I wanted to fail you, all I had to do was report that accident ! Hell, my last student killed a new Comaro and drug it across the state of New York. Hell, I passed him and he's still out on the road. Now, it's up you ! You can start getting it together, or quit ! It's up you ! "

Tyrone confessed, " That school I went to was a joke. I don't know how they get away it, but they don't teach you nothen. I didn't pass any of their test and another student took my CDL test. "

I was shocked, " Do what ? You didn't even take your driving test ? "

Tyrone grinned, " No ! Me and a couple of the other students didn't even go. They had some kind of deal going and we just got handed our license. It was rigged ! "

I lit up, " Well, how about that ! I tell you what, you should report them. That's not right and I can't believe it. Man ! "

Tyrone raised his right hand, " I swear that's the truth. Our school trainer use to drive us to a truckstop and leave us there. He'd come back later and pick us up. It was a joke and he told us not to worry. Yeah, we all got our CDL's and that's how ! "

I rubbed my chin, " Alright, here's what we'll do. I'll spend some extra time with you and we'll get your shifting worked out. I'll show you how to float the gears and once you learn that. Well, once you can shift the rest is easy. We'll take some extra time. "

Tyrone looked shocked, " I thought that you were worried about making our assignments on time ? How are you going to do both ? "

I was honest, " It's not going to be easy ! TLX cares more about us running team miles, than anything else. But hey ! We'll do it somehow ! "

So, I figured that ole Tyrone would make a driver yet. You know, I had it in me to show him the ropes. Yep and I could see why he had such a flip it attitude. Poor guy had been ground through a CDL mill and that wasn't his fault. Nope, the State, the school, the companies, and the whole system was to blame. Well, ole Barney was there for Tyrone. Yep, I'd sure step up and show them. We caught a break, because one of our Shippers screwed up. Yep, a full day of Tyrone doing nothing but floating gears and getting his ears full of free Barney advice. What a deal ! Well, he did pretty good and I was impressed. Now, if I could get him to keep her on the road, we might have a chance. Now, Tyrone still seemed to me, to be a bit of a slow learner. You know, he seemed to get flustered pretty easy and he would spend more time talking than listening. But hey ! If he could just grasp half of what I showed him. You know, we had time and I was willing to go the extra mile. Anyway, after about a week, he was getting the jest of it. Well, kind of, you know, he still needed alot of improvement. Now, one thing that he did, was a trucker no-no. You see, he couldn't down shift to save his life and I had tried my best to teach him. Anyway, for the most part you can get by without being a great down shifter.

But ! You can't get by not knowing how to use your air brakes. Yep, ole Tyrone would wait until the last minute to apply them. Well, it takes about an extra second for air to reach the rear trailer brakes. Yep, even with an extra booster air tank there's a bit of a timing difference. You know, there's a difference between a four wheeler and a big rig. Anyway, I'd went over all of that with Tyrone and had even shown him the mechanics. Yep, I'd even drawn him a picture, so it'd soak in. Well, we were tooling down the toll plaza in Ohio and I was riding shotgun.

I spoke kindly, " Hey Tyrone, you need to let off of it a bit. That toll booth is coming up. "

Tyrone grinned, " I see it ! There's plenty of time ! "

I disagreed, " Man ! Slow down, your going way too fast ! "

Tyrone didn't listen to me, as he slammed on the brakes. Yep, you guessed it. We slid straight through that toll booth, as I grabbed the wheel and steered. Yep, I was standing up and wheeling like a mad man and cussing all at the same time. Tyrone sat frozen behind the wheel, as I pulled to the shoulder.

I pulled the yellow knob, " You frigen Idiot ! It just got through sprinkling and the roads are wet ! What were you thinking ? "

Tyrone took the defense, " It's your brakes ! They wouldn't stop ! "

I didn't buy it, " Walk back there and get us that toll ticket. When you get back we're going to have a little talk ! "

Tyrone shuffled back the 50 yards and returned to find me behind the wheel and still cussing. No ! Not at him, I was pissed off at myself. You know, maybe I hadn't been firm enough, or maybe I just wasn't getting through to him. Well, I laid the law down ! Yep, you know, the whole ball of wax. Yep, he best shape up, or ship out. I was the Commander and Chief and that was that ! If he didn't want to listen to me he could listen to the bus driver on his way back to Dallas ! Yep, I was all lathered up and had my fill. Well, ole Tyrone just sat there behind his windshield glasses and didn't say a word. Yep, and I guess we're both lucky that he did. Anyway, I sent him to room without his supper and drove all night. Yep, we'd been out just a week, but it seemed like a month. Now, I had just sent in his first parole report and had him read it, before I trip packed it. Yep, I'd praised ole Tyrone and didn't even mention his accident. Well, I only hoped that I'd done the right thing. You know, I really did want to help him out and if he'd just listen to me. Well, you what I mean, as Life Goes On.

Nightie night Snazzers, your Snazzy1.

 

Good luck Snazz, sounds like you got your hands full !

 

Good job snazzy! You gonna be a master trainer yet--just wait and see! Poor ole tyrone don't hardly got a chance but I got faith in ya snazzy--you will make a truck driver outta him yet. Just wait and see! Maybe he will do better next time!

 

Ahhhh pass on the wisdom to the young one sensei (teacher in Japanese).