Running with JCT, Part Deux

Got my new computer built finally. Here are the spec and some pics. And there is room for upgrades later on down the road if I so choose. The plan is to get a Pelican case and mount a monitor inside of it and mod a folding stand coming out of the case that the PC will be mounted to.

Intel Core i5-7600T (35watt)
Asus ROG Strix H270I motherboard
Noctua NF-L9i CPU cooler
16BG of DDR4 Mushkin Ram
Western Digital 256GB NvME M.2 SSD
Western Digital 512GB NvME M.2 SSD
Ztoac GeForce GTX1060 Mini 6GB
HD Plex 400watt DC-DC Power Supply
Dell 330watt Power Brick
Skyreach 4 Mini (case)

 

What is a “real driver”?

Odd question, but let me explain. A few nights ago I stopped at the Oasis truck stop on I-10 in Alabama. I went into the diner alone as Wifey was still asleep. The place was busy so I decided to sit at the counter, something I avoid as to stay clear of stupid conversations. 2-3 open seats on either side of me as I busy myself with my phone. Another driver sits right next to me and immediately starts talking to me. He is sloppy in appearance and stinks and I try to ignore him never looking up from my phone. He proceeds to say that he pulls a flatbed and is one of the last “real truckers”. He then asks me what I pull and who I pull for. I reluctantly tell him what I’m pulling and for whom. As he begins to tell me his opinion on l/p deals, I look directly at him,(for the 1st time) and say “I didn’t ask you to sit next to me, I didn’t engage you in conversation and I definitely did not ask for your uninformed opinion on any subject”. The guy immediately stood up with a wounded puppy expression and proceeded to walk out while muttering “ there’s only steering wheel holders at truck stops anymore”.

My waitress saw this transaction of words and thanked me. She told me that this guy comes in once a week spouting about being a “real driver”. She had witnessed many arguments between him and other drivers on the same subject, but never saw anyone shut him down to the point of feeling compelled to leave.

To my question, what is a “real driver”? Is it this guy?
Is it only flat bedders?
Is it only those that wear cowboy boots?
Is the guy wearing flip flops?
Is the ones that haven’t had their daily shower for a few days?
Maybe it’s the guy with the biggest radio?

These questions should seem ridiculous as is the idea of a “real driver”. I am curious as to if others feel this way.

I purposely put on a scowl when I’m around other drivers as a defense mechanism to keep clear of really stupid conversations.
I can literally count on one hand, how many intelligent conversations I’ve had with fellow drivers at truck stops. None of this is to suggest that you intelligible drivers aren’t out there. I’ve had several good conversations with smart drivers at our home terminal. Including a short one with Macho out in Cali.

I’ve often wandered if like minded drivers also put on a scowl to avoid conversations with other drivers. BTW, that line I said to the driver in the diner is one of my standard lines and it has never failed. Wifey used to get embarrassed by it, even apologizing for my behavior. She now gives me certain look when she wants me to use one of these lines to shut up another driver.

 

I think a list of what makes someone not a real trucker has grown to such a size that there are no real truckers, were all playing pretend....

If you drive a Cascadia
If you drive an aero Kenworth or Peterbilt
If you use a GPS ever
If you're on E logs
If you use a Bluetooth headset
If you drive the speed limit especially in California
If your governed and can't drive the speed limit
If you use super singles
If you don't throw chain
If you use anything less than an 18-speed, especially an automated.
If you scale all your loads or if you don't try to run around scale houses.
If you drive for *insert carrier*.
Etc etc....

The latest one I heard was if you choose to drive during the cvsa annual safety Blitz.

It's laughable it just reminds me of the " you're not a real Marine unless you're an *insert MOS* or been to *insert duty station*"

 

Anyone on here ever delivered to Bi-rite in Brisbane,CA, the receiving clerk said I can park on the street but Google maps shows no parking signs.

 

The last conversation I had with a random driver was prolly 3+ years ago, when some nutjob was rambling on and on in some PFJ driver lounge about how he hated Obama and libtards and snowflakes and that the current military was a bunch of pansies. That particular comment drew my attention, and I asked if he had ever served. He replied that he had back in Vietnam when politicians didn't let him win the war. I was sufficiently steamed at that point, and pointed out that the US would have won that war had all soldiers, including him, not been so high. He didn't take too well to that comment for some reason.

Anyhoo, I generally refrain from ANY conversation with other drivers. Sitting around swapping stories about how much they hate their jobs, hate their bosses, hate the weather and the truck they're driving, all while watching another 96 hour Law and Order marathon....yea, I could do without that.

So yep, I keep my scowl on display at all times. Keeps the mouth-breathers at bay.

 

And many people have described me as an a- hole, especially at the yard or when i tried to mentor someone. I would just walk away shaking my head because i just don't do stupid.

 

I try and talk with people. Want them to know I'm a real trucker and a not many of us left....



Lol I couldn't pull that off if my life depended on it.
The whole reason I'm a truck driver is I'm terrible at conversation and I like to hide from people.

 

I'm impressed that you got a waitress at the Oasis.

 

Those new wireless pigtails and airlines...