crasiest thing that ever happened to you?

In Terrell Tx there was a bunch of construction that had FM 148 down to one lane so that both ways of traffic had to take turns using. The traffic guy on our end must have gotten confused because he motioned for me to start going.

So here I am heading down the road with a solid line of cars following me when just coming across the overpass I see another solid line of cars heading right for me. So I stop and all the guys behind me are pissed and blaring their horns.

I forget the exact details but I ended up having to get out and redo the cone lines in order to make a big enough gap to fit my truck in while letting all the other cars pass by.

After I finally make it out of there the construction crew all stood at attention and gave me a big old salute, they knew it was their guy that caused all this.

 

Where do I start.The first month With werner was beyond stressful.First load was going to Canada and with a hazmat load.I had no clue what to do.I asked many drivers and did fine.But once I get to Canada I got lost.Went in the car lot at the receiver,had no clue how to get out.I was in Canada for a week.I cried while I was typing to my dispatcher and said you hate me don't you?Then went to Tampa no one could speak any English in the area where I was delivering to.Finally met a local car hauler and he took me to the place.Next load was to Los Angelous Philly then Chicago.By that time I was more then ready for home time.I got a dog from the humane society and that helped tremendously.I still have her.

 

1992, early January in Florida,close to last day of hunting season. I had delivered a van load to South Florida and was heading home empty. Going through a 2 lane road, about 5 miles from home, I passed several pick-ups on the side of road, appeared to be hunters. Seconds later I heard a strange 'ping' sound. Figured it was an aluminum can that fell over in the sleeper.Quickly forgot about it.
Loaded trailer that afternoon, delivered in Nashville the next morning. Noticed vary small hole in trailer door. Easy to spot because the door had been replaced earlier. Did not think about it much. Went to reload, and as I opened the trailer door, I could see sunlight coming in through a hole in the nose of the trailer. Still did not click in my mind. DUH!
Delivered back in Florida the next day, headed home. I happened to see a friend of mine who was an ex-deputy. Hollared at him on the CB to pull over, I needed to talk to him. We met in a parking lot, and he walks up. I am standing by my drivers fuel tank, and he asks what made the hole in my cab. I looked, and there was a nickel size hole in the back of the sleeper. Then it hit me. Small hole in rear of trailer, then one in the front of trailer, then a larger one in back of cab. I had been shot at. Being an ex-LEO, he wondered where the bullet wound up. We climbed up in my sleeper, and there directly behind my head, was a slug embedded in a small piece of aluminum trim.1/2 inch either way to one side and it would have struck me directly in the back of the head.That was the noise I heard several days before, I thought, as I remembered the hunters on the side of the road.
Now, at the time i was going through a divorce, and I asked my soon to be ex-wife if she knew anything. Of course not, so it had to be those hunters, I guess.
I still have that old cab,way back in the weeds. From time to time I will go look at the bullet holes, and think how lucky I was.

 

No doubt you was very lucky.

 

This summer a farmer gave me directions and mentioned construction on the main road in, so I might want to take a different road. But the other road isn't rated for 140,000 lbs super-b trains. So I came in empty up the main gravel road to find out, two miles in the road was closed. That's how they do things in Saskatchewan, no since putting up the sign back at the highway.
I couldn't turn around using either side road as they where both full of mud from recent rains. So I had to backup a mile and a quarter where I found a driveway I could back into to turn around.
For those unfamiliar, a super-b train is a set of two trailers with an integrated fifth wheel on the rear of the first trailer (tri-axle) followed by a tandem trailer.
Surprisingly even to me I made the whole maneuver 1-1/4 miles without having to pull ahead once.

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I stuck a flute in my.....

 

How long did it take you?

 

When I first started driving I was pulling a set of doubles. I was working for an LTL outfit and was low man on the totem pole so I took whatever work I could get. It was a holiday, can't remember which one as this was over 20 years ago, but I got a shag run to a local DC to start my night. I had been there several times so I pulled right into the driveway with no thought at all. When I found out they were closed I also learned I didn't have any skills backing up a set of doubles more that a short distance. Anyway, I broke down the set and got them turned around and made it back to the Terminal. I am still paranoid to this day about pulling into places if I'm not sure I can get turned around to get out!

 

Dang, close call. Back around 94-95 my partner and I found a bullet hole in the side of our trailer after we left Miami. I guess Florida is a dangerous state!

 

That is the "Nature of the Beast"....one of these days you will get it done right without even knowing you did. KEEP ON TRUCKING!!!