Old Timers

A smart old timer knows, jewelry is for wearing when you are dressing up, not working. I don't wear a watch, necklace or rings, not even my wedding ring, when I am working.

Drove my wife crazy that I wouldn't wear my wedding ring all the time. Then she met my friend who lost a finger when the ring got caught in a chain when he was working the floor on a rig. He typically wouldn't wear a ring at work but it slipped his mind one day & cost him a finger.

I almost got kicked out of a plant once because I refused to wear their badge, which they had on a lanyard you were supposed to wear around your neck. They argued with me then went & got their safety director. At first he insisted it was company policy. I told him if I was going to hang myself I'd do it on my own terms not his.

You could literally see the light bulb go on above his head when it sunk in. They changed from lanyards to clips you would put on your pocket.

 

I know this is in the flatbed section, but what I'm about to say could apply to any type of work. I don't consider myself to be an old timer by any stretch, but I'm not a spring chicken anymore. But I have gained some great experience, and learned some tricks along the way. I pull tanker, specifically dry bulk. After doing it for the last 8 years, I kind of have a pretty good idea of what does and doesn't work, when it comes to unloading these things. Which led me to reply to this.

As I said, I'm hardly an old timer at 35 years old. But as I get older, I find the new, younger guys doing this just don't seem to want to listen to someone with some experience. Obviously this doesn't pertain to all new hands.

Case in point would be the recent new hires where I work. These guys are 25-27 year olds who ran over the road pulling dry van. They may well be very good drivers, I can't really say for sure. But they can't seem to grasp the idea of unloading a dry bulk tankers, which isn't rocket science. Everywhere they go, they're blocking up, and holding the next guy up. Creates some tension in the company. I've reached out to each of them in an attempt to help them. One told me 'if I want help I'll ask for it'. Ok, fair enough. I won't bug you about it. But when I have a tight schedule, and you're holding me up, don't expect me to be very pleasant. The other two just ignored everything I tried to show them. So now they can learn the hard way.

It's really aggravating to me, because I had some great teachers along the way who I still occasionally call for advice. And I would love to do the same for the guys behind me. But you can't help those who don't want it I guess.

OP, it's not about being cool. It's about doing the job better than the rest, and being a real pro at what you do, and sharing your wealth of knowledge to those behind you. Now that is cool. I hope I'm cool someday!

 

Poppy my great grandfather had a saying about guys like you describe here.....

Those who can't see have to feel.

And he also said..... you can't talk horse sense to a jack @&$.
Be safe out there.

 

Unfortunately a whole lot of truth in that!

 

I'm 24 id take all the advice i could get. 5 months doing cement. Trial by fire is how i learned, well it was actually the guy that was supposed to unload me decided to leave the well site before i got there. Company man watching me made me more nervous and he got the picture im sure....prob thinking wtf send this kid out by himself to unload my precious cement.

Not all of us young ones ignore your knowledge and cool stories, my dad started before de-reg

 

There is always a glorious flatbed load wrapped like a present and every securement snug and in place.

To work towards that ideal has always been a goal of mine, despite my own death or nutrition in iron by a thousand cuts. Unfortunately I take longer than both of you to secure and tarp a flat myself because I want God to reach down, pick up that entire rig, play with it upside down laughing as a kid does, that coil will stay on the deck and stay wrapped.

He he.