Talking to truckers at truck stops. Have you done it?

I understand now. I thought you were trying to imply things like by fueling at night will get you 50 miles down the road by the time you wake up... Or will give you more then 9 mpg on the next run...

Some super secret reason... And I was curious as to why I wasn't informed about that super secret!!!!

 

The only time i had fuel stolen from me was when I was parked at the ts on my home time. Since then, I never filled before coming home. But here's a little tip for people that park at ts's on their home time.

Find out where the cameras are and park where they can see you. I was parked out in the back 40 there when they stole over 100 gallons and was just out of camera range. Ever since that time, I always parked up front where the camera can easily see. Never happened again. The funny thing is, this wasn't even when prices were high lol.

 

I have talked to a few drivers at the T/A in Boise. I won't bother a guy if he looks busy or is fueling. I just look around and if he is sitting by his truck or somthing I go up and ask if he can spare a moment. I try to find a guy or gal who is driving for one of the companys that run I-84 quite a bit and ask how they like the company there with.
Most of the time I get 5 to 10 min. of their time and some good advice. but once in a while I get the cold stare and just kinda walk away. I would say it has been worth my time to go out and do the leg work to get the infomation for myself rather than just look on the net for the best company to start with.

 

I talk to truckers when i get the chance to.For example about a month ago a new family moved in the block and they hired a furniture mover to move there stuff.So i ended up asking him questions and he was a great guy he gave me his phone number to contact him whenever i have any questions.I also met up with an old timer who has been driving for 36 years at a store in arizona.He was a great guy and let me take pictures of his truck and i got to ask him all my questions.The picture in my signature is his truck.

 

Flatbedders. I sat on the backrow of a Fishhook this weekend. It was wall to wall flatbedders. 3 or 4 grills came out. Flatbeds would pull into the Hook and circle around the backrow and would have to park there. Walk into the restaurant and there were flatbedders sitting in there. Walked outside and theres a big group of drivers standing around telling war stories and jokes. Ballcaps and teeshirts read Boyd, Admiral Merchants, GreatWide, Lonestar, ATS, LandstarRanger. In front of everyone, a CR England truck comes rolling in through the 4 wheeler lot and get hemmed in while trying to pull through the 4 wheeler fuel pumps. War stories stopped and the "WHAT THE...? HE'S NOT GONNA MAKE THAT TURN" talk began. A few drivers ran up and yelled at England to stop. England slammed on the brakes. They then guided him back out so he could get turned around and quit making the 4wheelers nervous. THEN they laughed.

 

You don't see much of those BBQ Grill parties when others! Flatbedding is not only a part of the industry... It is a way of life that we choose... It is a band of brotherhood... Flatbedders will unite to help another driver flatbedder or not.... But I have never seen a van or reefer driver come offer me much assistance!

Flatbedding is my life... Flatbedding is my choice... The brotherhood is something similiar to the Marines... Once a Flatbedder, Always a Flatbedder!

 

Myself, Haven't had alot of luck talking to truck drivers. Some seem to be stressed out, bitter. Other just don't have any answers. Most are the beware of this company trucker. But there was a truck parked outside a yard waiting to open to unload. So I walked over. As I did I was trying to look threw the windshield to see if he was busy. The trucker threw his door open and said, You loose somethang? I said no. I was thanking about driving trucks for a living. He said what wrong with the job you have now. I said it sucks. Nice truck, yours. he said, Its my 2nd wife. I retired once after 40 years of trucking. I wanted to give tug boat pilot a try. Run up and down the Mississippi river for a while. It wasn't the same feeling as trucking. So I quit an went home to fish. I said,But your back in the truck. He said, Yea! I got back in to save my marriage. The wife had other ideas for me and I didn't like fishing that much. I laughed, 40 years is a long marriage. So you really love trucking. He said, I'm 76 years old and there is nothing else I would do. I'm going to stay in this truck as long as they let me. I do wish I had more time to talk to this fellow. But I had to go to work. which I didn't like. That day, I thought about that trucker. He wasn't bitter, angry or miss leading. After 40 years of trucking. This guy was a true blue blood trucker. He really lefted a lasting empression on me. My job was not getting any better. No matter how high I seen to climb up the latter. Also watching younger co-worker nipping at my heels for my job. I knew my job had a age limit to it.I was a supervisor in a electrical construction conpany. I just kelp seeing that 76 old truck driver loving what he was doing, and was will to fight to stay there. So I begun my trucking career.

 

*blinks and stares at Redd, then whispers* someone needs to start limiting his caffiene.

 

BigDoug that is a awesome old 359 Pete you got a picture of, hope you got to see the interior cuz they have a great dash referred to as "The Corvette" dash. Nice find.