Posted on 03/29/2020 6:12:11 AM PDT by NDJeep
Our family has been in temperature-controlled trucking for the food industry for almost 45 years, though our grandfather had been in since World War II. We have seen tremendous changes in this industry over our lifetimes.
However, there is one constant that has always remained: Trucking is one of the most honorable professions in the world. Truck drivers do nothing for themselves. They are always doing something for somebody else, be it a shipper, a receiver, a dispatcher, or for others on the road.
Our society takes them for granted. They honk at them for driving slower than cars. They speed around and cut them off to get a vehicle ahead. Honestly people on the road figuratively spit on drivers, offering them no respect and refusing to value them for who they are and what they stand for.
Recently, for the first time in a long time, people are starting to realize the value of our drivers. They are praying for them so they can continue making deliveries of our life-sustaining commodities and relief supplies. People are once again referring to them as “knights of the road.”
Unfortunately, we have short memories. Once this pandemic is over, people will return to their normal routines and they will have long forgotten the health risks that our employees willingly endured to make sure the public had comforts of food and supplies while they were sheltered in safety.
Please make sure moving forward to remember. when you are eating your frozen pizza, your fresh fruit, your canned soup, your hamburgers cooked on a grill, that all of those items were on a truck. Remember while you are sitting in your comfortable chair, watching your televisions while on your cell phone or laptop that they were on trucks too.
I challenge everyone to never forget our unsung heroes in the trucking industry because, “if you got it, a truck brought it.” Respect and value our employees and keep them in your prayers during these challenging times while they take risks to make sure you don’t have to.
+1!
Don’t forget to include grocery stock-boys and stock-girls in this small pantheon of heros.
What are we doing to protect them from infection?
During WWII my father drove a bus. He was considered an essential worker. He drove soldiers from Missouri to Oklahoma and back. He drove a total of 15 years. He was a hero for a lot of reasons and this is part of his story.
All a truck driver really wants is for you to stop pulling in so close in front of them. They need room for safe stopping.
Say thanks to Steve at BigRigTravels.com . He broadcasts *LIVE* on YouTube every mile he drives and has been doing so for almost 13 years. Search Youtube fo “BigRigTravels” he is driving trough WV to OH today. He drives all 48 states.
Interesting that this is in The Toledo, Ohio Blade. The truckers I know hate driving through Ohio. The Ohio State Troopers target truckers and set up speed traps on the interstates.
I-70 between the Indiana state Line and I-75 is a notorious speed trap zone for truck drivers.
I would include ambulance, fire truck, police, emergency personnel in praise.
In 1982, when I was a dumb kid, I ignorantly did that on I-70 in the canyon area of Utah. The trucker stayed close on my butt for the next 150 miles. I was horrified, but I got the message.
They sure are...And these delivery folks. They did such a good job via Aldi and Target.
All civilized, honest, law-abiding, hard-working, patriotic American Citizens are heroes.
Maybe you should have sped-up?
It’s the overweight rigs that are contributing to the destruction of our roads here in Michigan that bug me....
They have senior hour at my grocery store and they are still stocking shelves while we shop. I make sure to thank every one of them for working through this.
Trucking is the most difficult job there is. Long hours on the road, not seeing your family for long periods, fighting the weather, stupid drivers, and it ruins your health. As a retired driver, it’s a very hard job.
Golly gosh, Hal! Now why didn't I think of that??! You're so sagacious!
That truck driver was way in the wrong to do that.
Messing with peoples safety out of anger is always wrong.
Truck driving IS pretty stressful, I did it for a couple years, in that short time I saw way too much stupid on the road.
I went back to being a mechanic, my physical and mental health forced the issue.
It’s not for just anyone and I was not a long haul driver, I was mostly doing in state heavy equipment hauling and home most nights.
Drop and drag long haul was an odd combo of boredom and stress for me, I tried it for a couple weeks, then got canned for being a hot head with dispatchers.
Exactly! Truck drivers and grocery stock boys are critical to the nation, Hollywood actors and overpriced professional athletes are insignificant.
RWR, I salute you! As a former idiot teen driver, I apologize to you for this past sin. That guy must have been an extraordinary skilled driver or totally crazed - or both. He somehow managed not to get in a runaway situation on those curves and grades. My little Nissan didn’t stand a chance. I’m now married to a professional driver who can do stunts. She catches drivers screwing over truckers, frequently. Most people don’t even have the courtesy or intelligence to back up, where possible, when trucks are trying to make tight turns toward them at smaller intersections. I can’t imagine doing the job you did for so many years. I’m sorry it took a toll on you like that. I’ll bet you’ve seen it all out there! Best regards, Billy
Shucks, I bet we have some real drivers here.
With my two years of experience I still feel like I was just a hobbyist.
It’s just too much life and death responsibility for me and you’re basically alone with it.
Also, home at night was kind of a joke because I only had time to sleep.
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