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Idle
Time
by Scott
Casey
The
Dream
Remember when getting behind
the wheel of a rig was all that you ever wanted to do? How do you
feel now? It can be easy to dwell on the negative if you
listen to the continual banter on the VHF and or C.B. radios in
regards to the state of our industry today. And of course the
negative bombardments by the media can also feed the unhappy
sentiments. I have been fortunate enough to have my thoughts
published here between the covers of Pro-trucker and I feel it is
time to reflect on why many of us are out on the highway.
Remember the Dream of the open road?
Think back to the way you
felt when you first climbed into a truck. The smell of the dusty
parking lot as you approach your ride. You have to squint from the
glare of the hot sun reflecting off the chrome as you do a casual
visual inspection. It’s hot today. A bird, off to your
right, calls to it’s mate who is somewhere close by. Like them, you
too will be flying soon. The familiar sound of the key slipping
into the lock, followed by the clunk as the tumblers turn and the
door unlocks. The vacuum seal of the cab as the door opens to
reveal the view of the pedals and gazing upward you see the rest of
the interior. Placing your things aside you perform your pre-trip
inspection. The cab creaks as you climb up into place in the
driver’s seat. Ah, yes the moment you’ve been waiting for, you turn
the key and the power plant barks to life, the high pitch beep of
the low-air warning chirps away. “Click, click, click”
sounds as you check your turn signals. The feeling of the gravel on
your back while you adjust your brakes and then it’s time to get
rolling.
Swinging out of the yard, the
suspension on the trailer groans it’s displeasure with the sudden
shift in weight. Maneuvering through the city streets out to the
highway you are constantly vigilant for the “what ifs” of
driving. All the while thinking of where you are going, what
time you should be arriving at your destination and that the load
you are hauling is somewhat fragile. Cracking your window
open, the wind refreshingly rushes into the cab and across your
face and down your back. The sun reflects off of the hood as the
engine purrs while you bring er’ up to highway speed. In your
mirror you notice the trees are all moving in the breeze of your
rig, they seem to want to go with you, to be traveling and seeing
different sights.
“Ahhhh”, you sigh. This is
what it’s all about. Just you, your truck and the open road, no one
to listen to, no one telling you what to do, no one looking over
your shoulder. Sure there are rules and enforcement people out
there, but no worries, you are a pro and all is well. I don’t
know about you, but I am on the road because I like it. Driving a
truck is one of the things I love doing in this world and I am
taking the time to enjoy it. I don’t necessarily like a lot of the
nonsense that we are exposed to out on the highway, but I am making
the most of my time out there. My life out on the highway is like
the Ronnie Milsap song says “I’m imprisoned by the freedom of the
road”. Perhaps your days will be brighter if you can re-connect
with why you’re out here.
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