Old TRUCKER ADVICE

...... I got my truckin' license last summer in the hot heat of TEXAS. It's getting toward the end of my first winter as a semi 18 wheeler truck driver. LORD only knows how long. For now I am truckin' with Jesus to and pay off some debts. If my potential future husband never decides to make me stop, maybe I will be over the road forever more. I pray for him every day!

Meanwhile, I don't talk to many people at all on the road, and I guess that goes for most drivers. Of course, today we have modern ways to keep in touch with friends and family, but as far as for faces I see when traveling, well, to be safe, I keep to myself for the most part. But every now and again, an old trucker 60 years or more will idle over and begin to tell me their stories. I believe I ought to begin to keep track of them.

I will start with Leroy from Ohio. Leroy was an old trucker I met while waiting for my tractor to get done with some express repairs in operation center. He gave me a dollar cash to get a coffee out of the vending machine and we sat in the lacquered cushy chairs in the dusty driver lounge He has been driving over 25 years with the same company I am with. He tells how in 2008 "when Bush Junior caused that recession"... well after delivering a sound idea about politics from then to now, he divulged some private financial woes. [And]explained how back in 2008, he was living in New York, how the company took some exceptiobal financial steps with him to help through that tough year, "like a family". Now days he says he keeps quietoff the phone lines/ radar as much as possible. His advice

AGAIN -- GO SLOW, especially in the wind. Today we have a wind advisory, always check. What is your weight, if 45,000 then only go a speed of 45 mph ... Because he said,pull over instead and wait

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE BLOWN OVER !! I didn't want to even picture it so Ididn't even ask him if he had ever been tipped over by the wind in his semi. I suppose now I wonder. It was important for him that I take extreme caution in the wind, and it was the most windy couple of days driving too...so much caution he wanted me to think whether or not I would tip over!

I like to ask the oldest truckers that I meet for advice!

Go slow. Don't get tipped over by the wind.

These photos / video below are from Whatley Massachusettes Diner. I only spoke to my waitress that cold day