For the last two weeks I have been on the road, sitting in the passenger seat of a large truck. My son is a Professional Driver. He invited me, his mother, for a walk, to see what his work days are like. I gladly accepted.
First I had to learn how to get in and out of the truck safely. Three-point contact is recommended at all times, otherwise you could end up looking like a monkey swinging from a tree.
I like it when we’re driving through a town and people walking by stop, smile and say hello. I feel like I’m in a parade. I gladly return your greeting.
There are terms that professional drivers use for their equipment, i.e. “skateboard”, for flat bed trailer, and hook and drop for trucks that back up to docks (dock bumpers) to drop off or pick up products with boxes (trailers) , all four wheels are chariots. I like the term “jake-brake” which is when you hear the spluttering sound of a truck going down a steep incline, that’s the brake that slows down the engine…it can be quite loud.
I especially like it when truckers slowly wave to each other across a highway or interstate, especially if it’s the drivers company. There is a true brotherhood on the way.
At breakfast or dinner, they will nod to you or be eager to talk, to know who you are, where you’re from and who you work for. They discuss good and bad company. Laughter can be heard as they tell funny stories along the way.
There were three accidents on the road, all four-wheelers (cars) and trucks. Speed and road rage are many of the culprits. There is a clear lack of respect for drivers by cutting them off. Now I know that when a truck is loaded with thousands of pounds of product, it’s like an oncoming train that can’t be stopped easily. The result of which is too often fatal. Fortunately, my son’s truck is state of the art, equipped with all the bells and whistles that alert him when a car is approaching, the truck automatically starts braking, and other special features that are pretty impressive.
Drivers spend day and night on the road, sleeping in their trucks. They are away from their loved ones for weeks at a time. During dinner they pull out their cell phones and you can hear them talking to family members. My son will soon be on the road for a year. He drives down the road. Other drivers recognize him and stop to say hello and chat. They are called brother.
It can be a lonely profession. Many companies have travel programs, and while I travel, many wives accompany their husbands on the road. I discovered that there are husband and wife driving teams.
The views and topography are beautiful. I’m from the Midwest and I’m used to trees and hills. Mountain views are something else. America is beautiful, our roads are clean and well maintained. I have enjoyed seeing the city skylines as they sparkle like diamonds in the night. The small towns of America offer another kind of beauty in their simplicity. Well-maintained flower and vegetable gardens are framed by manicured lawns. The people I have met in these small towns are friendly and willing to offer a kind word.
Mountains we have climbed include the Allegany’s, Smokey’s and Blue Ridge Mountains, the Eastern Continental Divide and the Ozarks. Each offers its own special kind of beauty. The rolling hills of Kentucky and the Ozarks are breathtaking.
I experienced the chilling Wisconsin lake effect where my eyelashes froze, the snow falling so fast and furious that our tracks were quickly covered. Then there is the extreme heat of Atlanta and the points in the south where the rains are torrential, the sky seems to open up as it falls in great drops.
This has been an exciting adventure. I have flown from city to city in the United States, traveled on popular ships, and visited exotic islands. There’s nothing like looking out the passenger window of a huge truck. Or, maybe it’s because I’m with my son, sharing his new career. I am gaining an understanding of who he is as a driver and am proud of the courtesy he shows other truckers and four-wheelers alike. Seeing the United States from this point of view is impressive and quite humbling. I will never forget the sights I have seen and the little out of the way places I have visited.
