10-4 Magazine August 2023

72 10-4 Magazine / August 2023 in this magazine every month, dressed to impress. If you didn’t know, this was once a proud profession. People looked up to the men and women of the highway and called us “Knights of the open road.” Why do you think motorists still do the arm pump? I get as much enjoyment from a horn blast as they do. We cannot hear their conversations but know that our actions will set the tone and influence the attitude of our motoring compatriots. I secretly hope some child will get up in front of his or her class and talk about their summer vacation by mentioning the guy driving a big, shiny, blue and white semi who honked his train horns and waved. Who knows, they may find my picture in a 10-4 Magazine they picked up at the truck stop when dad got fuel. I don’t start each day worried about where I’m going, but instead wait until each night to see where I went. The difference is in the expectation and the opportunity to be positive. I no longer worry about when I’m going to get there, wherever that is, because I intend to arrive alive! Wow, what a concept. There was a time when drivers had more control over their schedules. If the load is late by no fault of their own, then someone should have shipped it sooner. I’m not going to risk my life or the life of some non-suspecting motorist just because the computer said it could get there in a set timeframe. The last time I checked, the speed limit is not 75 mph in a snowstorm. If the road is closed to high profile traffic, it’s CLOSED! That means park it, driver, and wait. Back in the day we would hear about a major multi-vehicle pileup once in a while, but not every week – and on the same roads. Thanks to the 14-hour rule, because this single change has had the greatest impact on safety, or lack thereof. Too many new “warm bodies” or “steering wheel holders” are involved in many of these multi-truck pileups. I refrain from calling them drivers because they aren’t – they are temporary help who happen to be driving trucks. We have a major problem coming down the road in the next few years. Who is going to drive these trucks? After 50 years of jockeying all nature of rigs I’m going to be too old, and the next generation has said, “No way, I will not put up with the treatment or the lifestyle.” It’s going to be up to us – the old timers – to inspire a new generation of diesel jockeys. How we do it is by driving safely every day and taking the time to show them it’s not a dead end job. Technology is transforming our office space from two doors and a window to the sky is the limit. I don’t know if the day will come when the trucks are driverless, probably not, but with the aid of computers and satellite supervision, I do believe the drivers of the future will be far savvier than I am. Once again, I think back to when I was a teenager and remember the antique trucks from that day, and the men who forged a reputation from hard work and dedicated themselves to performing one simple task – driving safely! It’s our responsibility to oversee the general well-being of today’s road travelers. The actions of each truck driver will and does affect those around them, so as we motor down life’s long highway, continue to make memories, and keep smiling as you wave to others, all while keeping a safe space between each other. I’m leaving the fuel stop and have plugged in my brand-new Johnny Cash remix of old truckin’ favorites, so don’t mind me as I turn it up loud and sing like it’s 1970, because “I’ve Been Everywhere, Man,” 10-4! n “Making Truck Insurance Easy Since 1991” Scan here for a FREE quote! We work the best carriers including Great West, Progressive, Wilshire, Harco, Lancer, and many others. Call 949-349-1300 or visit www.rjstruckinsurance.com • One Policy Options For ALL Your Coverages • 24/7 Do-It-Yourself Online Certificates • Unlimited Radius For ALL 48 States • Bi-Lingual Customer Support • Towing For Mechanical Breakdown Coverage • No Finance Charges or Broker Fees • Serving AZ, CA, CO, ID, NV, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY Over 30 Years of Experience • Lic. #OBO1328