10-4 Magazine March 2022

made her repeat so I could write it down because it was so funny. If anyone has had the opportunity to hear one of Debbie’s stories, you know how great at storytelling she is! This particular story was about how she managed to shut down the westbound Banning scale with her truck one day in January 2020. The Banning scale is off I-10 in Banning, CA. Earlier that week, Debbie had the truck serviced, which included the changing of the oil and fuel filters. On this particular day, the weather had been fluctuating from cold to warm. Normally, she just bypasses the truck has metal braided stainless-steel airlines, and there is also an extra valve to over-inflate the airbags to lift the suspension. This over-inflation of the airbags feature allows Debbie to easily lift the truck or trailer up to help her get through tight or low clearance areas. The interior is definitely Debbie’s home away from home with a custom Seattle Package that includes upholstered cabinet doors and a custom-ordered bed (instead of a couch) for more storage space. The Special Teal Effect and Oyster White colors on the truck were factory ordered and inspired by a floral arrangement she had in her living room. There was one disappointment – when Debbie picked up the truck, the frame was not the correct color. Upset was an understatement, however, with the steady hands of Keith Eccles of Raw Tin Garage out of Salt Lake City, UT, pinstriping was added that brought all of the colors together and made the truck look like it was planned like this all along. In August 2020, Debbie took the plunge and ordered her first trailer, as she had always pulled a leased trailer. She took delivery of this trailer in April 2021 and dubbed it “Anita” (“I need a” load). The 2022 trailer is a custom 53’ Wilson step deck. Debbie said pulling a step deck is way more laid back and there is little to no sitting around. She enjoys tarping, for the most part, because it is therapeutic. Debbie runs all 48 states and Canada, but she really enjoys going west because of the beautiful scenery. What is her favorite part of trucking? She considers herself a paid tourist, because she gets paid to see things that most people have to pay to see! Acknowledging that trucking has evolved, Debbie said that the industry has proved to be way more welcoming to female drivers/owners over the years. She recalled a story from several years prior about heading back to her truck after being in the truck stop. After being stopped by a security officer, she had to prove that her truck was hers and that she wasn’t just a “lot lizard” walking the truck stop lot. To women looking to get into trucking, Debbie said, “Be confident in yourself, don’t come into trucking thinking you are better than anyone else, and never stop learning.” One of my favorite parts of writing feature articles is the trucking stories. The funnier the better, I think, and Debbie has no shortage of funny trucking stories. We always laughed as she refers to herself as the “Lucille Ball” of trucking. One story she told me I 10-4 Magazine / March 2022 27