Truck Drivers Were The Honorable Knights Of This Country's Highways, WHAT HAPPENED?

Ok Jerry has re-worded his original post and you can now find this conversation here - Where Have All Of The Professional Truckers Gone

he stories in the TV series, "MOVIN' ON". Will & Sonny were real life heros to a 12 year old boy, me. Now, even I knew, "BJ AND THE BEAR", was just a silly TV show. Right up here with "HOGAN'S HEROS". Guess I'm Dating myself a little.

SO, WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED?

I have been a Professional Trucker from 1979 until now, except for a 7 year hitch serving my country in the US Navy. I served on board the USS Merrill (DD976), my, Spruance Class Destroyer. Just typing that last sentence gave me goose bumps. How many Squids are on the road today, I wonder? I'm sorry, got distracted. Glory Days, and all, you know.

Before I start *****ing about the Honor and Selfless Dedication, that is truly lacking in today's Truck Drivers, I'll give you a little of my own history. I earned my Class A after graduating High school in 1979. No, I did not attend the "Wally Thor, Truck Master School of Trucking".

I was taught how to be a Professional Trucker by an old school, log truck driver, by the name of Junior MacDonald. I was 18 and he was (??) 60-65-70. NOTICE that I said, "Professional Trucker", not truck driver, not trucker, not driver. I say this because Junior told me, the first time I got in the truck with him, that he would teach me to be a "Professional Trucker" if I wanted. He said a MONKEY could be trained to be a truck driver, trucker, driver, but only a truly honorable man/woman could become a "Professional Trucker".

At first, I thought it sounded kind of corny, like you are probably thinking right now. But after sharing the cab of a Kenworth with him for 2 months, I came to understand what he meant. He not only taught me how to drive a truck without wrecking it, but he also taught me what it meant to be a "Professional Trucker", and the responsibilities that come with that title. Now you have some idea of how I view what I do for a living. Here are just a few examples of what I mean:

First one. If I am driving down the road and I see a motorist, on the shoulder, in the middle of nowhere, broke down, I will pull over and offer assistance. I don't care if it will make me 15 minutes late for that next delivery. I won't just fly by if they are alone.

Second one. If I see some young girl, 14-18 years old, walking alone, late at night down some dark road, I will pull over and offer her a safe ride. I won't judge why she is out there, alone , at night. I have a 20 year old daughter that I love more than life itself. She has always made me proud. She is not perfect, but always loved by me. I would want someone to try and help her if she was ever on her own, late at night, on some dark road. And again, I don't care if it would make me 15-20-30 minutes late to my delivery. I hope you are beginning to see what I am trying to share. PEOPLE will always be more important than freight.

I sleep so very well every night and never lose a bit of rest. You must understand, my belief is than there is a Karma, a Force, a whatever(?) you want to call it and the rules are simple. As long as I can be Honorable, Kind, Caring, Helpful, Compassionate, and love my country, Honestly in my heart, then life is good. When you give goodness of yourself, you shall receive goodness in return.

Now to the haters out there, I am not some long hair, commie, homeless, drug addict. I am not what you might call a "touchy feely" sort of guy. I am a man without doubt and I like being a man. I love women. ALL Women. There ain't no such thing as a bad woman, some are just a little better than the others. I love all of my family members, even the dumb ass ones that never learn. I have seen much of the world outside of the USA and I can say, without a doubt, I love the United States of America and our way of life above all others. So let's all get back to the days when we, as Professional Truckers, were the Knights that protected the Highways of my country.

I welcome your comments and stories.