I hope this post finds you all well and prospering. On a rather quick personal note, I am still at home recovering from double knee replacement surgery. I am told the typical recovery time is anywhere from three to six months. As of today, I am unable to climb any steps with assistance, have difficulty getting in and out of a car – forget a truck – and require a cane to get out of the house. The looming issue will be a month from now when my disability and health insurance run out. At this point, the thought of using my right knee to clutch is highly questionable. Yes, I know there are auto transmission tractors, but I’m not sure if I want to drive for those carriers offering that equipment – for example, US Express. I came in off the road April 12th, and I can tell you, since then, this has been one heck of a journey. Before I move on, I should let you know I just got a personally signed card from the President of my carrier, congratulating me on my 7th year anniversary with the company. I’m sure he has no clue of my predicament.
Despite being home and confined to a big black chair most of the time, I have followed the trucking industry closely. I know of drivers troubles with I-29 closures in Iowa and have seen the many weather “situations” – wild fires, floods, tornadoes, etc. around the nation. I may have mentioned that our terminal in Birmingham was destroyed and is currently under reconstruction. As a far as trucking news, there isn’t much – what else is new. The USDOT FMCSA has appointed a new five member “safety advisory committee” with one appointee being a bus, excuse me, motor coach, driver. There are no truck drivers on the committee.
I was flipping around the 300+ channels my wife and I have available to us on our cable system – I think it was on C-Span – I paused and listened for a minute or so to Anne Ferro, the Obama appointed head of the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration). She was testifying before Congress about bus safety. I was unimpressed at her and got quickly bored. I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, she is not a trucker and as such has no clue what OTR (over the road) drivers experience OTJ (on the job). She is a political paper pushing bureaucrat who, like the ATA, is no friend of truckers.
Being home these past two months, as I said earlier, has been a journey, but more (being sarcastic) it has been a real “trip”. I can’t count the amount of times I have lost my mind, drugged, unable to move, my mind playing a tape of the many places I used to pick up and deliver freight, wondering how my situation is going to “play out”. I have spend many hours following every minute of the Casey Anthony murder trial in Orlando, and have even managed to hook my wife and son on the proceedings. The last trial I followed this closely was the OJ case. I have watched more movies, reality shows and makeovers than in all my previous years on the road driving.
Now eating and shopping on the road is one thing, but going to into a local supermarket and not buying a box of graham crackers because they cost almost $5 or passing on a 1/2 lb. of turkey breast for $7 is a different frustration. Trying to check out with even a “small” order for less than $65 is tough. The price of food and everything else – other than what’s sold in the dollar store – is sky high. Some must be prospering, but not the truckers that deliver it all. I used to eat all the time, on the road, at Subway, now I can’t stomach even walking by one.
I don’t have to remind you all that it’s hot. It’s just about 100 degrees here in Clearwater, FL. Please stay hydrated and not with soda. With four surgeries this past year, I am more than qualified to tell you to take care of yourself and watch your BP. I personally have good days and bad days - today – not so good. Tomorrow will be different. This is all part of recovery. I recently purchased a Carlos Torano Exodus 1959 (cigar) which I hope to lite up when I do my pool physical therapy later today. No, I’m not going to smoke it, just light it up and smell the aroma of Honduras while trying to walk around the pool without the walker.
Thanks for listening. Later.
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