Just Another Perfect Day
Monday morning started
early one week recently. Breakfast at home was quick, hot, and nutritious,
including a thermos for the road. Leaving the house at 7:00 AM sharp, I drove
to the terminal using “personal conveyance” on the ELD. This is a great new
technology, I remember thinking.
Backing under my trailer,
the 5th wheel pin locked in place with a very satisfying click,
lifting the stepdeck an inch off the ground. A 15-minute pre-trip inspection
showed everything in working order -- no air, fluid, or personal information
leaks.
Leaving the yard, which was
swept clean and dry, I turned onto the highway that went straight to my
destination. It was a beautiful, warm day with no clouds, no wind, and very
little traffic. My load that day was light as a feather and paid an extra bonus
for an early delivery.
Other drivers waved at me, with all their fingers,
wishing me well as I motored up the road. Trucks allowed me to pass, then
graciously flicked their low beam headlights in the traditional signal to come back
over. Some were happy to see me coming, and others were delighted to see me go,
but all of them were satisfied with my participation.
Approaching a construction
site, wide-spaced barrels lined the work area, leaving plenty of room to
squeeze from two lanes to one. Cars held back, giving me space to merge, and
the workers were positioned for maximum visibility. Exiting the construction
zone, traffic resumed highway speed in a smooth, two-lane acceleration.
Everyone around me
maintained a uniform and moderate acceleration, allowing all the vehicles to
merge without swerving or braking. Shortly thereafter, approaching a police car
parked up ahead on the shoulder, I signaled a lane change left, and cars moved
out of my way in an instant. Then they graciously backed off, just long enough
for me to resume in the right lane.
Arriving at the windfarm
receiving the load I was hauling, the security guard was glad to see me, and offered
a cup of hot coffee. Before I could finish the java, they led me a few miles to
the tower site, where I was immediately ushered under the spot crane. Quickly
as I could undo the winch straps, the crew worked to lift the load off my wagon.
Within minutes I was free to depart.
After a friendly wave from
the crane operator, I drove off the pad and down the dirt lane, ready for a
word with my dispatcher. She was delighted to hear from me, thanked me
profusely for doing a good job, and then rewarded me with an assignment for
tomorrow. There was just enough daylight to get parked at a nearby truckstop.
The newly-built travel
plaza featured high speed pumps under well-lighted canopies, and widely spaced
service bays next to warm, spacious showers. The full-service 24-hour café offered
homecooked meals served by sweet young waitresses impressed by seasoned drivers
sporting chain driven wallets. With a satisfied burp and a five dollar tip
stolen from a nearby table, I retired for the night to my penthouse on
Peterbilt Row. There in the glow of digital dash lights I recalled the exact
date of this too-perfect day: April 1st. That’s right: April Fool’s!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: If
you‘re not the lead dog, the scenery never changes.