Truck Drivers and Transport Trucks Do Not Get The Credit and Respect They Truly Deserve.

There is something that has been a great course of concern for me for the past several months, that I need to get off of my chest, and that is about Truck drivers driving big transport trucks and people continue to disrespect them and give them a bad rap for what they do from ordinary drivers on our roads. I am not talking about the reckless drivers out there. People have a point about those, but I am just discussing this in a general manner that I need to address today. I think truck drivers and these big transport trucks do not get the credit and respect they truly deserve. They are always bad mouthed about, they are always the ones who stand out in our roads, but it should not be the case. They are ordinary people like us who have families, friends and lives to live too.

It is not easy to transport and drive a huge transport truck for so many hours a day and for thousands of miles or kilometers. I do not think it is fair for people to judge them. What they do is very hard work. They are responsible for the driving, they are responsible for a huge truck, they are responsible for getting the delivery of what is being transported to companies on time. People think it is easy to operate a huge truck, but it isn’t. People go to extensive training and driving schools and that is something that people do not credit and respect. I mean take a look around you, take a look at the home you live in, take a look at your vehicle in your driveway or garage, take a look at your fridge, stove, food in your fridge and freezer, take a look at the furniture, bed you sleep on, and all other necessities in your life. It must come from somewhere right? Like a big transport truck and who delivers it? The truck drivers do. I have a big respect for them and I credit them very much.

I have this sense of relief to know that my life’s necessities are being transported and It is at my reach on a daily basis, I am very happy to know that and to see that in the stores. There is a lot of pressure with this job and people have to do it, or else this world will be at a stand still and nothing will ever get transported without these big beauties of our roads. I love these trucks so much. I love seeing them on our roads. Never mind about these trucks taking up road space, be happy they are there and they are there for a reason, they are there to transport our lives needs. Its very important to know this and to cut them some slack when they are on our roads. Ordinary drivers, do not know how hard it can be especially for those truck drivers who do runs alone and who have nobody beside them for so many days at a time and when they are away from family and friends. It can be pretty nerve wrecking and some truckers get frustrated at a few things, and people should understand their points of views and how they feel about the situation, but bread and butter must come from somewhere, feeding and putting food on the table and a roof over your head must come from somewhere right?

So each time you see these trucks and the truckers, just think of this article I wrote today. Thanks very much.

Service Centres & Truck Stops on the Highways

I must admit stopping at service centres and truck stops have got to be my favourite places to stop when on the road Going to Montreal and coming back on the Highway 401 East and West bounds. There have been many experiences and I must say each one is so much fun. Sometimes I would stay for 10-15 Minutes to fill up gas and go get something to munch on from the Market, I’d stop in for half an hour, sometimes an hour if I am in no hurry. I’d often start making friends here and there and start up conversations with ordinary people. Its fun meeting people at service centres.

I don’t know if I have a map or GPS Written on my forehead but I would just be standing there, minding my own business when people come up to me and ask me and tell me Ma’am, how many minutes or hours left until we get to Montreal? It was this really nice family that came up to me. I said Oh I am headed that way as well. So from the OnRoute Service centre in Morrisburg at exit 758, I told them its about another Hour and a half, and they asked me what there is to Do in Montreal, and I explained to them what the hot-spots and great places to see there. Its like they know me from long ago, they said thank you so much for your help, I said no problem. I told them after 32 times to Montreal in Just this year excluding all the other years I have been to Montreal, I know Montreal inside and out. They said wow thats so awesome! After almost 30 minutes I had spent with them, They ended up giving me $20.00 because I helped them out a lot and said go and buy yourself snacks or whatever you want, I said “I can’t take your money!” They said no we insist, its not everyday we meet someone who actually cares to give directions and information to a place were going to go explore for the first time. So we gave each other our contact information and we have been friends ever since. They are just 15 minutes from me. Its so awesome.  then they had to get back on the road and continue their travel journey to Montreal.

At times I would order food from Burger King, A&W, or get myself a french Vanilla from Tim Hortons, or get a few snacks from the Market and by surprise a few of the workers who I recognize all the time, they surprisingly remember me and a few times they said Hey its you again! I said yes, then they said wow you sure do make lots of trips on this highway, I said i sure do. I know all the exits, cities, towns by heart and I am like a personal tourguide to people who stop at service centres and I dont know what it is, but they always seem to ask me, The worker said, I guess people sense on who knows more than the other person at service centres and they said of course they would ask you of a friendly and lovely face like yours. I would just be like, Thank you! 🙂

Now here is something funny that happened, I know I had said this about the Cops I had spoke about in several blogs ago, but do not want to repeat that in my OPP Post, but another funny thing had happened. This time we stopped in Brockville, Ontario going toward Montreal and there was a huge convention or something going on with cops from parts of Ontario, so here is me always finding ways to talk to Officers, and they had all come to Tim Hortons, so I said to this officer, Now this Tim Hortons is the safest one with all of these fine and incredible officers, The officer from Brockville started to laugh, He said thats the first time I have heard that one lol. He said thanks thanks, Then I told him and his officer partner, that I am on my way to Montreal and they said awesome have fun, and then they said DONT SPEED Or we’ll come after you, I go you have no problems with me because I dont speed. LOL They said good better not ahahaha. it was good ol fun, then I left for the road.

Now a few times I have stopped at truck stops like 5th Wheel, Flying J, Husky on the 401. I would see these big huge trucks and I would actually go stand right beside them. they are so huge, that you dont really realize it from your car driving on the highway all the time unless you stand right beside it. Its a huge beast! I have made many trucker friends. I am telling you, my adventures at these service stops are so fun! I sometimes dont keep track of time only the times i am not in a hurry of course as I said. There are these monthly trucker magazines on the rack and I would always go and get a copy of that and read about the transport trucking industry, about new truck lines, new laws and everything else. Its an awesome truck mag. I like those magazines, pamphlets, brochures about the areas, what to do, see. I keep them all and i document them.

A few of my friends told me, why don’t you work in a Highway Transport Safety Office? Tourism of Montreal office? Or Highway safety? Its awesome. I told them no, but recently, I found my real passion and it is to write, but giving people directions and explaining about the cities towns stretching across the 401 east and stuff is something i like to do on the side. I am not sure when I will go to Montreal again or visit these service centres, but I hope its soon. I just have a blast everytime and I do not think its long at all. 4 and a half hours and I am there. Gotta love it!

On The Road During the Holiday’s! My Respects to The Transport Industry

Recently I have been thinking a lot about the transport trucking industry during the holidays and all year round. I must say that I have a big respect of truckers out there who are away from their families at this time delivering and transporting our lifes necessities and all that. Without these truckers, we wouldn’t have the things we have in our homes and in our life like food, technology, so on and so forth. I have a huge amount of support for these people whom sacrifice being with their families on the holidays to provide for them and to make a living to bring bread and butter to the table. I am sure its as difficult for families to be without their father, mother, aunt, uncle or whoever is part of the industry.

A few times when I went to celebrate Christmas and New Years in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, I would drive on the 401 east and I would see these big rigs, truckers at the service centres and I would just think about how difficult it must be for them to be away from loved ones, friends. Its become a working world and people work 24/7 365 days a year to make a living. When I am stopped at a service centre and I see them in the line up to order coffee or they are just sitting down and having their meals before heading back on the road, I go up to them and say hello and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to them and I tell them thank you for the work you do to provide for us all. May God bless you and give you energy always to continue to deliver and to drive these big trucks.

I must say, driving big trucks/big rigs are very difficult and its not as easy as it looks. So many rules must be followed, guidelines, and ways to operate a truck. Its not like the ordinary vehicles that we drive, but its a lot more difficult. I myself wanted to be a truck driver for a while, get the Licence to drive them because I found it to be so intriguing and interesting. Its a good licence to have. I may seriously consider it and try it out for a year or 2. I have never been in a big truck/big rig before but I do hear its awesome to be so high up and see everything on the highways. I have a few trucker friends, so I may ask them to go on a trip with them someday if they are headed to Montreal and back. 🙂

Anyway, I want to wish all the truckers and their families a blessed christmas and all the best to you all in 2012! Drive safe and becareful of the weather conditions out there!

 

Life in a Truckers World

For many years now, trucking, transport and logistics have been an interest for me. On my journey’s from Montreal to Toronto; Toronto to Montreal, I have seen many transport trucks, companies, logistic transports and I must say, I have a tremendous amount of respect for all the truckers out there who risk their lives everyday to transport our life’s daily necessities, to make our world go around, to make all our needs available at all times. You got it, they brought it.

I have many trucker friends and many people involved in the transport world. I hear stories all the time. Once on my way to Montreal, I had stopped at a service centre and I had talked to one or two truckers who are partners of the Transport Company called Mackinnon Transport. They told me stories about how it is not an easy job, how driving big rigs/trucks are difficult at times especially in the winter months. I have been told many stories of drivers from Several Companies which I have read online and where people have told me in a personal level. People share these stories with me on Service centres across the Highway 401 east/west Even when they are strangers. I guess they want to spread it around to anyone. I have heard stories of terrible accidents and among other things.

As I drive back and forth from Montreal/Toronto, I always see them driving. I sometimes see several trucks in one area and it is important to give them enough space to drive around them, not to be around the trucks too much and just give them the distance because you never know what happens.

I know some truck drivers cannot handle certain situations on the road, or some can be terrible truck drivers, but I can understand their point because if you have been driving for over 8 hours or 10 hours a day, it does become too tiring and now there are laws out there that a trucker or a bus driver cannot drive for more than 12 hours a day. It is a policy now which I really like. Every trucker should be allowed breaks and should be allowed to relax a lot. It takes a lot out of you physically, emotionally and mentally. When you have been a truck driver for so long and when you drive for long hours, you can easily be hypnotized by the lines and turns especially at night times.

Truck drivers always sacrifice alot as well. They leave their loved ones, friends and their homes to drive all over the place to transport our needs. It takes an emotional and mental toll on them. If you do see or hear a cranky trucker, it is because they are so stressed out, and so emotionally and mentally drained that sometimes they do not know what they are saying or doing.

I myself was really interested in becoming a truck driver because I love driving so much. I was very close to getting my AZ/DZ Truckers licence, but I said it is going to take a toll on me and when I heard stories, I said maybe I shouldn’t do this job. It is not for me. I am so intrigued, so interested in these big trucks and transport trucks that each time i go, I see the companies, and I see the different types of rigs. I love Peterbilts and Volvo trucks. They are gorgeous. I especially love the straight chromed trucks with the shiny chrome and great grill.

I definitely understand what it is to be a trucker. I have worked in a transport company before in the office and It takes a lot of paperwork and a lot of work to just transport things back and forth and make on time deliveries and among other things. Some companies are so strict with time deadlines, that if a shipment is late more than half an hour, the trucker will then be forced to transport the product/products back to where it came from and that takes a lot of money and time.

So if you ever stop at a 401 service centre in Ontario, or where ever, just for curiousity sake just go up to a trucker and ask questions. I am sure they would love to talk to someone as most truckers are by themselves a lot so they always look for people to talk to and just express feelings. You will know automatically on who truckers are by the way they wear the clothes they have. Most truckers come in vests, their trucking company logo, jeans, and other types of apparel.

Trucking can be fun too, Driving is fun too, but always remember and always find it in your heart to respect, to acknowledge how important it is to know a truckers life isn’t easy at all. So use your judgement.

God Bless our truckers.
DRIVE SAFELY
BE ALERT
BE CAUTIOUS
BE COURTEOUS To truckers
RESPECT
GIVE DISTANCE
DO NOT Cut Truckers off as it dangerous
Pass Truckers safely
When going in front of a trucker, give a lot of room, wait then signal then make the lane change.

I ❤ Truckers!