| Prove yourself as a quality, hard-working, | | | | was going to keep running the rest of the |
| safe, reliable truck driver and get to know | | | | week until I got back home on Friday or |
| as many people in the chain of command as you | | | | Saturday. |
| can. You don't have to be a kissy-ass, but | | | | |
| just get to know them, show them respect, and | | | | But JEEEZ, would I love to take the rest of |
| make sure you do an exceptional job for them. | | | | the week off and stay in Bristol for the |
| | | | NASCAR races! I had been with my company for |
| When you do your job well it makes them look | | | | a few years already and had proven myself as |
| good and makes their lives much easier. But | | | | a great driver so I asked my dispatcher what |
| the opposite is also true and don't forget | | | | he thought about letting me stay in Bristol |
| it. Being a truck driver doesn't carry any | | | | for the races. |
| prestige with it I'm sorry to say, not even | | | | |
| inside a trucking company. But being a great | | | | He told me he didn't have the authority to |
| worker and a good person does. Make those | | | | approve that, which I knew already but I |
| your priorities and life will be much easier | | | | always ran everything by him first (he was |
| on you most of the time than it would have | | | | the best dispatcher I had ever had). |
| been otherwise I can assure you. | | | | |
| | | | He told me to talk to his Boss, whom I also |
| For Example...... | | | | knew very, very well, and I begged and |
| | | | pleaded with the Boss. He said, "what are you |
| I was always an excellent truck driver. I | | | | going to do with the truck?" I told him I was |
| ALWAYS ran hard and ALWAYS on time, ran the | | | | going to be sleeping in it every night, of |
| lousy loads when they needed me to; I was a | | | | course, and it would be safe. |
| given....if you gave me a job to do, you | | | | |
| could consider it done. | | | | My rationale: "Come on man, you know I kick |
| | | | ass out here. Let me stay in Bristol this |
| I was outside of Bristol, TN on a Wednesday | | | | weekend. You know I'll take care of the truck |
| morning. I had just gotten done delivering my | | | | and make it up to you." Of course he knew I |
| load about an hour ago and went up the road | | | | was right, and he let me stay. |
| to the nearest truck stop to get some | | | | |
| breakfast while I waited for my next | | | | There are VERY few drivers that would have |
| assignment. | | | | been able to pull that one off, but I had |
| | | | proven myself and had gotten to know the |
| Arriving, I noticed that there were a number | | | | right people and that was all it took. I |
| of NASCAR tractor trailers in the parking | | | | rocked the weekend at the races and had a |
| lot. Being a huge racing fan I realized that | | | | blast. |
| the only two tracks they could be on their | | | | |
| way to was Bristol,TN or Fort Worth,TX. | | | | Everything went perfectly and Monday morning |
| | | | I called back in, they gave me my next load, |
| I asked somebody and sure enough they were | | | | and I was off and rolling again. Another |
| going to Bristol, about an hour up the road. | | | | great adventure on the road as a truck |
| | | | driver. |
| Well, I was running in a regional fleet and | | | | |