This week, September 13-19th, is National Truck Driver Appreciation Week! Like many in our industry, Matchmaker Logistics is taking time out to honor our treasured truckers.
You probably already know that truckers are superheroes, but what you may not know is how humble many of them are! Truckers save lives, save businesses, and do it every day with never so much as a peep about it. So, using some of the best stories I’ve ever heard or read, I’ve compiled a first-person account of what a typical in the life of a trucker might look like. It’s just a glimpse into why these hard-working men and women are our highway heroes:
5:00AM: Up bright and early! I’ve got a coffee mug the size of my head and I’m ready to hit the open road. Truckers work long hours, and the smiling faces and hot coffee at truck stops can be the difference between a great day and a rough one.
6:00AM: Before I hit the road, I take a moment to buckle in my travel buddy! Whether as a gift from family, a soft place to rest, or just because they have a great sense of humor, some truckers buckle up life-size stuffed animals in the passenger seat for company. We’ve heard of teddy bears, gorillas, and even a few aliens. Of course, they look best wearing a Matchmaker t-shirt or boxers…
9:00AM: Eek! Early morning moose-dodge! This is more common than you might think. More than one trucker has told tales of the gory aftermath of a moose-smack. Blech.
12:00PM: Stop to help a family’s who’s been in a car accident just off the exit – lunch can wait. Many of our truck-driving friends have stories about calling 911 for a house fire they saw from the highway, an accident, or other emergencies. Their eagle eyes save lives! One trucker who stopped to help a family after an accident, noticed their crying daughter. Her pencil case had been broken open, and he took the time to pick up her colored pencils that had rolled all over the road. Now that’s grace under pressure.
3:00PM: Whoo! That was exciting! Just spent the past several miles next to a biker practicing his wheelies! Truckers see neat tricks like this all the time, from biker gangs to the Oscar Mayer Weenie-Mobile. There’s nothing like the sights on the open road!
6:00PM: Look at that sunset over the mountains! Not all of the great sights we see are man-made. Waterfalls, cliffs, perfect sunrises and gorgeous vistas…the kind of things I’d never see if I’d taken a job at a desk! Makes it all worth it.
7:00PM: Turning in for the night and checking my cargo. I’ve heard stories of truckers facing cargo with unexpected consequences – such as whipped cream. One trucker took a route through the mountains, and the pressure and temperature change didn’t agree with the aerosol in the cans. When he opened his trailer, it was a foamy white mess – the contents of those hundreds of cans of whipped cream had exploded!
Hour by hour, day by day, imagine the tales our truckers can tell! This week, thank your favorite truck drivers. If you can, take them out for a celebratory coffee, drink or meal. Ask them to tell you about life on the road. There’s nothing better than hearing a great story straight from the mouth of a real-life hero.
Happy Monday and Happy National Truck Driver Appreciation Week,
Mary
