Kickin’ and Screamin”
Copyright Sandy Long

It is hard to adapt to new ways of doing things and I think it is hardest for old time drivers like myself......

We get stuck in a way of doing things and become comfortable in the same ol’ same ol’ everyday routine of our lives and hate the thought of change. Why fix it if it’s not broken has always been one of my favorite mantras and I resist change with a passion.

In the last decade of the 20^th century my boss, in his infinite wisdom, decided to buy my new truck with an automated transmission. I pitched a fit. “I don’t want a truck set up for newbies that don‘t know how to shift!” and “I ain’t no lazy truck driver who doesn’t want to shift!” were my initial responses to him. I finished up with “After 30 years, you have turned me into a professional steering wheel holder!” said with a scowl on my face.

I pouted, I kicked the tires on the pretty pink truck then got in it and went on down the road griping to anyone who would listen until I got used to the transmission and found out that I actually didn’t mind not having to shift any more. I never would admit it to my boss though, didn’t want to give him that pleasure.

Then the FMCSA instituted the new HOS rules. Like many, I thought the world as I knew it was coming to an end. I ranted and raved about how the new hours would cut into my income, that I would get many log book tickets and how I would survive if I couldn’t figure the derned things out. I wrote letters to the FMCSA, talked strongly to the trucking association I belong to and almost went into debt buying log books until I got the new hours down pat. I found that they weren’t so bad after all and actually changed how I ran very little. All that drama for nothing.

Hating change, I stayed with a poorly paying job for three years too long. I really liked the people that I worked for and hoped that things would get better. Then I didn’t want to have to get used to a new company, new types of trucks and new rules. It got to the point that I had no choice but to change jobs. Getting older, I needed to worry about retirement and needed benefits. It took me 6 weeks to find a company that I thought I could live with and after calling them many, many times with all sorts of questions gave notice and showed up for orientation.

I had been used to a family run type of company for the last nine years. Loosely run too. We didn’t have safety directors, fleet maintenance managers, tracking devices or a complicated accounting system. I had to learn a lot of new things quickly and teaching an old dog new tricks takes time you know.

I adapted to the new ways with the help of the support staff of the new company. I would imagine that they got tired of my calls re-asking how one did this or that. They sure got used to my voice quickly enough to the point that I didn’t have to identify myself anymore. I met enough of their drivers to realize that it was just another trucking company just with newer ways of doing things than I was used to. I settled in.

Then they threw me a curve ball. About two weeks after I hired on, the company started testing an onboard communication device called people net to keep track of hours, do dispatch and to use gps to keep track of where the trucks were. They said they would be in the local and regional trucks to see how they work. I didn’t worry about it much because I was in the interstate division. One of the reasons that I had chosen the company was because of the one on one dispatch and no satellite systems.

I am diametrically apposed to on board recording devices and tracking systems. I do not think they are necessary for a well run company with professional drivers that do their jobs correctly. I danged sure don’t want ‘big brother’ watching my every move and knowing my every pit stop. Furthermore, I like working one on one with my dispatchers, talking to a live person everyday and specially for getting dispatched on loads or if I have a problem.

In March during my scheduled home time, my truck was slated to get a new windshield. I went home in good spirits but that changed the day I went back to work. Pulling up to my truck in my car, I opened the door of the truck to load up my clothes and such. I first noticed that my trash can had been moved, the second thing I noticed was this square little screen mounted on my dash! I knew immediately what it was…the satellite system!

To say that I was appalled, upset and a little angry that the system had been put in without telling me that it was going in would be an understatement. I charged inside with full attitude in place. I stomped, I roared and thought about quitting. The bottom line was that I had two options; quit or deal with it. So after moping around for a few days and refusing to use the derned thing, I started playing with it. I thought of a humorous way to look at it, I call the dash screen Mata Hari and the satellite it is hooked to KGB central.

It has finally happened though, I have been yanked kickin and screamin into the 21^st century!

Ya’ll be safe out there!