Vocal Communication

In the ten years, we have been on the road I have never been a proponent of the citizens band radio (CB).  When we first came out on the road as newbie’s we thought we had to have the CB on to be “real” truck drivers.

I like noise I can control and the CB all the sudden coming to life and someone telling me they have their panties on or that there is a bear at mile marker so and so was more then I could bear.   When we started, the CB volume was set to low, but when we would get close to a town, I was amazed at how the CB came to life.   We were requested to stop in at such and such a truck stop to get our CB worked on.   I thought wow if I can hear you on my CB it must have been working.   While near El Paso, the CB would go crazy with voices advertising day trips to Juarez, Mexico for any sinful delight your imagination could think of.   There were also the constant belittling of other drivers, from women, drivers with an accent or someone asking for a bear report.   Finally, enough was enough and the CB was turned off for good.

Our next entertainment was XM radio and that was a miracle!   We could finally listen to the radio from coast to coast without channels fading in and out as we approached or left cities.   The amazement of that new invention lasted for several years.   We listened to talk shows to improve our trucking business and received a very thorough education.   When driving late at night we are able to listen to broadband of music to suit both of our tastes.   How in the world did we ever drive without XM?

The next amazing gadget to come along was the cell phone that was not in a bag!    We could not talk to family and friends at our leisure and this was a new miracle.   As soon as unlimited nationwide talking came available, we signed up and a completely new world available to us.   No more grabbing the CB mic or changing channels on the XM, push a button on your head set and you were talking to a live person.   What I enjoy about talking on the phone while I am driving is that I can keep my eye on the road not on a passenger.   I do not have to turn my head to talk to a passenger or push a button on the CB to talk.   Both hands are on the wheel and eyes are forward.

Using our phone, I have listened in on many conference calls about our industry that in turn improves our business practices.   I have been able to ask many questions of drivers who have been out here much longer than us on how to handle different situations.   I have a friend who has been driving for over 25 years who has offered many tips on how to handle deer jumping out of the woods at you, why a T/T passing you sways into my lane, how to handle objects in the road, adjust my mirrors for maximum visibility.   Over time, this knowledge has improved my confidence on how I handle unexpected situations that happen on the road.

Through the phone and my network of friends, I have gained and shared knowledge on what gate to use to get on military installations. How to traverse a city while carrying a load of explosives and avoid non-hazmat roads. The proper procedure when an office of the law wants to cut a government seal, and how to handle the many rules and regulations that hit us on a daily bases.  

I have found that the cell phone and a network of friends who drive as goofy of hours as I do help to keep me focused on the road and also keep a positive mind set.   I have found if I get down or out of sorts my friends immediately put a stop to my “victim” thinking and get me back on track.  

We have also found that we stay in touch with family better than we ever have while out on the road.   We used to rely on emails to keep in touch, which was cumbersome for some of our family members who were mistrustful of computers.   Our hours are such that a family member can call us any time of day or night and visit.   Without our cell phones, it would feel as if we were moving back into an abyss of limited communication.

Bob & Linda Caffee

Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical
Saint Louis MO
Expediters 5 years been out here on the road ten years
boblindacaffee@gmail.com

 

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;
Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;
Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;
Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.

Door Knocks

We are a captive audience and easy to harass while sitting at a truck stop waiting for a load by any panhandler working the area.  If we sit in the front seat or are outside working on the truck it is as if we have the welcoming porch light on.

Over the years, many people with a plethora of hard luck stories have approached us.   The stories and the people are endless on what they want to sell us to what they want to give us in exchange for cash.   Very seldom do these people want food or water and if offered will give you a look of disgust and move on the next victim.

Some of these people have a heck of a good story while others I am amazed at their audacity to ask me for money.   One of these are the guys who are driving from truck to truck in their car asking for gas money or if I would like to buy something such as a TV that is in the back seat of their car.   Many of these people are selling DVD’s of all kinds, perfume, and even jewelry.  

Bob often polishes on the truck while we are sitting and he is often approached by someone wanting to polish the wheels and fuel tanks for him.   Some of these people are pro’s and do a fantastic job and can get a shine out of anything.   Others prefer the cash and they will dust off the wheels and fuel tanks.   

Women also approach the truck wanting to clean, offer their services, or just want money.   A woman in the south who was selling homemade trinkets and had a story to tell about surviving the hurricane approached me after Katrina.   Her I bought from as she had an interesting story and I admired her gumption.   Most of the women we see working the truck stops are sad and are rough looking.  

We have our names on our doors, which has stopped the door knocks in the middle of the night by women wanting to keep a driver company.   We have not had a knock on our door in a few years, which I attributed to either the names on the doors or the lack of women working the night.  This changed the other night when I heard a knock on the sleeper, either this woman could not read or she was hoping the door was lying.   When there is a knock on the door at night I have found if I ignore the knock they knock harder as they figure you are a heavy sleeper.   When I hear the knock now I open the curtains and poke my head through and as soon as they see a women they move on.

I am saddened and irritated by many of the panhandlers that stop by our truck.   I have seen very few of these people that were not young to middle aged and looked as if they were healthy enough to hold down a job.   While we are sitting, we are not making money and I have a hard time handing over cash to a person that looks as if they should be holding down a job.   I am saddened at the women that come by offering their services wondering how in the world they got to the point of knocking on strange doors in the middle of the night.  

Many of the trucks stops we use keep an eye out for panhandlers and ask them to leave the premises.   Some of the truck stops we go to charge to park or if you buy 50 gallons of fuel, you can park for 24 hours with no fee.   These are “gated” truck stops and most of these do not have panhandlers.  

We will continue to polity decline their services and not buy any of their wares as we figure most of this is stolen property.   We will still be cussed at once in awhile for saying no, but we figure that just goes with the person not facing reality of a job.   We have been accused of not understanding which in reality we do not as we have always held jobs to pay our bills.  

Linda Caffee

Leased to: FedEx Custom Critical
Saint Louis MO
Expediters 5 years been out here on the road ten years
boblindacaffee@gmail.com

 

Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle;
Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;
Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;
Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.