Paying Homage

A while back I posted a video of me and my hubs riding down the road. I had no idea it would get the attention it did. Initially, I was a bit embarrassed to even put it up, but I wanted to show you the different movements a truck makes from my point of view going around corners and getting on and off of freeways. You could really see that in this video and I was happy so many people liked it!

What got to me though, was two of the compliments that I received on the video that were directed towards me and my driving abilities. Needless to say, I was honored and they both brought tears to my eyes.

The first was this one, which got me all choked up:

• All you rookies take notice on how to properly roll in n out of the go-pedal while massagin the gear box & not jerk a large car!! Cool vid Beth

And the second was this one which brought tears to my eyes and a huge lump in my throat.

• Bethany, I love this video and let me tell you why. I am a picky old school driver who loves to witness a great ride. The way you run Rosie is “muy perfecto”. Your shifting is totally old school and Rosie is purring like a kitten. I am so sick of seeing these so called modern day truck drivers “bowflexing” away from a stop. That is, running way too much torque down a drive line so that it puts the truck into a twisting motion through each gear, I’m cool …Hey Man, look at me, I’m cool !!!! BULLSHIT…. GRRRRRRRR. If I had a truck open for a driver, you would be the first person I would hire! Not because you are a woman and a pretty one at that…..but because the way you drive. You got it in your genes and your Dad and Grandpa must be awful proud of you…… Way to go girl !!!!!

Now. The reason these comments/compliments mean so much to me (I thought about having them framed) is because I am SO honored that these two top notch guys would give ME such a great compliment.

To me, these compliments mean I have arrived.

You see, trucking for a lot of people these days may just mean getting a truck down the road however you see fit, but for me it’s about so much more than that.

Since I was a kid I have watched trucks run down the highway. I have been drawn to them for as long as I can remember. For me, it’s hard to put into words how I feel about trucks because I love them so. To me, they are sexy and I am, to this day still amazed at how easily and effortlessly an 80,000 pound truck can move on down the highway when operated by a driver who loves his/her truck. That’s how it should be done and to me, there is no other way.

Your truck, whether you own it or if it’s a company truck should be an extension of YOU. You should have pride in it, in both how it looks and how it motors down the roadway. I have sat many hours admiring men and their trucks moving down city streets, through parking lots (the slower the better), around corners and just changing lanes out on the freeway. Sadly, the trucks I have admired over the years are dwindling down to nothing. You don’t see them too much anymore. Oh, they are out here, but more than not, those guys and gals are being replaced with the new style of driver who couldn’t care less how they drive a truck, what they wreck, or run over along the way.

So, today I wanted to pay homage to all those drivers who have taught me how to truck. Yes, my dad & grandfather had a huge hand in teaching me, but I learned so much more out here on the road watching truckers baby their rides, like they were fine women.

All of these years I hope you know, I have been watching what YOU do and how YOU drive, and I have done everything exactly like you. All of you guys didn’t know it, but you all had a hand in making me who I am out here today. My driving clearly reflects what so many before me have done and I just want to say thank you! I couldn’t have gotten where I am today without you!