Generational Prejudices: Benji's Response Posted by DC Cargo Mall on October 14, 2013

My name is Benji.

I read your last blog article, about breaking generational prejudices in the trucking world and it struck a cord with me.

I grew up in Boise, Idaho on a farm until the age of 16. But by then, I had already learnt to maneuver the tractor and horses and lawn trimming tools and everything else, and familiarity was a huge part of my cozy bubbled in lifestyle. Except that although I don’t remember why, whatever children did know me, were not exactly friends with me. They said it was because I looked scary and big but all I wanted was to have a friend and I couldn't help the way I’d been built.

The bullying only worsened after we’d moved to LA. We called a small 2 bedroom on the 8^th floor of a tall building overlooking the highways home. I used to stare out the windows in wonder all summer long when my parents couldn't afford summer camp. I’ll never forget the moment I made a life changing decision.

It was a Tuesday, I was on my usual perch at the window. The light was green. Then I noticed something. There were two large interior van trucks driving side by side and after rolling down their windows and exchanging a laugh, they slapped five, ignoring the honks around them, and then proceeded on each with their respective duties and zoomed off.

That was when I decided I was going to become a Truck driver. The more I thought about it, the more realistic, and the more exciting it sounded. I did know how to run our tractor after all back in Boise. The Trucker that always came to pick up our potatoes let me have a ride around the farm once also. So I had experience, I reasoned.

Then, this moment of camaraderie between two truckers set it in stone in my mind. Truckers are friends with other truckers, so truckers have the magical key I’d always wished for: FRIENDS. My dreams weren't a phase and by the time I was 18, I was enrolled in the local CDL training course. It was much harder than I thought. Firstly, my parents were unsupportive, so I worked lugging equipment for a store and helped them load trucks to earn the money myself. I convinced myself it was an internship. When I’d finally earned enough to start school, I did. But then lessons were difficult and I failed. I didn't want to give up. So I did it all over again. Then I passed. It was the proudest moment of my life at that point.

I didn't know if I was going to have any friends to slap five down the road, or if any of the truckers would like me because I was younger but towering over them. But I wanted to be a trucker and it didn't matter because I’d gotten my wish. I showed all the older drivers that I was friendly and open to the sage advice they had to offer. I broke prejudices in my own world at least.

Eight years have passed since graduation. I’m almost thirty. I have a couple of close truck buddies and sometimes I drive to Idaho just to give a hitch to bored little farm boys, the kind I used to be. I was able to give lots of advice to a friend who’d been hauling around a tractor and he never forgot it. 

My ‘internship’ turned out to be the biggest advantage of my pre-career in my life. All that time spent pumping ratchets, affixing winches, tightening chains, bolting safety hardware and hooking up rings, not to mention all that muscle building exercise in lugging freight, brought me to the point I am today. That point? I have the safest truck in all of LA, or so I believe. I want to thank DCCargoMall.com. Because if it weren't for your specialty discounts and personal advisory phone calls where you took the time to help me out, I would not have been able to afford, or understand true safe-loading.

Oh, and my parents support me now.

Thank you. 

Breaking Stereotypes and Generational Prejudices in the Trucker’s world Posted by DC Cargo Mall on October 02, 2013

In everything, there are young participants and older ones. Some believe that experience and knowledge goes hand in hand with higher age and that more technically savvy and energetic dispositions give the youngsters their upper hand.

This rings especially true for the trucker. The older one looks down at a newbie with scorn at his unfounded arrogance and ignorance, and the younger one laughs him off with a strong arm and a flashy GPS. 

Josef Timpen, 65, with 32 years in trucking experience, says it makes him sad that the ambiance of camaraderie among truckers has gotten lost over the years to a replacement of confused newbies that don’t want to swallow their pride and ask, alongside older drivers that are disgusted by the pompous attitude and simply develop their own attitude in response.

Rather poetical, he had this to say:

“When you used to see another Trucker, it was like you saw another part of the tribe, of the family. You borrowed lighters, oil testers, gasoline bottles. You munched on toothpicks and sat on rocks in the wee hours by the gas station corner. You exchanged stories, peoples ears were open, their mouths flapping about interesting and practical stories, everyone learned whatever he could from the other. We helped each other connect batteries and rearrange loads. People gave away extra ratchet straps when another guy’s load needed a tighter hug. Coffee from one guy filled many mugs and lots of raspy throats that reeked of pulling an all-nighter in road-time and concentrated nicotine. The atmosphere was one where each person offered what he could and every gathering, each time with different sets of drivers, was one with a cozy feel and an open mind.’

‘Unfortunately nowadays that same community exists, but the soul of it: the togetherness, is gone. A guy needs help backing up and he puffs up his feathers and won’t stoop to ask. Truckers run by without so much as an offer to help. Truck stops are filled with young guys browsing their smartphones without eye contact whenever possible. It’s an each man for himself attitude. Everyone brings their own sandwich, you either change your tire alone or you pay the guy at the shop to do it. Of course, there are the exceptions. But not enough of them. I want the climate of companionship back in the game. Who’s with me?”

I think we all are, Joe. But someone needs to be the first one to break the spell. Here are some tips to get Joe’s movement going:

1: If you’re an old timer, and maps are your choice of navigation, instead of mocking the younger dude who is directionally illiterate without his GPS, coach him a bit in the art of mapping. Explain to him why when the batteries of your devices die, you can always rely on a good old-fashioned paper. Try to be open as well and compliment his tech adeptness

when he picks up his GPS and tells you how well he can operate the thing. Newbies: Put down your iPad and GPS for just a moment. Putting aside your pride for now and drink in the information. It will save you later when you want to get rid of the newbie title and consider yourself knowledge equipped. Nobody who only learned from his own mistakes and no one else’s went very far.

2. If you see a trucker struggling on the side of the road, flatbed, tanker, van, or whatever, pull over. The guy could use your help. Ask him his name; offer him a hand, a mint candy. Even if he blows you off, you know you’ve done your part. When his guilty conscience catches up with him later, you’ll be gone. But your good deed remains. Best case scenario though, you’ve made a new friend.  Trust us; those come in handy when you’re the one on the side of the road, a week later.

3. If you’re confused about something, don’t be afraid to ask. Older than you, younger and less experienced, it doesn’t matter. Simply being turned to for advice lifts someone’s spirit and makes him or her feel useful and important. Just because the guy who just emerged from CDL School has only been on the road for a couple months and doesn’t have as many experiences as you, he still has a DIFFERENT collection of experiences, and it may be worthwhile to hear about what he learned from the mistakes he made that you haven’t.

4. Talk about everything. Share your story. Even if it’s about that time you got yourself out of a rut like a hero, someone may have had a similar experience and have had a quicker solution that will prove useful to you later on. Discuss this topic too. Join the movement to break open walls of defense. Be open and honest. Let them know: you want to learn, you want to share what you know, whatever the age difference.

5. Remember, everyone was a driver-in-training once upon a time. I don’t care if your three uncles, your father and grandfather, your brother, and your best friend are drivers. It’s also very nice that you had a toy truck since you were three and knew you wanted to be a trucker since the age of seven. It’s wonderful that you were the go-to when dad needed help changing the oil or tying down on the cargo safely. But you once knew much less than you do now, so respect the ones starting off, because once upon a time, you were there too, empathize.