Trucking; Father/Son Thing

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I feel fortunate to have been raised within the trucking industry.

1950’s

My father hauled livestock in the 1950’s; then in the 1960’s while managing the logistics of a fruit company (Alva Fruit Co.), raising a family, and directing a welding shop (Southwest Welding). He owned a couple trucks ‘on the side’ and leased them out to local freight companies.

When his main occupation faded in the 70’s, Dad returned full-time to driving.  In his final twenty ‘working’ years he transported live plants from growers throughout Florida to Sanford Fl (MCT) for further distribution.

Dad retired at 66 years old with a yard full of iron relics to dote on; after an accident at 80 he could no longer operate a vehicle – it was the beginning of the end.  He passed at 83 after living his interest; ‘trucks’ (W.T. Haynie 1926-2010).

THE POINT OF THIS POST

It was from him that a son learned the ‘nuts-and-bolts’ of ‘trucking’ – nothing was easy, and getting your hands dirty on ‘machines‘ was just ‘part of it.’  With him there were two kind of people; “drivers,” and “wheel-holders.”

My father worked, period. There was no time for sports, recreation, or excuses, he was my role-model.

I was driving a semi at 18; ‘long-distance’ and ‘solo’ for better than 6 years – before marrying and starting a career  as a firefighter for the City of Asheville, NC.   I suppose Dad’s regard with career firefighters at that time had more to do with them lazing around the station; I’m sure that he would have preferred that I stayed with driving, the truth is that the independence of trucking never left my spirit…

This writing came about because my son had a period where he was consumed with ‘video games.,  “there’s a whole-world out there” and I wanted him to taste some of it – just as his grandfather and I had experienced.

Dad’s leased trucks 1960’s – at Terminal Transport, Venice, Fl

HISTORY

The trucks (‘tractors’) that Dad had in the 1960’s were leased to a freight company (Terminal Transport) for local deliveries; it was a secondary income for our family.  On his monthly maintenance visits this kid of ten stood by his side as he deciphered the newest bends, nicks, and scratches to his small ‘fleet.’  I absorbed his motions as he methodically checked the well being of each truck – all the while rolling another Prince Albert cigarette.  It was my job to anticipate and ‘fetch’ the correct tools necessary for his needs; changing oil was a standard; time on the road was our “father/son ‘thing.”

The experience led me to mechanical independence – if I could take it apart; then I could put it back together again…..

At eighteen (@1970) I landed a job preparing 40′ semi-trailers for the ‘refrigerated’ division of Terminal Transport. During the South Florida flower season I prepared and loaded three to five 40-foot semi trailers, six nights a week; with boxes of Gladiolus bound to the Northeast or Midwest, ‘team-drivers’ would deliver the loads. Bill Sargeant and the Florida Flower Association.

Freight version (‘cracker-box’ GMC) no put-put motor on trailer – same era

The ‘refrigerated’ trailers of this era were cooled with air blown through block-ice in the nose of the trailers.   – The nose, or “bulkhead” was the front 2-foot section of the trailer.  The air within the trailer was circulated by a blower which was connected by a fan belt to a lawn-mower sized (Briggs and Straton) motor which was mounted on the top/front (outside) of the trailer; this motor was commonly referred to as a “put-put.” 

Using a single axle 1800 International tractor, it was my duty to service those put-puts and clean out the trailers.  I would check the gas/oil while making sure that all was greased and working properly.  The 40′ trailer had to be swept out and tar-paper attached to the bulkhead (to prevent condensation from wetting the cardboard boxes) before taken to the ‘ice-house.’  At the ice-house it was necessary to maneuver the trailer at a right-angle (“jack-knife”) into the dock so that ten-300 pound blocks of ice could be carved and thrown into the small doors at the top of the bulkhead. The plant workers did this part; block-ice worked for this type of load; it lasted longer.

As a side note; crushed or ‘blown’ ice was commonly used and blown directly on produce loads like field corn where quicker cooling and the water from the melting ice wouldn’t damage anything.

The skills gained from this experience provided a wealth of common sense, I learned quickly and for the most part enjoyed the tasks.  As a bonus there were occasions when it was necessary to take a loaded trailer to the Sanford terminal 200 miles north to meet the team drivers; and occasionally Dad would take a second. Maybe I just loved the ride.

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1970’s

With most of my Dad’s friends lingering around the Farmer’s Market Restaurant in Fort Myers, it wasn’t long before someone asked me to drive distance (Jack Williams and Bill Millican), Why not? So from 1970 until 1976 (with some other driving jobs along the way) I delivered produce throughout the Midwest and east coast; following the crops of the seasons northward.  The truck was my apartment and the windshield was my view to the world.

Weigh stations were a nuisance, return loads a hassle, and sleeping in cold and unusual settings were just ‘a part of it‘ – other than the hassle of the DOT (transportation enforcement)- I enjoyed it all.

My ride 72 -76  Milson, Inc.

As my friends attended college – my education was through the windshield of that truck. After six years living on the road I met my future wife while delivering produce in Delaware; we became engaged.  A year later and a month before our wedding – I stepped out of the truck and hitchhiked back to Florida; to begin a new life.

H-63 Mack

Dad’s ride 75 – 85

Willie T Haynie

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1980’s – MARRIED / FAMILY

Dad’s ride 85- 95

Yes, I found a job away from trucking – but not away from trucks.  I will always believe that the sound of trucks idling, the smell of the diesel, those amber lights against the midnight darkness, and the myriad of experiences from a truckers life never really leaves a drivers thoughts and senses.

I raised a family (two girls and a son) in the Carolina mountains and had ‘lucked-out’ with a ‘normal’ job; a fireman for the City of Asheville, NC.  During the 1980’s I owned, leased, and drove on my days off – two of my own trucks (above) to a local freight company – just like my father had done

– and yes, on a few maintenance trips, my son ‘Gray’ followed along too.

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1990’s – COUCH-POTATO SON

A few summers later and at 13; I searched for a way to pull my son from those ever consuming video games; I could think of no better place than to become ‘stuck’ together in the cab of a truck.  I felt too that this could also be an opportunity to review some of those familiar places while closing a few of those ‘little circles’ that had remained in my thoughts from years past.

Bruce Dewey 2013

Thirty years before I had encouraged friends to ride along; several did.  One of those friends who took the ride was “Dewey,” our fathers were acquaintances and both solid ‘Mack” men – over many years our friendship has been an easy and lasting one.  Bruce had succeeded in the trucking industry and at that time owned a fleet of more than thirty trucks.

After a quick phone call to see if he could use a temporary driver I secured a month of vacation-time from work and drove to Florida with my son.

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ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Bruce had prepared one of his older Pete’s along with a Great Dane trailer, and at 8:30 in the evening, thirty years later – I was once again sitting in the drivers seat – this time accompanied by my son.  We ‘dead-headed’ north from south Florida to South Carolina for a load of Tomatoes.

Gray 97

Making my way up the interstate it was all coming back – the hum of the engine, the feel that comes with the constant of scanning the gauges, the mirrors, and then ‘defaulting’ back through that big picture-window into the highway ahead; diligently aware of my surroundings and the overall pulse of the beast beneath me.

But years later there was indeed something different – there was a lack of engine noise and cab vibrations – I was riding on air-ride’ suspension while at a casual 72-mph; this machine seemed so much at ease.  I felt the air-conditioning!  I could ‘hear’ the radio; all while the large Cummings ran with a quiet hum – heck, we even had a cooler with refreshments in the cab.  The only thing similar with this truck from those I had experienced more than twenty years earlier – were those juicy southern bugs that continued to slam against my windshield.

You have to understand the difference; in 1970 my Dad first sent me off to Baltimore/Philly/and New York with a load of watermelons in a well-used H-67 Cab-over Mack (an old JP Stevens truck) – it was a ‘sweat-box.’  The doors rattled, the steering wheel shook, and it struggled to get to, and maintain 55 (mph) – as the air roared through the open windows – having a radio was useless.  A later International I drove (“Betsy-Ross”) had the fuel ‘turned-up’ in the little 220 for more power – when running through the night it was possible to see (from the ‘spot-mirror’) a flame curling out of the ‘stack’ against the midnight sky.

Once again, I wondered if could I ever share these things with my son. I suppose it didn’t really matter; for as I absorbed these muses of trucking – my son had crawled up in the bunk and was fast asleep behind me.  It led me to think – “here I was, this experience was for him”

I continued through the dense patches of the North Florida fog – hands comfortably on the steering wheel, into the wee hours – as my son slept!

AND I THOUGHT I COULD SLEEP

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Son position

Hours later I arrived at an old truck-stop near my destination and rolled back in the sleeper for a few hours sleep – it was then that I found that sleeping in the same bunk with my son was like resting as an angry forklift driver loaded your trailer (the rig lurches with each forklift pass).  After several hours of this punishment I wearily climbed from the sleeper and slid back onto the driver’s seat; – my son remained undisturbed.

Leaning across the large steering wheel I gazed through the dried bugs on the windshield across the dusty parking lot – there was a melody of idling trucks surrounding us – once again reminding myself – ‘this’ was for that guy in the back – my son.

It was still early when we located the packing house and backed the trailer against the loading dock; once again I would try to rest.

Well rested, the boy felt just fine and decided to explore.  The area was rural and I figured that it wouldn’t be much different than I had done years before – so after reminding him to be careful and to remain close I settled back into the sleeper for some much needed zzzzz’s.  Through-out the next few hours the boy continually pulled his 150 pound frame up and down the cab getting in, slamming the door, just to climb out before repeating the motion all over again.  For me and once again, sound sleep was a loosing battle.  Again I reminded myself that this time was for him; so I just laid there – and accepted ‘rest.’

Soon the truck lurched with the feel of the packing house fork-lift and the first pallet of tomatoes, so much for rest now.

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THIS MIGHT JUST WORK

In no time at all there were 20 pallets of tomatoes on the truck, 1600 individual boxes of palatalized tomatoes (80k gross); thirty years prior a load was 1225 boxes stacked directly onto the floor (73,280 gross).  Birmingham was our destination and with paperwork completed and with the modern cooling unit set at 58 degrees – we set out at 5:30 in the afternoon.  I wondered if the Birmingham Market was anything like it was twenty five years earlier.

The 450 miles was a short hop across two states on the interstate, a simple task as compared to the 22-hour ‘overnighters’ that as a young man I had regularly driven from south Florida to the markets in Boston, Chicago (Water market), Detroit, or New York City (Hunts Point).  Trips then were accomplished on incomplete interstates, now it all seemed easier – the ease of the truck, the rate of travel; and just to remind me that it was not a dream – were the regular ‘thumps’ of the pavement and the splattering of those juicy bugs against my windshield.

97 Trip

That international I had once driven for two years without working wipers on it; by simply keeping the windshield ‘waxed’ rain bounced off as quickly as it struck – it never seemed to present a hazard.  The trucks I had first driven were each lessons in humility; for some reason it was important to my father that I learned to adapt and accept.

In this late model truck of Dewey’s, we were able to maintain a steady pace into the Georgia night; at one period we had fallen in with a group of freight-haulers.  These ‘company’ drivers run hard and steady between the ‘hubs’ or terminals of the larger cities and on this night they helped me to maintain a rigid pace towards Atlanta.  It was during this period that I noticed my son was no longer sleeping or playing his ‘game-boy’ in the sleeper; he was actually sitting in the other seat observing!  I began to think that he might actually get something out of this ‘vacation’ after all.

I had worked the truck up and through another pack of these freight haulers, and as I broke ahead of this hard-running group I asked my son if all those ‘chicken-lights’ were bothering him; “No-sir” he replied, but he sure would like to “stop and pee.”

!!#!!*&$#!

I felt fine, and with all those freight haulers bearing down from behind I wasn’t about to stop and loose what little highway I had just earned.  I told my son that he may want to seriously consider one of those plastic 20 oz tea bottles that he had been so eagerly ‘downing’ all day (and discarding so casually on the floor) – he rejected the idea and I told him that was fine, but for the moment that was the only reasonable choice that he had.

After a few more bumpy interstate miles he must have reconsidered because an arm soon came from the sleeper curtain and the boy asked if I could hand him a second bottle – we never had that conversation again; he learned to adapt.

Another lesson from my father was that “eating-on-the-road.” This term didn’t always mean dining out – it could very well mean that ‘crackers and peanut-butter’ were in the glove-box.  Simplicity shared – somehow, this just might work.

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THE BIRMINGHAM MARKET

Four o’clock in the morning; the Birmingham market on Findley Street; I had been there many years earlier, Would I recognize it and would it be the same?  Out of the morning darkness appeared the image that was etched in my memory, the place indeed had remained fundamentally the same, except now many years later – I had returned with a son.

Birmingham Market

I paid the guard and backed my trailer against the dock, worn out from driving and without sentiment I shoved my sleeping son against the wall as he slept, and settled into a head-to-toe sleeping arraignment.  My mind wandered as I searched for comfort on a cramped mattress, but once again there were similarities.

Trucking; dirty-teeth, needing a shower, an engine running beneath me, area lights shinning through the windows – and here I lay.  I’d been here before, but now I questioned myself – Why in the world am I here now?

I continued to settle and as I shoved my son’s size 12 feet away from me; I was reminded of the reason – it was for this guy.  In my twenties it was my ‘job’ and I readily accepted trucking as a paid adventure; now at 45 it was a father/son thing.  I felt lucky for the opportunity to share my adventure and past with him.

Being palatalized, unloading was quick and painless, that was different too.  Next we drove to Tuscaloosa for a load of roofing material.

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TRUCK-STOPS / HIGHWAYS / MORE DEAD BUGS

Years before, PURE (now Union 76) was the ‘king’ of truck stops, what I was about to learn was that modern truck-stops have much higher standards.  The facilities we visited now were clean, organized, and offered friendly service – ‘travel-centers.’  After a much needed, sh-shower- and shave, it was time to head for North Carolina with our load.  I felt much better as we pulled back onto interstate-20 towards Atlanta.  The boy was a bit happier too after spending a few bucks at the truck-stop arcade.

The next few hours went quickly chatting on the CB and darkness fell, nearing Charlotte; more freight haulers and ‘chicken-lights’ surrounded us.  Then at three am and after 600 miles I find my delivery point; open my rear doors and park just outside the business – once again I shove the sleeping boy against the rear of the cab and squeeze in.

Sleep was elusive, in the wee morning hours the businesses delivery trucks came and went, each one stopping alongside and each slamming their doors as the drivers returned to lock the business gate – thank goodness for 7 a.m., the knock on our door finally came, “back your truck to the dock.”

My son was up when the forklift began unloading and once again I was in that all too familiar position; the driver’s seat, elbows on the steering wheel, dirty teeth, and gazing wearily through the smashed bugs on the windshield.  Yes, I thought about home, those bugs, and my own bed; even the thought of the wife snoring did not deter my desire to be alongside her – but again I reminded myself of the father/son thing and exactly why I was doing this.

Before long we were off to Williamsburg, Virginia for a load of beverage; load time 30 hours away, wonderful ez ride; no hurry.

The rest of the afternoon we eased through eastern North Carolina along highway 258, I had driven this road in the early 70’s hauling cucumbers to Delaware and was curious of any changes; it seemed like the perfect opportunity.  The son was actually sitting up and watching the fields and rural character of eastern NC pass before us (I learned later that the batteries were dead in his game-boy!).  It turned into a pleasant ride; little change, the small towns remained much as remembered; each a “Mayberry” in its own right.

As evening fell we came into the traffic frenzy of Portsmouth, Virginia.  Gray was commenting on the shipyards, the ships and of the world that he was seeing – he even made the analogy that like “Dad, this windshield is like a big TV set,” and that he was really enjoying the view.

That single comment sure helped to ease the fact that I had missed my shower for the day – just maybe these weeks were going to be worthwhile, and just maybe sooner or later I will get rested up.

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FRANKS TRUCK-STOP

Williamsburg, Va. I had heard that there was a truck stop near the load point, so that was my destination.  A I pulled into this dusty little dump of a truck stop, my heart sank, it was a time-warp.  The facilities were horrid, leaving me no viable options.  I was in a zone of too close to my loading point to leave – and too far to go. I would remain nearby.

I investigated the run-down facilities further confirming my worst assumptions and gave up on the shower.  Utilizing my spare gallon of water (a keepsake from Dad), washed my face (birdbath), brushed my teeth and left the dusty lot to find parking.  Locating a shopping center nearby the boy browsed the stores.  As night fell I was direct when I stated that there would be NO in-and-out of the cab routine, there would be sleep.

The next day we were up early and returned to the dusty little truck stop, by this time I had it all figured out how to manage a shower.  I wouldn’t touch anything.  I propped the door open to vent the stench, flushed the johns, did some minor clean-up and ran the hot water to run the critters out. “Wet, soap, rinse, and remove thyself” were my instructions – I made it through, as did Gray.  Much like the 20 oz plastic tea bottle; there are times that we must adapt and on this day, we adapted.

‘Frank’s Truck-Stop,’ the place was despicable – and I think you may have already noticed that my standards are not that high.

We spent the rest of the day working crossword puzzles, cleaning the cab of the truck, talking, and sitting with our doors open while observing the world outside – quality father/son time.

Our load was beer from Anheiser-Busch to Miami, once loaded we proceeded over to and then down interstate-95 south into the Carolina night.  I drove for hours, my four a.m. stop at the Brunswick Georgia truck-stop was to be a 20-minute nap but four hours later I awoke.  We entered the truck-stop to find a wonderfully clean shower and a down home country breakfast, once again I felt clean, refreshed, and rejuvenated.

VISITING DAD

Having a Monday delivery and being in no hurry for Miami we headed towards Sanford to visit my father.  Dad had retired years earlier and with great pleasure I pulled unannounced onto his field of a yard; and with two graceful motions – backed that shiny 48 foot trailer in-line with his long-idle fleet.  The smooth evolution never broke a rut in his manicured lot, and as he walked from the shade of a nearby tree, I yelled “guess who taught me that?”  It was a nice grin, and the first time I had seen his new teeth.

Father, son, and grandson spent the day walking this ‘bone-yard’ together; WT Haynie took pride in showing us his long-idled fleet of Macks, Autocars, ‘Emeryville’s,” and ‘Cracker-boxes,’ – a rusted ‘bone-yard’ of once proud trucks, tractors, and related parts – his own little “field of dreams.”

As we wandered through he would share elaborate plans for each of the trucks – for each piece held special value or history to him.  Dad never hesitated to stop, unzip his britches, and tuck his tobacco scarred shirt back into his pants – and then roll another Prince Albert cigarette.

For being such a young man, Gray must have understood the importance of this rare visit with his grandfather because he showed a great deal of patience and seemed to enjoy the time, as did I.

T.G. and W.T. Haynie

When the darkness fell, we said our good-byes – Dad had driven for years and understood our need to move on through the lighter traffic of the night; bitter sweet were the feelings as I drove away – we don’t see him enough.

The highways now were the ones that I had traveled as a boy with my father; so I intentionally avoided the convenience of the interstate and pursued the ‘old routes.  Through the small towns and familiar highways, the lonesome stretches of road where my father once came to my rescue many years prior.  The truck I was driving at that time was an overloaded bulk-hauler with two flat tires – almost turning over.  Dad came alone in the middle of the night to get the rig going – he always succeeded.  It was night time now, and as I passed that same area of highway I retold the story to my son.

To shorten this long story we unloaded the truck in Miami and made another trip or two for Dewey, the truck and trailer were returned undamaged and we felt privileged to have had this rare father/son opportunity.

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BACK TO THE MOUNTAINS

On our drive back to the Carolina mountains, I reflected on what we may have accomplished.  It didn’t have a thing to do with the changes that I had noticed with the trucks, bugs, bumps and highways, but it did have a lot to do with the similarities of what fathers want and like to share with their son’s.

99 trip – W.T. Haynie and T.G. Haynie II

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It was a special time, sharing a month of three summers as my son was able to live and touch a very important part of his father and Grandfather’s past.  It was a ‘vacation’ that hopefully he will never forget – I won’t..

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WT Haynie, 1926 – 2010

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Generation next; 2013

Hunter Gray Haynie

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James T Coates

(another grandson ‘taking a look’ – 2014)