It is time for a "Thanksgiving day trucking story" and I have a good one.
I was always trucking on Thanksgiving because I took some time off at Christmas; two young children at home and a hard working wife.We have been married 55 years as of yesterday, by the way.
I loaded a large therm-o- forming machine In Yakima, Wa. going to NY and I wanted to unload on the Friday after Thanksgiving, allowing me to reload a big milling machine in Worcester Mass. going back to Boeing in Seattle.I left in plenty of time and stopped in N. Lima Ohio [ Ohio / Pa. line, just off the toll road.] It was Thanksgiving afternoon and I went in and had some turkey and laid down.
The truck stop is shaped like a bowl with the pumps, restaurant,and shop, all down in the low spot. Across the rim of the top of the bowl is a row of parked trucks facing down hill. About 20+ and I parked in that row. Very few truckers around and several of the trucks were running.Some I noticed were very old.
I got up about 11:00 pm and went in for a piece of pie. The restaurant was empty except for 3 young, cute, waitresses, sitting around, bored. They gave me my pie for free and I set down looking out the window at the car gas pumps and row of trucks along the rim.The pumps are about 50Y up the hill and the line of trucks another 50+ yards.
I hear a loud exhaust and see a beautiful, black, Trans am, pull up and park at the pumps;on the uphill side, between the pumps and the line of trucks.Out comes a good looking guy, dressed up and looking like he works for "Tony Soprano".He comes in the restaurant and the girls get excited. The guy and the 3 girls sit in a big round booth and start laughing and goofing around.I am the only other person in there and from what I can hear, he is the manager of the truck stop.
I see some movement and look up. An old junky cab over Jimmy with a dry van behind it, that has been sitting there running with nobody in it, starts rolling. It is picking up speed and heading for the gas pumps.Now I see it is headed for the trans am and hits it hard on the passenger side, a perfect "T-bone". Then it bounces back up the hill a little and hits it again. Bounces back a little more and come's to rest against the trans am; motor still running.
I look over at Mr. Cool and the ladies and they saw nothing.Only I saw it happen.
I walk over and say; sir, you better check out your car.All of us run out there and look and his ride is a mess. The good part is that truck would of hit the gas pumps if the car was not there.
What are the odds of the brakes bleeding off, 30 minutes after he parks there.I slept a couple more hours and took off.