This is our previous tractor. Since we were married in 1989, our goal was to buy a truck. We were blessed with our first truck on August the 12th in 1995. These pictures show our truck on that day! We were very happy, but we had no idea that there were so many obstacles ahead.
Our first truck, which was PAID OFF, was a 1989 INTERNATIONAL EAGLE! It had a queen-sized sleeper which sleeps two people comfortably. The engine was a 4.25 (four and a quarter) CATERPILLAR and the fuel capacity was 300 gallons. Look at that long wheel base! WE MUST HAVE A ROAD TRUCK! And "THE EAGLE" was always ready to fly! But as hard as tractors work, they must be traded to continue to give optimum performance.
Garner Trucking ran the Southeastern, Midwest, and some Northern states including Michigan and New Mexico. We were leased to SERV-U, INC. out of Baltimore, MD. For them, we were truly grateful! Unfortunately, Willie was involved in an accident in June, 2002. He is still recuperating, please pray with us for his speedy recovery and that he will prosper in whatever road God has prepared for him. Unfortunately, our truck is MISSING! Garner Trucking IS NO MORE! This page will be updated soon with new information.
This is the front view of our last truck. As of March 3, 2000, we once owned a KENWORTH T-600 with a walk-in Condo sleeper. It also had a long wheel base with a fuel capacity of 300 gallons.
It's the best type of tractor, actually TOP OF THE LINE! Visit
KENWORTH TRUCKS to see other fabulous TOP OF THE LINE tractors. Another great line of tractors are INTERNATIONAL TRUCKS.
From their web site, there are also links to various engine type sites, like the one our Kenworth T-600 has -- a 4.25 CATERPILLAR engine. Unfortunately, the engine in our truck was a test engine which gave us many problems. We no longer have that problem since someone else has our truck.
MOODY TRUCK CENTER in Jacksonville, FL specializes in sales, service, and leasing of these trucks. Be sure to give them a call if you need them.
Willie enjoyed driving, but I liked the view from the other side! There is nothing like sitting 'way up high,' looking down on the vehicles that occupy the same road. A semi passenger can also see ponds, streams, and lakes that may not be visible from a car. For someone who is into nature as much as I am, this can be very exciting! Since our new truck has a sleeper view, I really loved it!
What a semi passenger may consider a 'nice trip,' is serious WORK for the semi-tractor driver. The truck driver has SO MANY things to deal with: making sure the load is secure and that everything is working properly on the tractor as well as the trailer, making sure enough fuel has been purchased (for each state traveled), constantly checking the gauges to make sure they are reading correctly according to the truck standards, keeping their log books up-to-date, STAYING AWAKE, and many other things (I could go on and on)!
Most of all, that wonderful driver, who moves any and all products from coast to coast must also deal with the "four-wheelers," which brings me to my next section. Take it from a Truck Driver's wife...WATCH OUT FOUR-WHEELERS!!! Please be aware -- GIVE THE TRUCKER THE RIGHT-OF-WAY! THEY ARE AT WORK! THE ROAD IS THEIR OFFICE! Give them the RESPECT they DESERVE while they are working. They don't want to hurt you but so many of you put yourselves IN HARM'S WAY!
1) Realize that most semi-tractors weigh at least 16,000 pounds when they are EMPTY! Depending on the weight of the trailer, and whether it is empty or loaded, the weight could very easily be doubled and in many cases, tripled! GET OUT OF THE WAY IF YOU SEE A SEMI FAST APPROACHING IN THE LEFT LANE! These drivers have a destination to make by a certain time, DO NOT HOLD THEM UP! SOME WILL RUN OVER YOU! TANKER trucks cannot swerve to miss hitting you. They have been trained to HOLD THEIR LANE, which is what most drivers must do anyway! So, for your safety, LET THEM HAVE THE ROAD! Life is more important than attitude!
2) NEVER, EVER PULL OUT IN FRONT OF A MOVING SEMI-TRACTOR THAT IS LESS THAN 200 YARDS AWAY! There may not be room in the next lane for the driver to get over to accommodate you. Semi-tractors have AIR BRAKES! This brake system does not allow quick stopping like private road vehicles. When a semi is traveling 55 MPH, the driver needs at least 150 yards to stop the truck! That is ONE AND A HALF FOOTBALL FIELDS!!! Just imagine the impact! Make sure that if you DO pull out on a semi-truck, BE ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY --- FAST!!!
3) When approaching a red light, you see a semi-tractor in the opposite lane approaching the same red light, you realize that you should be in that lane where the semi is, DON'T PULL OVER IN FRONT OF THAT TRUCK! It may be the last time you will EVER change lanes at a red light! Again, this involves stopping distance. ALWAYS GIVE A SEMI-TRACTOR ENOUGH STOPPING DISTANCE! They CAN NOT STOP LIKE REGULAR VEHICLES (I cannot stress this enough)!
4) When entering the highway, a semi allows you to pull out by getting over into the next lane...THE DRIVER MAY NOT WANT TO STAY IN THAT LANE! Most drivers prefer to ride in the right lane unless traffic is slow. Do one of two things: SPEED UP AND MOVE OUT, which will allow the driver to get back into the proper lane as soon as (s)he can, or SLOW DOWN AND LET THE SEMI BACK IN! WHEN ALLOWING A SEMI TO GET IN FRONT OF YOU, FLASH YOUR HEADLIGHTS OR HIGH BEAMS to let the driver know that they have reached a safe distance to get in front of you. When a semi is traveling in the left lane and needs to get back over into the right lane, YOU ARE ON THE BLIND SIDE, IN THE NO ZONE, GIVE THEM PLENTY OF ROOM TO GET IN! You can always speed up later or change lanes yourself.
5) NEVER PLAY "SPEED UP - SLOW DOWN" GAMES WITH SEMI DRIVERS! Again, those drivers are WORKING! They have a deadline to meet! GAMES CAN GET YOU KILLED! If you are going around a semi, GET ON OUT OF THE WAY! Don't attempt to keep a semi locked into one lane. They DO NEED THE WHOLE ROAD TO MANEUVER THAT TRACTOR AND TRAILER! I know that people think, "Who do they think they are? Do they think that this whole road belongs to them?" As a matter-of-fact, it does! Trucks are BIGGER and HEAVIER, and THE ROAD IS THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS!
6) STAY AT LEAST 200 YARDS BEHIND A TRACTOR-TRAILER if in the same lane and not intending to pass. You are taking your lives into your own hands by following so close that you cannot be seen by the driver! A good rule of thumb is, if you can see both side mirrors of the tractor, you are about the right distance to follow. If you follow any closer, you are taking the risk of catching a thrown cap into your windshield, or worse --- right into your lap! Do you have any idea what STEEL BELTED TREAD from a tractor or trailer tire can do to the front of an auto?!? When you are directly behind the truck, the tire is in direct line with the face of the driver of the four-wheeler. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE and LET THE RUBBER HIT THE HIGHWAY, not your windshield or your lap!!!
---Rule #6 was Contributed by: ELNORA RIGGS - A Classy Lady Truck Driver---
VISIT CLASSY LADY'S HOME PAGE
7) Most truckers are from other cities and may many times miss an important turn. If you see a driver with their blinker on and they seem to be holding up traffic, Please! LET THAT DRIVER MAKE THAT TURN OR GET IN THE LANE THEY NEED TO BE IN! Truckers don't hold up traffic on GENERAL PRINCIPLE (G.P.), they are obviously trying to make a turn that they came up on too fast, or they need to be in the other lane and no one will let them get over! Be courteous. Again, they are WORKING; trying to get to their next destination! HELP --- don't hinder their progress.
8) IF YOU CANT SEE THE DRIVER IN THE MIRROR (S)HE CANT SEE YOU !!!
If you see a semi with the blinker on attempting to change lanes and you decide to try to get around the truck before (s)he gets in the next lane, and you don't see the driver's face in the mirror -- DON'T DO IT!!! YOU MAY GET CRUSHED!!! That situation
was simply a "for instance"; many circumstances pertain to a need to notice the driver's face in the mirror -- if you don't see it, WAIT! LET THE DRIVER DO WHAT (S)HE NEEDS TO DO BEFORE YOU TRY SOME BRAVE MANEUVER! Again, LET THE TRUCK HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY!!!
---Rule #8 was Contributed by: L & L TRUCKING and COMPANY, California, USA
[There's a link to their wonderful web page below -- in the "cool links"]
***MAJOR UPDATES ARE IN THE MAKING!!!***
1) INFORMATIVE PRESENTATIONS ARE COMING!
2) ALSO, RELATED ARTICLES AND OTHER PHOTOS!
Links to other sites on the Web
Check out the big Trucking Company---L & L,
Visit my friend's web site - it's VERY informative and full of links... as well!
Motorists get a look from a Trucker's view...
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