October 4th is National Truckers Appreciation Day, founded in 2020 by Bill Stearnes, a used truck salesman from Memphis, Tennessee. It was established to honor the trucking industry and the deserving group of hard-working, dedicated drivers who have one of the country's most challenging, essential jobs yet often go unnoticed and underappreciated. Truck drivers are vital to keeping the economy moving and delivering goods safely, securely, and on time.
WHY ARE TRUCK DRIVERS ESSENTIAL?
Truck drivers are truly essential workers. Truck drivers transport finished goods and new materials to and from manufacturing plants, retail outlets, and ports, all essential to keeping our economy functioning. They work closely with warehouse/yard delivery site personnel to load/offload shipments. It is unimaginable to think what it would be like not to have dedicated drivers.
The American Trucking Association reports that 80% of communities rely exclusively on trucks to meet their freight transportation needs. Next time you are out on the road, seeing one truck after another, think about what they might be hauling that helps keep our world ticking. It will bring a greater appreciation of our reliance on them.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES TRUCK DRIVERS FACE?
There are challenges and hardships for drivers. They endure long separations from their homes, family, and friends. Driving throughout all the seasons and varying geographic areas, they can encounter extreme weather events and dangerous driving conditions. Above and beyond the driving itself, drivers must keep up with industry regulations, staying compliant. They must also stay on top of any mechanical or safety issues that come up.
WHAT MIGHT THE LIFE OF A TRUCK DRIVER LOOK LIKE?
Many drivers haul McWane Ductile iron pipe across the United States and Canada. I had an opportunity to meet and visit with one such driver at a job site in Beaverton, Oregon. The driver, Patrick, was kind in answering a few questions about his life and history as a truck driver. Patrick said he has been driving trucks off and on for 29 years. It has been off and on as he is also a mechanic and spent 13 years in the U.S. Army.
Patrick has been with his current employer, Central Oregon Trucking, for about four years. In addition to driving, he also trains new drivers. His home base is in New Mexico. In the past, his hauls would take him back east. Currently, he hauls throughout the West and Midwest. In fact, from Oregon, he was headed to Denver, Colorado. Though he (the company) carries various products, Ductile iron pipe, and building materials are very common.
When asked what he likes best about his profession (besides a paycheck), he said he always likes being in different places. Not surprisingly, what he wanted the least was to be away from home so much. With a wife and three children, he has missed out on activities over the years. He estimates he is away from home for approximately ten months of the year. On the plus side, his wife and children have been able to go with him at various times, benefiting from the experience of seeing over 30 states and enjoying the time together while riding with him.
When asked if there was anything he would like to ask of people sharing the road, he replied, "Put your phones down, pay better attention.”
WHAT IS ONE WAY WE CAN SHOW RESPECT AND APPRECIATION?
We share the roads with this dedicated group of people – driving safely and respectfully is another way of showing appreciation.
A safety tip from the American Trucking Association:
When passing a truck and moving back into the lane, ensure you can see the truck's headlights in your rearview mirror before you cut back in. This maneuver allows a truck enough space to slow down or stop if something happens up ahead.
A fully loaded tractor-trailer can weigh up to 80,000 pounds and can take the length of a football field to stop. Most passenger cars weigh around 3,000 pounds and have a much shorter stopping distance. Just because you can stop in time doesn't mean the truck behind you can if you've cut in too close.
WHO COORDINATES TRUCK DRIVERS TO HAUL MCWANE DUCTILE IRON PIPE?
McWane Trucking Brokerage (MTB), based out of Birmingham, Alabama, coordinates with inside sales staff in each of the facilities to determine what the requirements are for each day, then works tirelessly to ensure enough trucks are available to cover the hauls from our plants in Utah, Ohio, and New Jersey. Having a McWane company manage brokering trucks for us is a great benefit. We appreciate the hard work and excellent service they provide.
WHY ARE WE THANKFUL FOR TRUCK DRIVERS AT MCWANE DUCTILE?
How soon can you get a truckload of pipe moving? What day will our truck(s) of pipe be delivered? These are frequent questions to both inside and outside sales staff at McWane Ductile but they also bring to light the need for a huge shout-out to all the reliable, available, dedicated truck drivers that deliver iron pipe from our Utah, Ohio, and New Jersey facilities to our distributors, job sites, iron strong communities across the United States and Canada. This is just one example of how critical the need is for drivers. National Truckers' Appreciation Day is a great reminder to thank a driver; however, any day is a great day to do so.
Have Questions About Your Waterworks Project?
Do you have questions about shipping or receiving Ductile iron pipe? Did you know McWane provides a handy DI Pipe Truckload Calculator? Check it out by clicking here.
If you have any other questions regarding your water or wastewater infrastructure project, reach out to your local McWane Ductile representative. We have team members who've managed small and large water utility systems, served in engineering consulting firms, and bring decades of experience in solving field issues involving pipeline construction and operation. From design to submittal to installation, we strive to educate and assist water professionals throughout the water and wastewater industry.
