Lawrence Knows

On September 18th, I got a new trainer, Lawrence Tardy. Lawrence is a big, black teddy bear that looks a lot like Larry Amiker. He lives in Alexandria, Louisiana. He has a deep, basso voice that I have a hard time hearing when the truck is running. He only listens to light Jazz, college and pro football games, and Headline News. He reads the Bible and loves to quote selected passages to his wife, kids, friends, etc. when talking to them on the telephone.

The difference between James and Lawrence is night and day. Where James knew everything about everything but whose answers did not coincide with the almanac, Encyclopedia Britannica, Guiness Book of World Records, the Kaballah, Robert Ripley, or Nostrodamus, Lawrence knows. Lawrence has been a truck driver for 33 years and in that time has logged over 5 million miles. He knows every turn in every bit of interstate; he knows what is under construction and what isn't.

Some examples:

Driving on a US highway in South Carolina. "You better slow down going around this turn. There is a cop who loves to sit there who gives tickets if you aren't within 2 mph of the speed limit." Sure enough, he was there. "Hmm, he's got himself a new Tahoe, since the last time I saw him. He used to drive an Explorer."

Driving in the 2nd to left lane of a 6-lane highway in Albequerque, NM. "Stay right here. In fact, you'll wish you could be in the left lane but trucks aren't allow for another 1.5 miles." Sure enough, the right 4 lanes disappeared over the next mile and I was in the right-most lane. Then a new left lane was created and my lane disappeared. When Lawrence tells me to be in a particular lane, I don't even question -- he knows.

Driving north of Jackson, MS, I noticed a hissing that started coming from the trailer brake in the cab. I informed Lawrence, who was talking on his cell phone. He hung up and listened. "This isn't good. It sounds like a leak in the left brake chamber." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Does a hiss in the left brake chamber sound different than the hiss in the right brake chamber? (SSSsss vs. sssSSS?) We pulled off on an exit for him to take a look and you guessed it -- a leak in the left brake chamber. He said there was a place where we could repair it about 13 miles away (remember we are in the middle of nowhere Mississippi). I asked if he knew where every truck stop and truck repair shop was. He replied straight-faced and honestly, "Yes, I do. Occassionally a new one pops up but I usually see them before construction is finished." The problem we had was getting back on the Interstate. The exit wasn't the normal get-off, get-on. We drove for a little bit looking for a place to turn around and then Lawrence spied a narrow alleyway. "This goes around and gets us on the right road to get back on the interstate." I doubted our truck would fit and asked him how he knew about this road. "I had to use it about 18 years ago." Sure enough the road went where he said it would and we got back on the Interstate and got off the exit in 13 miles and fixed the left brake chamber on the trailer.

Lawrence knows.

The total number of states I have driven a big rig in now totals 24. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvani, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. I have also ridden in Kansas and New Jersey but not driven in those 2 states.

Since the last posting I have gone from Atlanta, GA to Indianapolis, IN to Green Bay, WS (925 miles).

Green Bay, WS to Louisville, KY to South Charleston, SC (1125 miles).

South Charleston to Indianapolis to Dallas, TX (1625 miles).

Dallas to Phoenix, AZ (1075 miles).

Phoenix to Ottawa, KN to Kansas City, KN (1200 miles).

Kansas City to Mount Vernon, IL to Memphis, TN to Jackson, MS to Alexandria, LA (1000 miles).

This totals 6950 miles with a grand total of 22375 miles.

That's it for now. Jonathan is on break for his daughter's wedding. He has 260 hours compared to my 140. Hopefully, I will have a good driving week. Thanks for everyone's prayers. I hope to see you some time in the future.







Since my last posting