As I near the end of my Overnite career, I believe it’s fitting to list some of the achievements I earned during my time there. I’m not one to boast, but the story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning them. Additionally, I must share that in 2008, my wife and I’s hometown of Columbus, Indiana, wasContinue reading “Chapter 16: Awards and Achievements”
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Chapter 17: The End of the Road At Overnite
So, here I am, beginning probably the hardest chapter I’ve ever written, and I’m dreading every word of it. When I started this book, I was excited about each chapter I wrote, but not so much this one. All I can say is that when Herb Gardner took that corner office, the morale among driversContinue reading “Chapter 17: The End of the Road At Overnite”
Chapter 18: Conway Central Express — A New Beginning, Or So I Thought
I’m going to pick up right where I left off. As I drove out of the Overnite parking lot, I headed straight to the Conway Central Express terminal and spoke with their Driver Supervisor, Harley Huffman. I was hired that day and started the very next day on the 1 p.m. dock shift. At Conway,Continue reading “Chapter 18: Conway Central Express — A New Beginning, Or So I Thought”
Chapter 19: A Routine Is A Routine
When you’re on the Flex Board at Conway, it’s a repetitive routine. Yes, occasionally, the schedule might change, but I didn’t hold my breath for it. The most important thing I want to convey in this short chapter is that this routine can wear you out faster than a 25-mile mini marathon. By the endContinue reading “Chapter 19: A Routine Is A Routine”
Chapter 20: MY One And Only City Route
It was springtime, 1997, and I had finally been assigned a regular city pickup and delivery route. I ended up with the east side of Indianapolis, which honestly wasn’t too bad. Thankfully, the dock freight routers at Conway — the folks responsible for organizing city runs — were extremely good at their jobs. That madeContinue reading “Chapter 20: MY One And Only City Route”
Chapter 21: Friends For A Lifetime
I’ve been very, very fortunate throughout my career. The people I’ve met—both men and women—the majority of them still consider me a friend, and that truly means the world to me. At Conway, I met many people—from drivers to office staff—and just like at Overnite, many of those connections grew into lasting friendships. Thanks toContinue reading “Chapter 21: Friends For A Lifetime”
Chapter 22: Mike Shuler… Need I Say More
As I mentioned in the previous chapter, Mike and I became best friends instantly upon meeting. Mike was a free spirit—not the kind of man who could be harnessed or boxed in. During my first year at Conway, I was still living in Indianapolis and was trapped in a difficult relationship. I had no financialContinue reading “Chapter 22: Mike Shuler… Need I Say More”
Chapter 23: The Day My World Shifted
On December 10th, 2002, my father passed away. This loss had a tremendous impact on me—as you probably expected after reading the first three chapters of this book. Dad had struggled with congestive heart failure for years. He underwent heart valve replacement surgery in 1992, but the aftermath left him a different man. His healthContinue reading “Chapter 23: The Day My World Shifted”
Chapter 24: The True Colors Of Conway Central Express
Coming back to work just three days after my father’s funeral was hard. I was emotionally drained, mentally exhausted, and still trying to process everything that had just happened. But as many of us in this business know, the job doesn’t stop—and life sure doesn’t slow down for you to catch your breath. A coupleContinue reading “Chapter 24: The True Colors Of Conway Central Express”
Chapter 25: The Appeal and the Final Lesson
Before I get into the appeal process and the deeper truth I uncovered about the incident that led to my termination at Conway, I want to make clear just how different their policy was compared to Overnite—especially when it came to supporting drivers through accident. At Overnite, the rule was simple: three minor accidents inContinue reading “Chapter 25: The Appeal and the Final Lesson”
My Trucker Life 