Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

July 4th weekend. I’m under a load from a steel manufacturer in Elizabethton, TN. 3 days to drive about 600 miles, but at least I’m moving. I look at the trip info. A new church out on Long Island? Typically I’m delivering Southbound. My last load for this shipper was to a tiny Baptist church somewhere in Alabama.

I decide to rock ‘n roll early. I check Google satellite and see the final is an MT lot on a tight corner. The land there must be worth millions. Not much left on the Island. Turns out I’m headed to Baldwin NY. That’s a "hamlet" in the town of Hempstead. In 2007, CNN/Money Magazine ranked Baldwin as the 25th best place to live in the country.

I got the pre-loaded trailer Thursday. Braving the Goethals Bridge, Atlantic Avenue in Queens, and remembering to stay off the "parkways", I got to the job site Saturday afternoon. I opened the gate as instructed by the contractor and backed my rig into the small space next to the concrete foundation. Across the street is the "old" church – a perfect looking small white modern building with a simple cross on the front.

Soon after I arrived a car drove up to the gate, which I had shut and made sure to replace the warning flags and cone. This woman looked at me. I looked at her. She came over to the fence and yelled: "Is that our steel?" Yes ma’am it is. "Oh my, praise the lord. We didn’t expect you so early!" She squeezed through the fence to come and shake my hand and introduce herself as the secretary of the church. "I work with the Pastor", she said.

Are you going to leave it here?" No ma’am, I’ll be under the trailer until we offload on Monday. "You’re going to stay in the truck?" Yes ma’am. "Will you be alright?" Yes ma’am, do it all the time. I knew from the look on her face she had more questions. I took the initiative and explained how I was "self-contained." It’s kinda like my 2nd home on wheels, I said. Potty, TV, microwave, refrigerator, etc. "Ohhh, she replied."

Well, she said, we just had our July 4th BBQ. Please let me send over a plate." No ma’am, that’s much appreciated, but I’m good. "Well, ok, but if you change your mind, please come across the street for some pie and cookies." Thank you, I appreciate it.

That afternoon and into the evening more cars with members of the congregation stopped by to look at the tall load of steel. These folks had bought the land I was parked on for $375,000 back in 1998, and through donations and tithing had raised the other $3.5 million to erect the new structure.

About 9pm, in the dark, there was knock on my passenger side window. It was a well dressed young man who, by the way, smelled great. He stuck his head in the window and stuck out his hand – "I’m Pastor Drinks! and we’re so glad you decided to get here early in time for Sunday services." No he wasn’t necessarily inviting me, he wanted all of his 1,500 "flock" to see the load of steel before beginning services. "Praise the Lord for sending you here early!" I didn’t know what to say.

Pastor Drinks stood on the step on my rig for over an hour telling me the history of the Second Baptist Church of Baldwin, NY. How he was a young man when he got here – he’s now 43. How there were only 50 members back then. How they purchased the land. How the lady next story wouldn’t sell them her house so they could have more parking. How she changed her mind when it was too late. How they are starting a school and the new ladies rest room will have eight stalls! My wife tells me that’s a good thing, especially during weddings. And how they plan to have 2,500 members!

The Pastor asked if I was going to be OK here. Yes, sir, I said. "Well, he said, I’m going to get one of my people to stay in on site and make sure of that. Apparently there was a small construction trailer behind me. That’s really not necessary, I’ll be alright. "No, no, I don’t want anyone making off with our steel and I want to make sure you’re alright through the night." I thanked him. An hour later a man showed up, went inside the trailer, turned on the light and stayed there all night. I turned out to be one of the Church Deacons family members.

There was a knock on the bunk door. 9am. I slept in. I threw on a pair of shorts and opened the curtain. There stood a large man in a white suit looking in. I rolled down the window. "The Pastor thought you might want a good breakfast." He handed me a large plastic dish with eggs, bacon and bread. Not McDonald’s sized portions, but enough for another person. And two cold bottles of water and a large banana. A napkin and plastic ware. Thank you, thank you, I really appreciate it! "Enjoy", he replied.

As I write this, I can hear the music and the choir from across the street. I expect when the service is over, folks will come over to see this load of steel and climb up and want to shake my hand. What an experience. I hate coming to NY, but this is almost surreal. Looking at the folks entering the "old" structure, it’s like being on a movie set. Everyone is dressed in bright summer colors – the women wearing amazing hats – the children all in, what we old farts used to call their "Sunday Best."  With the engine off, I hear all the birds chirping in the trees.

This is an experience I will not soon forget. This is the other side of driving.

PS/I’m not a religious man, but here what’s Pastor Drinks wrote in the brochure he gave me: I leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul (II Corinthians 4:7) "But, we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the Excellency of the power may be of God and not us." Grace and Peace.

Photo credits: Marshall J. Gruskin – http://acourtesyflush.blogspot.com/