Joyce Sauer Brenny, St. Joseph
As I am reading my Oct. 2 Newsleader, I notice on page 2 a bold and somewhat boastful article featuring the image of a semi-truck with the heading “No Parking’ signs bay be installed.” It seems our city council at the request of calls to the St. Joseph Police Department want No Parking signs along CR 75 hoping to deter semi-trucks from stopping along the road to use the food and convenience store facilities. As the owner of a trucking company and lifelong resident of the St. Joseph area, I am all about safety. However, let’s remember there are humans in those trucks. As an alternative, I feel CR 75 through St. Joseph should lower its speed limit to 35 mph, thus allowing the very few truck drivers which stop along CR 75 to do so safely.
Please put yourself in the shoes of an over-the-road truck driver before you consider putting up No Parking signs along CR 75. Professional truck drivers sacrifice time away from loved ones to deliver goods to our area. Now we are considering putting up signs that won’t even allow them to stop at Subway to have a sandwich? The thought of this makes me sad.
Consider this story and tell me you still want to put up No Parking signs along CR 75:
Phil, an over-the-road truck driver gets ready to leave his family early Sunday morning, just as his wife and children are getting dressed for church. Phil’s children, ages 6 and 8, ask Daddy why he cannot go to church with them? Phil tells them he really would love to attend Mass with them, but he has a load of groceries that must be to St. Joseph, Minn. tomorrow morning so the people in that community have food to eat. Phil’s children are sad, but they seem to understand, this is the life they are used to living. Phil kisses his wife goodbye, not knowing if it will be a week or a month until he sees her again. This is the life of a truck driver’s family, living from one brief moment to the next; appreciating each minute they can spend together.
Phil drives all night to make his St. Joseph, Minn. delivery on time. After a three-hour unloading process, Phil’s trailer is finally empty. The time is now 11 a.m. and Phil has not had any breakfast, it will soon be lunch time. Phil has also been instructed by his dispatcher he needs to hurry up and get to Minneapolis by noon, for a load heading to Dallas, Texas. Phil pulls his truck out onto CR 75 in St. Joseph with his stomach fiercely growling. He notices a few restaurants along the road, so Phil safely pulls his rig to the side of the road. He puts his flashers on and gets out of his truck on the passenger side, as to avoid cars driving by. Phil knows most people on the road are not fans of trucks; ignorant people who do not understand there is a human being driving that big truck – right now, a hungry human being who has not eaten all day.
Phil quickly grabs a bite to eat at Subway, and gets back to his truck. Phil is very thankful this little community must appreciate truck drivers, because he does not see any “No Parking” signs along the road. Phil smiles and feels a bit loved at the moment, maybe finally there are people out there who understand the life of an over-the-road truck driver? Phil’s stomach is full and he is smiling as he heads his big rig back on the road.
I encourage each of us to think about more then just ourselves when we put up “No Parking” signs in an area that might just help another human being. Truck drivers do not ask for much. Let’s just please consider some of their needs, like a meal when they are hungry.
Thank you.