Stopped at the Hook, everything the same
- Thread starter AMonger
- Start date
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
Its pretty common and increasing daily...just seen the same thing at the "J" in Laramie WY...seen a mom and 3 kids washing clothes at the "J" in Olive Branch Miss the other day...
If I were in dire straights I would be so grateful for a place like the Flying J where I could stay safely until I get back on my feet. I see people at TA's, Petro's and J's. They are the 3 that have the best parking areas where most times a person isn't questioned.
I sometimes say "There but for the grace of God, go I".
I'm sure it's annoying to some of you. Sometimes I feel homeless when I find myself spending all my time in truck stops.
I sometimes say "There but for the grace of God, go I".
I'm sure it's annoying to some of you. Sometimes I feel homeless when I find myself spending all my time in truck stops.
We're in very bad economic times right now. Just be thankful you have an income. Without expediting i'd probably be an unemployed guy sleeping on my moms couch. lol
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
I recently sat at the "J" in KC, Mo..watched a mid 30's woman walk from a car to the "J" several times at night, then again in the morning...There were 2 people in the car male/female...he only got out once....it was apparrent they were living in the car...
On one of her trips i asked how long it had been since she had showered...it had been a while....so hoping not to offend her I offered them 2 shower credit...they took 1....then when they came out, I had bagged up some of the vc sealed food from the frig in the van and gave it to them....
As was said above, "but for the grace of God...." Ive been poor and broke...Ive had people help me....there is no reason for me not to help if I can...
On one of her trips i asked how long it had been since she had showered...it had been a while....so hoping not to offend her I offered them 2 shower credit...they took 1....then when they came out, I had bagged up some of the vc sealed food from the frig in the van and gave it to them....
As was said above, "but for the grace of God...." Ive been poor and broke...Ive had people help me....there is no reason for me not to help if I can...
Been to the the j in wythville va. A few times in the last 2 months..same ole older gentlemen parked under the tree in the corner in his dodge van watching the world go by..........we ( expediters) are just homeless nomads with somewhere to go.....
Posted with my Droid EO Forum App
Posted with my Droid EO Forum App
This business is unusual. You buy a cv or Sprinter, 30 k to 40k, then u buy cargo insurance, then 1600 dollars of fuel a month,and ur cv or Sprinter payment range of 400 to a 1000 bucks a month, then u gross 80k a year and net 40k if ur lucky, yep this is an unusual business. PS, the above figures are only estimates and not necessarily the gospel, but I might be close.IMHO
Last month I spent 75 bucks on people in need or appeared in need from gas in their cars to just plain cash. Did they truly really need it? It didnt matter, I gave it. Hope it made a difference in their day.
Of course it made a difference in their day, ya big marshmallow - but I hope you will set a limit on how much you can afford to share before joining them.
It IS hard to say no or ignore them and whether to give is a question I decide every time it's asked - usually it's no, but I have given money and food to some who seemed to truly need help.
The "I work for a living, so can you!" side is constantly at war with the "Sometimes people can't help needing help" side. Sigh.
AMonger
Veteran Expediter
Last month I spent 75 bucks on people in need or appeared in need from gas in their cars to just plain cash. Did they truly really need it? It didnt matter, I gave it. Hope it made a difference in their day.
Of course it made a difference in their day, ya big marshmallow - but I hope you will set a limit on how much you can afford to share before joining them.
It IS hard to say no or ignore them and whether to give is a question I decide every time it's asked - usually it's no, but I have given money and food to some who seemed to truly need help.
The "I work for a living, so can you!" side is constantly at war with the "Sometimes people can't help needing help" side. Sigh.
And then there's the other conflict: you don't want to see decent people suffer, especially when kids are involved, and you realize that the economy is so bad that we could be next, BUT, otoh, the more we help people in truck stops, the more people we will encounter in truck stops who will be seeking our help. Make it known that truck stops are the places to beg, and pretty soon, you won't be able to walk from your van to the building without being swarmed.
An ugly situation that nobody knows the way out of.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
How you decide to help someone is a "gut reaction" at least on my part....I don't help everyone i see and most often don't help those that "approach" me..The story i posted above, in 2 days that i seen them there, they never approached anyone that i seen...it was clear they could use help..so i helped...but most of the time the young girl walking in the lot with a kitten in her arms asking for gas money, ain't gettin it from me....
I am sure i have been scammed, but if thats the way it is, so be it...i have no use for gov entitlement programs, but helping people in need when you can is the thing to do...one of my businesses gives as much of its services away for fund raising for good organizations as we sell....its our way of giving back....
I am sure i have been scammed, but if thats the way it is, so be it...i have no use for gov entitlement programs, but helping people in need when you can is the thing to do...one of my businesses gives as much of its services away for fund raising for good organizations as we sell....its our way of giving back....
AMonger: truckstops have ALWAYS been a place for panhandlers, bums, and the temporarily down on their luck to beg, because truckers are known to be kindhearted, and [prior to EZ pass and fuel cards] often carrying large amounts of cash.
"The poor will always be with us" [and the worthless bums and con artists and druggies, too] so the question of give/don't give will always be with us too. Sigh.
"The poor will always be with us" [and the worthless bums and con artists and druggies, too] so the question of give/don't give will always be with us too. Sigh.