It's a Team's Life
Location Memories
We are stopped today at a Wal-Mart where we met up with
another couple to have Mexican food at a location they had found nearby.
This couple we met all over the United
States; East Saint Louis, MO, North Little Rock, AR, San Diego, CA, Richmond,
KY and also did an escort load with them across the United States.
Each time we get to one of these places I am
reminded of them and each time I am sad as they have retired from trucking.
We have met several interesting people at the TA in Reno when we were in the surface division of FedEx Custom Critical. We met a brother team here from Boston many many years ago and one of them is now has a large BR fleet. We spent several hours with them and enjoyed every minute. At another time at almost the same parking spot we met a couple that kept us laughing and we were only able to see them once. Over the year we did have several phones calls with them till they retired from trucking. She was from the Bronx and he was from southern Louisiana and it was hard to understand either one of them when they got excited. Peggy taught me a lot about how to set up a truck to get the maximum amount of use out of the space that I have.
Another place that brings back a lot of fun memories is Tampa, FL, Gilroy, CA and Virginia Beach, VA, where we spent a lot of time with a two-man team. We met Brian and Jim within our first two months of being expediters. We were asked to do a helper load for a white glove team. We were going to move computers from one building to another in the middle of the night. Everything went smooth and we stayed in touch. Brian and I rode all of the roller coasters at Busch Gardens in Tampa Florida and then also toured the Winchester House in California on our way to San Francisco. When I see the sign for the Winchester House I immediately think of this team.
When we stop at the Hudson, WI TA I am immediately reminded of Terry and Mike who were also new to trucking and expediting. They were in the top ten worst logbook violators and Bob spent several hours with them answering log questions. We also stayed in touch with them after they moved on to another company. Once when driving through New Mexico we received a call from Terry and she informed us we were right in front of them and they hoped we would have time to stop and join them for lunch, which we did. That has happened twice with them with the second time being in Florida as they were pulling into a shipper that we were leaving.
Even Lisa and Terry in my previous blog bring back memories
if I am rushing through MATS or if we stop at the Rockwall TA in Texas.
Lisa and Terry before they started Expediting
attended the Louisville Truck Show and that is where we finally met them in
person.
We were also able to spend an
enjoyable day with them at the Rockwall TA before we all went our separate
ways.
My most dearest and favorite memory though is of Randy and we met him in Binghamton, NY at a Pilot in our second year of being expediters. He was on his way into the truck stop and I was on my way out and one of us said "Hey Nice Uniform". That was all it took (we were both wearing the same uniform). We spent several hours that day chatting and I am going to tell on him. Bob was very tired and after a bit he went back to our truck to get some more sleep while Randy and I continued on talking. Randy was moving a cereal box on the counter of his truck and spilled that cereal EVERYWHERE. I think that is really when our friendship was formed as I am also a klutz. We were all qualified for 4-Star that year so we were able to meet Randy's wife and during our time at 4-star we were able to find out how much we had in common. Randy has since retired from trucking but we still stay in touch and he is still one of our very dear friends.
We know a lot of people and the common theme here is that we
met them at a location and when we go back to that location it brings back a
flood of memories.
I am sure everyone
out here has these locations that remind him or her of someone or something of
importance.
Bob & Linda Caffee
TeamCaffee

Saint Louis MO
Expediters since January 2005
Expediting isn't just trucking, it's a lifestyle; 

Expediting isn't just a lifestyle, it's an adventure;

Expediting isn't just an adventure, it's a job;

Expediting isn't just a job, it's a business.