08/31/2019
Thank you Trooper Tracy !
Dear Truck Driver,
I saw you in the right lane on I-70 eastbound around milepost 19.6 this afternoon. I was next to you in the left lane getting ready to pass you. You turned on your turn signal to come into the left lane. Traffic was thick. I thought "There must be something up ahead to make you need to move over in front of me." I slowed down and made room for you to squeeze in. I flashed my headlights at you to signal that it was safe to scoot over in front of me. You changed lanes and flashed your lights back at me. I was in an unmarked squad.
I smiled. It was the old school way of saying 'Thank you, Driver". I saw what was up on the right shoulder...a vehicle that was broke down with their flashers on.
You, Truck Driver, did EXACTLY what we want you to do. You moved over for a stranded motorist with their emergency lights on. I was so happy. Even in the heavy traffic coming from St. Louis, you made it a priority to give that motorist room. You were doing the right thing, even when you didn't think anyone was watching.
Once you were past the vehicle, you signaled and moved back into the right lane. You see, I was already a little saddened by just seeing the 'Trooper Nick Hopkins End of Watch 8-23-19' on the overhead message board a few miles back...and the digital billboard of his picture and message as I came from Missouri back into Illinois. I was already thinking about the four Troopers we have lost this year. Two of them directly due to motorists NOT moving over to give them room. Then I see you do the right thing.
I pulled up alongside your truck and scribbled down your DOT number and company name. I wrote 382 down. That's your truck number. I saw it. I proceeded by you, but couldn't make eye contact as my truck sits up high and I couldn't see inside your cab. I saw your hand though. You're wave meant the world. I waved back, low and from my passenger seat. I drove near/around you for the next 10 or so miles. As you passed by again later, I noted your trailer number down. I knew I could find out your company information online.
So fast forward to right now. Home from my long round trip today, happy to sit and look up your company info on my computer. I just got off the phone with your Safety Manager. I told him my name and my department and said I wanted to commend one of his drivers on what I saw today.
He seemed a bit surprised, or maybe just caught off guard. He asked what your truck number was. "382" I told him. His response, "Theresa. That's Theresa's truck." I responded, "Please tell her I said thank you. Thank you for moving over for that stranded motorist. Thank you for being cautious."
He and I talked for a while. I apologized for calling on a Friday night at 6:30 pm. He said he would rather have me call him with this then to have a driver call with something like backing into something at the rest area. I explained that we are always quick to tell the driver's what they do wrong, but we need to applaud the ones that do right.
Even when they think no one is watching.
Well, Theresa, I was watching.
Safe trucking Ma'am,
Mama Bear
