How many times a day do you see something and then later you’re triggered to wonder: Just what exactly was that? What was that guy doing? Who were they?
Most days we are likely to shrug off these fleeting types of thoughts until faced with the situation again, when we might take our thoughts and question farther: Did the person need help? Were they in danger?
Driving trucks will condition most professionals to almost automatically notice dangers on the highways – objects in our lane, erratic drivers speeding and weaving, a car approaching an intersection that isn’t going to stop. Developing these instincts is a gift that helps you avoid trouble.
Recently I received notice of a missing driver and truck, and the public was being asked to be on the lookout. This isn’t that uncommon, and the Missing Truck Driver Alert Network and their Facebook group provides a good platform for spreading the word among truckers. If you’re not connected there, I’d encourage you to consider connecting and following their alerts – the group has really been a big help to others. Since beginning in 2012, the network has helped bring closure to nearly 300 cases, and fewer than 10 are still open investigations.
These subjects had me thinking about conversations I’ve had recently with a humble friend and owner, David Zwiers, who noted the hurricanes that have hit near where he lives around Pensacola, Florida, have washed out areas along the coast and changed water flow patterns. Home for the weekend, Zwiers was starting to make his way out to the open water in his boat and saw a man in the water clinging to a dog. There were other people nearby, but something just didn’t look right. David took the time to delay his outing and found the man was near exhaustion and being pulled out from shore by strong currents. He clung to his dog just trying to stay afloat. David’s quick response, throwing him a lifeline, helped save this man’s life.
Given other people in the area, too, showing no concern, how easy it would have been for him just to ignore what he was seeing.
It’s not the first time David has been in such life-or-death situations, which many truckers also, no doubt, can say.
