Murphy's World
Gelling puts driver in a jam
Dear Murphy,
During the winter a few years ago, I was going to Kansas City on I-70. It was very, very cold—well below zero—and the radio said it was dangerous to be out, even for a few minutes.
My truck began losing power; my fuel was gelling up. I pulled over to the shoulder. I could drive, but not very fast. A truck dropped in behind me and asked if my fuel was gelling. I agreed that it was probably the problem. He followed me to a truck dealership. They took my truck inside and changed the filter. I thanked the driver a dozen times! I could have frozen to death if my truck had died and no one had stopped to help.
I started toward Kansas City again, relieved that my problem was solved. Wrong! My fuel started gelling again, and I went to the shoulder once more. I could still go, just not very fast.
A truck dropped in behind me again and stayed with me until I got to a truck stop where I
could put kerosene and gasoline into my fuel. What a bad day!
Julia E. Shipman
Lawrenceville, IL
Dear Julia,
Ah, the joys of driving a big rig in the winter. “Gel’n” may be cool if you’re walking around in a Dr. Scholl’s shoe insole commercial, but it’s definitely not good when you’re in the cab of an 18-wheeler in the middle of January in the Midwest.
Your letter reinforces a couple of points we hold near and dear here in Murphy’s World.
No. 1: Driving a truck can be a tough way to make a buck, especially when the elements and the equipment are working against you, but if you’ve got what it takes to survive in this business, you can thrive.
No. 2: The road may be long and winding, but you’re never alone because you belong to a group of about three million professionals who are generally willing and able to help each other out.
The world can be a dangerous place, but if every over-the-road professional was a knight in shining armor like the two who came to your “rescue” turned out to be, it would be a whole lot nicer and safer our there.
Stay warm.
Regards,
Murphy and Lucky Dog
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