White Line Fever

- In watching television and going to the movies,

you might get the impression that the great human dramas

of today happen only to affluent people.

People who live in and near the cities.

You might say the so-called sophisticates.

The truth is that real dramas are taking place

every day to real people.

During the recent trucker's strike,

I talked with some Americans that the media seems

to have overlooked.

About how long have you been driving a rig like this?

About 15 years.

Do you work for a company?

No, I'm an independent.

Independent driver that means

you own your own rig.

Yeah, me and the bank.

- What sort of investment does a rig like this

take to own?

About 38 thousand dollars.

- I imagine that puts quite a bit of pressure on you

making monthly payments.

My wife works.

What kind of work does she do?

She's a bartender.

How do you stay ahead in business?

How do you get your loads lined up?

- Oh independent brokers, if I don't get anything

well I just sit.

- So if someone controlled the brokers and the shippers,

they'd be controlling the trucking industry.

They do.

- You told me before that you carry a gun with you,

is that true?

Damn right.

Why do you?

- To protect myself, if someone tries to sneak

into your cap, just show them the gun.

And they'll mosey on down the road.

Just how far would you go

to protect your rig and your profession.

- You never know, until you're put to the test.

( "Drifting and Dreaming of You" by Valerie Carter )

# Long lonely years here without you

# Long years to call out your name

# Wondered along through the desert

# Lord how I prayed for the rain

# Long years and finally it came

# Darling it's so good to hold you again

# Fear was my constant companion

# Holding me sleepless each night

# Memories danced in the shadows

# Cast by the first rays of light

# How can you hold a shadow tight

# I wanted to hold you with all of my might

# Friends and neighbors came to call

# Found me staring at the picture on the wall

# They would talk to me like old friends do

# But I was drifting and dreaming of you

# Darling it's so good to hold you again

# Friends and neighbors came to call

# Found me staring at your picture on the wall

# They would talk to me like old friends do

# But I was drifting and dreaming of you

# But I was drifting and dreaming of you

- This kind of money's a little out of my ballpark.

- Well, we've got this WT9 Valden Ford down here

I was telling you about.

We had to repossess it, the boy couldn't keep payments up

on it but for the kind of money we're talking about

it outta make you a good piece of equipment.

It's got a NTC 350 Cummins in it,

RTO9 513 transmission.

- Still talking about an awful lot of money.

- Talk it over with your Misses,

see what she thinks.

I'll tell you what, I'll even throw in a paying job

to you specification just to help you young folks out.

- Fellow shit kickers, this here is Carol Jo Hummer

and I'm commencing broadcasting to you today

from my new bucket, which from now on will be known

as the Blue Mule, we're in business for ourselves,

me and the mule, and we aim to get our butts outta Hawk.

So all you turkeys better watch out

we don't get all the work.

Amen to that.

Happy honkings Blue Mule,

say what's that you got between your legs sonny?

It's the blue mule a happy honky.

Got a Ford WT9 thousand Cummins.

- What are you Hummer, some kind of outlaw?

- That's right, owner-operate, gotta operate to own.

Amen to that

You're acting awful blue for the half owner

of a brand new truck here.

- You're not gonna spend more time with this rig

than you are with me?

That's not likely.

You know what they say about drinking and driving.

Then stop driving.

This your bucket?

Yep, 'til the bank says different.

Hi honey, something I can do you for?

I want to see Duane Haller.

Hey Duane, somebody's here to see you.

That's his office over there.

He's pretty cute too.

Hey CJ!

Birdy, what's been happening?

Oh nothing.

- Hey that ain't the same old bunch of boys

out on the dock there is it?

It sure is.

What happened to Jack?

Died.

You going for work.

I hope so.

- Hey listen kid, do like I do and keep your blinders on.

And stay on the highroad you hear?

- This ain't the ladies room, come on in.

Well bless my ass, Carol Jo Hummer,

you little son of a bitch you.

How you doin Duane?

- Well dang I've been expecting you since last Monday.

- Oh the bank held me up, I got payments up the wazoo.

Hell you getting fat Duane.

Oh shut up, sit down and have a drink.

Hey, tell me you got your papers.

Old money.

God damn, this is a nice rig.

- At least it's mine, ran into Birdie outside, word is.

Got a new bunch of boys working for me.

They get the job done.

Of course it ain't like it was when your daddy and me

was driving.

Just ain't been the same since he passed away.

Hey you know what I got,

I got you an Arizona special to Akron.

I would appreciate it if somebody could find my secretary

and send her into the office I have a little bit of work

for her to do today.

Here's a present for ya.

What's this stuff?

We ain't slated to haul cigarettes.

- You ain't nothing but a little country boy.

- You just gotta have a little more patience Pops.

Look, I'll see if I can't slip a hall pass book

to you later in the week.

- Duane, don't you ever get tired of singing

that same old song?

Good god almighty, do my eyes deceive me?

Where have they been keeping you boy?

Up in the air Pops, how you been?

Oh come see, come saw, mostly come saw.

There's been lots of laying off around here.

- Later Pops, I got business with Duane right now.

I'll be across the way here,

you know it's your obligation to by old Pops a drink.

Come in.

You know what's going on out there?

The boys are packing contraband.

Now what are you talking about son?

Cigarettes, slot machines.

Now what's wrong with that?

That's just a little bit of untaxed tobacco out there.

When did all this start Duane?

Shoot, you gotta keep up son.

What are you telling me?

- I'm telling you heres a chance to pick up

a little easy piece of change.

Get something nice for Jerri.

- Duane you know if they catch me hauling that stuff

I'm liable to lose my license.

Oh shit boy be sensible.

There ain't nobody getting hurt out yonder

except uncle sam, and hell he's getting too much already.

- How bout you Duane, how much you getting?

Now don't get hot with me boy.

I ain't asking you to do a god damn thing

that the rest of them ain't doing.

We ain't trying to break the law,

just bend it a little bit.

That and a piece of change

supposed to make it all right huh?

Well it don't make it wrong.

You know good paying work ain't that easy to come by.

Duane, Duane, here you gotta-

Yeah I know.

I'm doing you a big damn favor just slotting you in here

at all.

- That mean I don't haul that stuff, I don't drive?

That's right, just keep your mouth shut

and do as you're told.

- You know something Duane, I think you've gotten

fat in the head too.

Don't sass me you little son of a bitch.

Let me tell you something, times has changed.

You ain't gonna get any place pulling your

fly boy heroics around here.

Well I'll tell you what,