Trucking 101 Stops At The LaPine Public Library
Posted By: Liz Goodrich
Date Posted: 4/17/2006
As part of the Deschutes Public Library’s A Novel Idea … Read Together, Stew Bennett of Cascade Transport and Dick McHone of Pacific Truck and Trailer present a program titled “Trucking 101,” at the LaPine Public Library. The presentation is part of the Novel Idea … Read Together, community-reading project offered by Deschutes Public Library and the Deschutes Public Library Foundation. The program is free and open to the public and is sponsored in part by Pacific Truck and Trailer.
Stew Bennett, who started working for Cascade Transport in 1962 and became the owner in 1977, says that as of January 1, 2006 over 300,000 trucks were registered and licensed to operate in Oregon. “Nationwide 70% of all freight moves by truck,” says Bennett. “As the old saying goes, ‘if you got it, a truck brought it.’” The common misconception about truck drivers as law breaking renegades is simply not true says Bennett. “Drivers take great pride in their truck and are typically moving freight from origin to destination.” Bennett says many drivers spend more time in their truck then they do at home. “Their lives and livelihoods depend on the truck being safe and their skill at being a safe driver.” During the Trucking 101 presentations, Bennett will be joined by lifelong driver McHone, who has spent 40 years behind the wheel of truck. McHone says the biggest misconception about truck drivers is that they are dangerous. “In fact they are really the most competent and skillful drivers out there.” He says that truck drivers require a certain skill set, including alertness, awareness, defensive driving skills and the ability to maneuver an 80,000 pound, 65 foot long vehicle through traffic. Together, Bennett and McHone will share the facts and tell the stories of their careers on the road. A sleeper cab and trucking museum trailer will be open for exploring following the presentations.
During the month of April, the Library will be hosting a variety of events in support of the Novel Idea … Read Together project. The programs are designed to give residents of Deschutes County a context for better understanding this year’s selected novel, González & Daughter Trucking Co. by María Amparo Escandón. The tale of Libertad, her father the truck driver, and her fellow inmates at the Mexicali Penal Institution for Women, is a story that has feet planted firmly on both sides of the U.S. and Mexican boarder and explores the themes of family, freedom, redemption and the power of storytelling. For a complete listing of Novel Idea programs, please call 312-1032.
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