As the traveling Risk control man for an insurance company, I once covered a large portion of the southeastern U.S It may sound crazy, but I was spending about 50 to 60% of my time in Georgia. I lived on the road, made some good friends, and met some real good people along the way. I also met allot of people who may have been a little suspicious as to why I was there. :) I often was asked---"they can't find somebody to do this job down here." I would probably make things worse for myself when I would chuckle and say "Apparently NOT!!" haha But I digress.
I was somewhere north of Woodstock Georgia and got directions to a logger. I called the guy the night/day before. He was suspicious of me with a North Carolina number calling. After I convinced him that I was not a revenuer, He gave me directions and said------- "Its a little rough on the way back in. I am a ways back in the woods but you can follow the tracks."
I was driving a Dodge RAM 4x4. I loved that truck! I can remember talking on the phone and getting directions to another one of my accounts as I pulled up on the job. I pulled up on the guys set-out area ( where they stage multiple trailers so the road trucks don't have to do way back into the woods). Felt I needed to do that for you Educated / Non-Forestry related folks, haha. I was talking on the phone and watching a guy hook up to an unloaded log trailer. The driver then took off with the set-out truck along the logging road and went around a curve.
One thing the Safety man does is when I have somebody on the phone------ Get Directions! Especially when you are 6 to 8 hours from the house. I sat there and finished my conversation, updated the guys operation on the phone, and was ready to go see him after I finished this job.
I had lost sight of the truck ahead of me but it was apparent where he went. My wife called as I was going toward the curve and I answered the Hands-free phone. We were talking as I rounded the corner. I let out a huge SCREAM! The sharp turn was followed by a creek. The truck went into the creek and water went over the hood of my truck and rushed onto the windshield. I had never let off the gas, the bottom of the creek was hard, and I came out the other side. On the other side, I got out of the truck and let out some choice verbiage. I could not believe it. After I collected myself and realized my truck was ok, I started laughing. I about drown that truck!!
I did the visit with the account. He and I even became friendly down the line. But I could have been in trouble had I had one of those little trucks. Thanks for reading this funny moment in my past. These experiences have made me who I am, even if its a little OFF. 😅
Met some really good folks in GA, AL, FL, MS and SC over the years. I am glad I don't live on the road anymore but do miss the people.
Picture credits go to Pinterest.
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