In my life, I have had some unique experiences that I like to share. I am sure you have a few stories as well, this one is for sure the most unexpected situation that had not God been in the mist of the entire situation I would be crying instead of rejoicing.

 

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I was working for Swift Transportation for less than a month as a solo driver. I got an assignment to go from the drop yard in West Virginia on Interstate 85 to deliver in Delaware.

That meant that I was going towards and around Washington DC which was no problem because I had driven many times with my Trainer.               No Problem, right. That was my 1st mistake.  So here I go just a bouncing down the road to the Beltway around DC. Got on it and was traveling like I knew what I was doing I was looking for the (I think the 405 Hwy that went over the water to Delaware here I would find a small highway going south.  As I drove I saw this sign that said 405 east. That must be it I said to myself. But I was expecting to be on an interstate looking and this was not looking that way, but I exited the beltway anway and find my self in a residential neighborhood. Now it gets interesting from here to the end.. My load was 45 thousand pounds, a light load for me seeing I been carrying a total of 80 thousand lbs. When I turned off the beltway I saw no way to get back on the belt so I continue on toward what I considered going east. At this time I noticed my trailer was not tracking correctly. I could see more of my left trailer tires in the mirror than I should have seen.

 

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No problem. Then without a warning,

I’m in a residential section, but still on a 4 lane road. No Problem, until I come into a business section and the road goes down under an overpass bridge that does not look like my trailer would have enough clearance. So I went to the exit and around the bridge instead of going under it and possibly getting stuck. No problem…. Except there was more than a few I had to go around like this. But I think this is nothing to sweat about. I’m still on what I thought I was on the 405 east. When all of a sudden I see these huge signs giving direction. What caught my eye was the sign pointing left that said to the Pentagon.

 

 

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"Not going that way". I said. And so I got in my left-hand lane and before you could say Clem Kadiddlehopper (A character played by Red Skelton, was the dim-witted country bumpkin who was loved by all.) I was going threw a road construction zone. Remember I said that I was carrying 45 thousand lbs. That’s not with the weight of the truck or trailer just the load in my trailer. I dove a few feet and then the road gets to be 1 lane with the concrete barriers on both sides which was not giving much clearance on my tires. In fact, not even an inch. Not a problems yet,       Yea right! (another red flag I didn't bother to see) Wrong as I can be because I am  now seeing a sign that said bridge ahead, 35 thousand lbs. I said, “If it’s going to fall it’s going to fall after I get over it”. It didn’t come down, thank you Jesus.. Now I don’t know where I am, where I’m headed to or nothing. I begin to pray more earnestly ask God to help. Like He wasn't doing nothing but keep me out of problems after problem. When some one say "He is a way maker" I  total understand. A couple of miles I run into this T intersection where I must make a left or right turn. In front is a very high brick wall with barbwire wire at the top. The type that is in a circle, on top of a fence you would see if you were at a Prison . My thought was Washington DC, a gated community make perfect since to me.Was I wrong...AGAIN. Looking left I see a gate with a pullover that I could get my truck & trailer safely over. I do so, then call my dispatch and say to the dispatcher ping me and tell me where I am and how to get out of here. “Where are you” he said. I’m in Washington DC. “I can’t find you” was his response. So I get out and walk up to the guard and ask him how to get back to the belt. He said that I should go straight and I will see the interstate sign pointing the way. Little did I know I was at the gate of a military installation. No wonder I couldn't receive a ping. I get in and before I pull back on the road I see the interstate sign, TO point the way to the beltway. I started praising God, “Thank You, Jesus”.  And on my way, I go until I see two signs, To the Left Downtown Washington DC (no way) and to the right George Washington Bridge. I know that bridge will hold me up. Little did I know it’s off limits to 18 wheelers. I am thanking Jesus when I come to a screeching stop. The underpass said height 11 feet 3 inches. My trailer was 11 feet 6 inches. I get on the phone with the police try to tell at least 4 - 911 operators where I think I am at and they are clueless. I look out my window and in the mirror I see a person putting flares out. While on the phone I get out of the cab, walk back and it is not a policeman in uniform, but I ask him does he know where we are and he said yes, I gave him the phone and ask him to tell the 911 where we were at. Found out he is a captain in the fire department. We have this nice conversation and I remarked that I guess I will pay a hefty fine for this. He said He understood they were hefty. Him saying this did not give me any encouragement nor help my fillings at all. The Policeman got there and the captain said I will try to soften the blow for you. Once they started the conversation the policeman was smiling at the captain then he turns his head towards me. He has this white Cowboy hat on and as he turned to me He stopped smiling and shook his head back and forth like, no he did n’t. He did that 3 times and then walks over to me. I said “Officer I am sure glad to see you” to which he shouted at me at the top of his lungs, putting his hand on his gun not to draw but just touching it and said”             

                         “IT’S PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT I LOVE TO                                      SHOT ON DAY AS LIKE THIS FOR DOING                                      STUPID THINGS LIKE THIS’ DO YOU                                          UNDERSTAND BOY”

 

      I’m about to have a heart attack,                                                   

 

 about to be shoot in the Nation Capital.  And not speaking affirmed in the affirmative, yes. He then said “can you back this rig up. I don’t mean a Mickey Mouse deal”. I wasn’t about to tell him it wasn’t tracking correctly. “I’ll stop the traffic and you back it all the way to the Y (split in the road) and wait”. I got into the cab put the truck in reverse and to my amazement the trailer was backing in as straight as an arrow. I said “Thank You Jesus, God you’re in this, Thank You Jesus” over and over. The officer jumps on my running board and said “do you see that hole in the fence, can you back it in there”. “I will try” in response to his request. This was a blindside turn. One that is very hard to do in the 1st place. That trailer went in that hole perfect. As a general rule I get out no less than 3 times to check my trailer. This time there was no need. God had this. I was just thanking Him I wasn’t dead. I was able to turn the truck around and go to where he had instructed me. I got out of the truck and he named everything I had as paperwork. He sat in his car for 15 to 20 minutes and then he came over to me.

                      In a nice voice,"I'm not going to give you a ticket, not                        going to give you the summons to appear in court, not                        going  to count points off your CDL, But I am going to give you a warning and then he shouted, “AND DON’T COME BACK”. I ask him, Sir how do I get out of here, “THE SAME WAY YOU GOT HERE”. “No sir I can’t do that” I said.”GO THAT AWAY AND YOU WILL GET TO THE BELT, MAYBE YOU CAN FIND YOUR WAY TO DELAWARE” as he points the direction which I came from. We parted in peace and I again Thank God for his presence. I guess the Captain asked him not to be so tough but he took his liberty and had fun with a newbie.  Now all this could have been avoided but I was being helped by my GPS.

This is a true story. Don’t try to replay this on the road.