I was raised in the trucking world. Both my real Dad (whom died in a truck accident as an owner operator.) and my step Dad who raised me from a young child were truck drivers. I was very excited in 1978 as a Junior in High School, when I got my first job not on a farm, but at a trucking company.
It was at Shrock Trucking Inc. in Hubbard Oregon. I was hired and taught how to be a lube tech. After a couple day’s working with the mechanics. Cliff Shrock called me into the office and sat me down and wanted to tell me that in his opinion I was awfully young to have the most important job at his company. He told me it was my job to spend the time to find things wrong with the equipment before they break down. I needed to take the time and look it over while under it, that the drivers don’t see in a pre or post trip inspection. I took that speech to heart. I felt cool when I found something to report.
To this day I still feel that is a very important job. It was then and still would be a compliment to me to be called a grease monkey. You should all, take time now and then to thank the Grease Monkey that checks out your truck.
-Troy