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My father (81 years old) Worked in Timber for the vast majority of his life. True, he was logging in the days when mules/etc were used instead of vehicles. He also was not very educated, but when it come to all things logs, he knew what he was doing. I was very young at the time, maybe 12.. and though he had been injured and could no longer do the physical aspects of the job, he was always come to for his experience.
Until the local logging company was bought out by a new owner, who had never logged a day in his life. He was 'college educated' though, so surely he knew more then somebody who stopped going to school in second grade.. right? Well as usual, my dad was an unofficial supervisor, totally volunteer (unpaid).. and was directing some of the younger people oh how to fill up a truck with the most logs..with the least amount of fuss. I was observing, he wanted me to learn logging (and to this day I have NO clue about anything doing with logs. Can't even tell you what is a hickory or an oak).
The new owner comes up, and informs the crew that he has some large planes of glass that he is wanting moved.. so why not on this truck..full of logs. Now I was young, but even I could have told him .. You are out of your mind. No, no, they will be secured.. not much jostling or moving.. they would be fine.
My father tried to reason with him, explaining how glass and logs just do not mix. My dad had to be wrong though, new boss had thought of everything :eyeroll:
My dad finally just shakes his head, and moves me and any of the crew that listened to him far far away. Some of the crew, however, couldn't risk upsetting the boss, so they did as he asked.. and then they too got Waaaaayyy back. My dad did something I didn't understand at first, he went in front of the truck.. paced out so far.. and put a little flag (out of the way of the truck).. and then came back over.
The truck starts up, the glass already starts 'humming' from the vibrations of the motor. The truck moves forward, and right as its front bumper lines up with the flag.. a tremendous crash could be heard..as the truck hit a small bump.. and the glass went everywhere.. and I mean everywhere.. I have no idea to this day how he knew exactly where it was going to happen, but he knew what was going to happen. It took the crew the majority of that day and some of the next just to clean up the mess.
Edit : Thought I would clarify .. my dad is 81 years old now, not when this happened. Logging companies were just moving to trucks when this happened.
Until the local logging company was bought out by a new owner, who had never logged a day in his life. He was 'college educated' though, so surely he knew more then somebody who stopped going to school in second grade.. right? Well as usual, my dad was an unofficial supervisor, totally volunteer (unpaid).. and was directing some of the younger people oh how to fill up a truck with the most logs..with the least amount of fuss. I was observing, he wanted me to learn logging (and to this day I have NO clue about anything doing with logs. Can't even tell you what is a hickory or an oak).
The new owner comes up, and informs the crew that he has some large planes of glass that he is wanting moved.. so why not on this truck..full of logs. Now I was young, but even I could have told him .. You are out of your mind. No, no, they will be secured.. not much jostling or moving.. they would be fine.
My father tried to reason with him, explaining how glass and logs just do not mix. My dad had to be wrong though, new boss had thought of everything :eyeroll:
My dad finally just shakes his head, and moves me and any of the crew that listened to him far far away. Some of the crew, however, couldn't risk upsetting the boss, so they did as he asked.. and then they too got Waaaaayyy back. My dad did something I didn't understand at first, he went in front of the truck.. paced out so far.. and put a little flag (out of the way of the truck).. and then came back over.
The truck starts up, the glass already starts 'humming' from the vibrations of the motor. The truck moves forward, and right as its front bumper lines up with the flag.. a tremendous crash could be heard..as the truck hit a small bump.. and the glass went everywhere.. and I mean everywhere.. I have no idea to this day how he knew exactly where it was going to happen, but he knew what was going to happen. It took the crew the majority of that day and some of the next just to clean up the mess.
Edit : Thought I would clarify .. my dad is 81 years old now, not when this happened. Logging companies were just moving to trucks when this happened.
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