A Truck Driver’s Life – Part Two of Two

23rd Oct, 8.46am

After 30 minutes of car ride we finally reach Sibu town. My Slow stop by the Shell Gas station to get some petrol, while me go to the wash room to pay my water bill.


23rd Oct, 8.47am

The Petrol cost around RM100 at the moment, this truck is using Diesel and the Malaysia Government had subsidies some for them to lighten their burden. The gov had comeout with a program called Shell Card For Government Subsidized Diesel.


23rd Oct, 9.39am

This time we did stop Sibu for coffee, our next stop will be Bintulu, then Miri. The road condition at Sarawak are poor, I just hope that one day the government will upgrade the road condition. I’ve been thinking, if the gov really upgrade the roads condition, they can save on:

- Save on tires cost
- Less truck maintenance
- Save time, with double lane roads.
- Increase the tourism industry, no more bumpy roads.

But all of this would be just a dream; this is what happens when genius runs the city.


23rd Oct, 10.25am

An ambulance car just pass by, when we driver further ahead we saw this. A truck was at the side of the highway. The truck was badly damage in the driver seats; hope the driver will be ok.


23rd Oct, 11.08am

This is a very famous Rock God, near Sarikei. I heard rumors says that the Rock God will bless the followers with good fortune like making you strike the upcoming lottery, but in return you must came back here and thank him, if not he will come and get what he deserve.

I don’t believe in this money from God, work hard and earn what we get. There is no free lunch in this world.


23rd Oct, 11.24am

OMG, is been more than 12 hours and yet I just reach Sarikei. But this is really a good experience that can feel on how’s the life of a truck driver. So I will be more grateful in my life. Mr Slow put a cigarette in his mouth and start smoke.


Wilson: How long have you been smoking?
Mr Slow: About 10 years my friend, I’ve stoped smoke for one year. But in the end I cannot resist and start smoke again.
Wilson: So I guess your son also smoke right!
Mr Slow: Ya, *sigh* I don’t know how to advice him, he is only 16 years old. I also smoke, so I can’t advice him much.
Wilson: Then you have to take good care of your two daughters, don’t let them influence with bad habits. Friends are important; make sure you care more on your daughters, to get a good relationship with them.
Mr Slow: I didn’t study much when I was young, so sometime I also don’t know how to teach my kids. Just hope they will all be good in the future.
Wilson: …


23rd Oct, 11.38.21am

We driving at 70Km/H, and there’s a truck in front of us. “Overtake” I tell him, and he did…


23rd Oct, 11.38.38am

He check the opposite side, is clear. He then switches from gear 5 to gear 4, and start to increase the speed. He signal right, and off we go.


23rd Oct, 11.38.48am

We use 30 seconds to overtake the truck, average speed for us is 80Km/H. We can’t drive too fast, cause the tank behind is heavy, and if we crash, bye bye my dear readers. DM will close shop


23rd Oct, 12.18pm

Reach Bintulu division, I’m hungry, so as Mr Slow.


23rd Oct, 12.29pm

Both of us had our lunch here, I called back to Kuching to check how’s thing. My business is a bit slow this few months, hope things will turn good in the festive session.


23rd Oct, 12.56pm

After lunch, is time to go. From Bintulu to Miri, is still single lane highway. I close my eyes for rest…


23rd Oct, 2.12pm

When I wake up, we’re near Batu Niah. I recognize this oil palm plantation; this means that we almost reach Miri. Mr Slow’s phone rang, is was my friend (his boss) his boss told him must reach Miri at 3.00pm cause the people are waiting for the Nitrogen. And after he unload the Nitrogen Tank, he must drive back to Kuching again, as there’s another one need to be send to Miri.

After he hang up the phone, I can tell that he’s depress. Who won’t! over 20 of driving to Miri, then another 20 hours back Kuching, THEN another 20 hours to Miri again (without me accompany him). But he’s working for people, and just like he said, he doing this because of making food on the table, and shelter for his kids. I’m very fortunate that I don’t need to work for people, just hope one day he can have a better living.


23rd Oct, 4.22pm

I’ve reach Miri at 4.00pm, a total of 20 hours ride from Kuching to Miri. I need to tighten the nuts and bolts in my body. I asked him to drop me at Bintang plaza, I went to the wash room to pay my water bill. Then have a rest at Starbuck Coffee, my younger brother will pick me after his work at 5.00pm. Will I follow this truck driver again, hm~~is kindda fun actually maybe I would :)
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The pursuit of happiness is not an easy talks, everyone is looking for a way to find happiness. I’m consider a very lucky person, I have all the things I want this include happiness. My dear reader…Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something go get it.

Quote from the movie “The Pursuit of Happyness”
A Truck Driver’s Life – Part One of Two

A Truck Driver’s Life – Part One of Two

I follow a truck driver to go from Kuching to Miri, he works in my friend transport company. I had an unforgivable trip going back my hometown. So how is the life of a truck driver? I called the driver Mr. Slow


22nd Oct, 8.21pm

Mr Slow was at the factory connecting the Nitrogen Tank to the truck, it weights about 32 tons. His boss keep on scolding Mr. Slow cause he overuse the petrol RM500 and more, they suspect him steal the Diesel and sell it to others, but he told me the truth is that he didn’t do it.


22nd Oct, 9.33pm

On my way to Serian, then to Sarikei, Sibu, Bintulu, and Miri (My Destination). But just when we’re reaching Serian Town, the Road and Transport Department officer summon our truck in for a truck weight inspection. Very fortunate our truck weight below the standard weight.


22nd Oct, 9.46pm

Mr Slow haven’t had his dinner yet, he had lunch at 1pm just when he came back from Bintulu. I can tell that he’s hungry, this is the night market at Serian Town where he use to had my dinner. The stall owner has a very cute 5 years old daughter, she smiles like an angle.


22nd Oct, 9.51pm

After 5 minutes my dinner is ready. I ate my dinner slowly, I had all night long so nothing to rush. Mr Slow ate rice with vegetable, and meat.


23rd Oct, 1.11am

After 3 hours of ride, I barely open my eyes. We’ve reach the Yi Jia Food Center at Jelukong (Jelukong is a small town near Sri Aman, and is about 207KM from Kuching), Mr Slow stop by for a huge glass of think coffee to keep him awake. Before I leave, I went to the washroom to pay water bill, and wash my face.


23rd Oct, 1.33am

Most of the long vehicles like Trailer, Express Bus, Truck, will stop here for rest. This yellow bus engine had some problem, it cannot be started. They try to start the bus many times but fail, then they use the reverse gear of the bus to force it start. What they do is, they tie the bus with another bus, and tow it. And it works, if not the passenger will have to spend their night here.


23rd Oct, 3.48am

OMG!!! That coffee cannot make me awake. I need to take a nap then continue my journey after my nap, sleeping in the truck is not good at all. I sleep at the passenger seats, I keep on waking up cause of backache. I miss my bed, my pillow, and my blanket….zzzzzzz…..


23rd Oct, 6.12am

What’s that sound? Oh, is my alarm clock. I switch off the alarm and went back to sleep again.


23rd Oct, 6.30am

Mr Slow dream of his boss scolding him to send the Nitrogen tank to Miri on time, I was awake, I’ve listen to what he says, that’s an awful dream he had. I then wake him up…


23rd Oct, 6.34am

Mr Slow brush his teeth, wash face, and pee. The air are fresh here, I just realize the truck was packed near a graveyard last night, no wonder I felt that someone is watching me sleep last night. Nah! I was kidding; the truck was park near a Muslim Mosque. Hm~~~how come I didn’t hear the morning prayers?


23rd Oct, 6.59am

There is still 16KM to Sarikei, and we stop by at the Bulat Corner Refreshment Center. Mr Slow had a bow of noodles, and coffee, for me I just drink a glass of tea.


23rd Oct, 7.46am

The signboard says to Bintangor still 14KM, to Sibu still 40KM. To get to Miri, we have to by-pass Sibu town, I still have 40KM to go then.

Wilson: How long have you been driving long vehicles?
Mr Slow: Me? Hm~let’s see, I’ve been driving for about 7 years alredy.
Wilson: Do you back home often or always sleep in the truck?
Mr Slow: It depends, if there’s a lot of work to do, I have to drive often and there will be no time for me to go home. No choice my friend, I do this because I need to give food to my kids.
Wilson: How many kids do you have?
Mr Slow: I have three kids, my eldest son now suppose to study secondary three but he stop schooling. The other two are girls, one secondary two, and youngest primary six.
Wilson: Stop schooling, did you advice him not to do so? Education is very important.
Mr Slow: I know, I also don’t want my son to become like me, but I don’t dare to scold him, cause later he will run away from home, or even stop taking to me. I also don’t know how to do. But I’m fortunate that my second daughter likes to study, she is my only hope now.
Wilson: Your wife? Does she work?
Mr Slow: Yes, she works as a cleaner at Miri, my youngest daughter live with her at Miri. At Kuching, my oldest son and daughter they have to take care of them self, they have to make their own breakfast, lunch and dinner. LIFE IS NOT EASY my friend…
Wilson: …


23rd Oct, 8.17am

After 12 hours of car ride, I’m now reaching the Sibu division. Last time we have to use a ferry to bring all the vehicles to cross the river, but now there’s a bridge, and a toll. Save time, but need to pay.


23rd Oct, 8.19am

Sibu town here we come, I still have about 411KM to reach Miri. I’ll pass by Dalat, Mukah, Tatau, Bintulu, then Miri.

------------------ to be continue ------------------

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