Bill Hudgins
Columnist

On the first day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the second day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the third day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the fourth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the fifth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the sixth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the seventh day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: seven chicken lights a blinkin', six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the eighth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: 800 miles to run in 10 hours, seven chicken lights a blinkin',

six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the ninth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: nine hours waiting for a load of lettuce, 800 miles to run in 10 hours, seven chicken lights a blinkin', six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the tenth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: 10 hours of really sleeping, nine hours waiting for a load of lettuce, 800 miles to run in 10 hours, seven chicken lights a blinkin', six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: 11 cards from my Trucker Buddy class, 10 hours of really sleeping, nine hours waiting for a load of lettuce, 800 miles to run in 10 hours, seven chicken lights a blinkin', six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, trucking gave to me: 12 hours at home (which straddled Christmas Eve and Christmas, so they say I had the holiday weekend home!), 11 cards from my Trucker Buddy class, 10 hours of really sleeping, nine hours waiting for a load of lettuce, 800 miles to run in 10 hours, seven chicken lights a blinkin', six loads through Atlanta, a fuel surcharge of five-cents-a-mile! . four-wheelers as far as I could see, three drops in Boston, two overweight citations and a stinky air freshener in the shape of a pine tree.

Bill Hudgins may be reached at billhudgins@earthlink.net.