Former flight attendant now travels across the U.S. a bit slower

Kevin Parrish has flown many miles as a flight attendant, walked many steps delivering mail, and now he drives the 48 states in a big rig. (The Trucker/Barb Kampbell)

By BARB KAMPBELL
The Trucker Staff

11/29/2008

Kevin Parrish says he’s always wanted to drive a truck since his godfather drove one back in the 60s. He just had to take care of business at home before he was able to start a trucking career.

“That’s where I got my interest [from his godfather],” he said. “In the back of my mind I always wanted to be a trucker. I had sons who needed me at home, but once they were of age I went out on the road.”

Before starting his trucking career he spent seven years as a letter carrier for the U. S. Postal Service where he had great benefits.

“I regret leaving,” Parrish said. “I should have driven a truck for them.”

Before he was a mailman, Parrish spent nine years as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines.

“I still travel, but just a little bit slower now,” he said. Parrish flew the New York to California and back route He also spent two years in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War, but never had to see combat.

After having worked for the government and in an airplane day after day, the job of a trucker is quite a change.

“I like being on the road, the freedom,” Parrish said. “There’s no boss hanging over me all day. There’s nobody tracking me. I call them in the morning and they know where I’m at. Some companies use Qualcomm, and I don’t think they trust drivers. I don’t like being monitored.”

The Trucker met Parrish at a central Arkansas truck stop in late October. He was riding along with his brother who is also a truck driver while in between jobs and on his way to Bell Transportation out of Flint, Mich., where he will haul general freight for the company which was just starting an over-the-road division.

Parrish has spent the past 11 years driving a truck for several large companies. He has a wife at home in Owens Mills, Md. Parrish has three grown children and six grandchildren.

When he gets home he spends time with his wife and grandchildren and does the “stuff she wants me to do, the honey-do list,” Parrish said. One grandchild lives in New Jersey, the others live in Maryland.

Parrish believes that uneducated 4-wheelers are the biggest problem out on the roads.

“Auto drivers need to see a film about what we do as truck drivers,” he said. “They need to be trained what to do and not do around trucks. We can’t stop fast. When we pull out it takes a while to get going. Have some patience.

“They will drive in the left lane to pass a slower truck. Then get in front of me and slam on their brakes. That’s the most dangerous things and driving in my blind spot. They need to make people watch a film every time they get their license renewed.”

Parrish grew up in the New York and New Jersey area. And while he said he knows the New York City metropolitan area well, it’s not made for 18-wheelers.

“They need to build a gigantic terminal in the Meadowlands [the name for a wetlands and its surrounding area in northeast New Jersey],” Parrish said. “That’s where the N.Y. Giants play football. Let all the 18-wheelers unload there and let straight trucks haul into New York City.

“When driving in the city you have to take your space, you have to just go ahead and do what you need to do because they [4-wheelers] aren’t going to let you do anything.”

Even though he doesn’t like to drive in New York City, Parrish says there’s no place that he won’t drive.

“I don’t like Philly though,” he said. “They have some low bridges and you can end up having to back up to not go under a particular bridge.”

Parrish also has a problem with his perceived inability to protect himself.

“I have a big problem with them not letting us have guns,” he said. “I don’t see why they won’t let us carry a gun. I need to protect myself. Too many times truckers have been found beaten, shot, dead, while sleeping in their bunk.

“I used to have a dog. She was with me for four years and was my protection. Her name was Diamond. I was in love with that dog. She was a pit bull. I got at six weeks old in Atlanta. She ran off in the woods in Ohio and I think she got shot. I never found her.

“We have a dog at the house named Kato. He’s a pit bull too, but he’s too big for my truck. He weighs almost 200 pounds. He can’t get up in the truck and I hurt my back picking him up once. So I just can’t take him out with me.”

Parrish thinks that many truckers have stopped caring, and that the newer guys just never did car about other truckers.

“We just need to go back to being courteous and nice to each other,” he said. “Face to face we can be OK. Get on the CB and they will call me all kinds of things. I just wish drivers were more courteous and I want 4-wheelers to understand us. They need to know we are a necessary evil. If we don’t do this there won’t be anything on the shelves.

“We’re just Americans. We’re not black Americans or white Americans. After 9/11 was great; it was good because for one week we were united as one.”