I was at the Flying J truck stop in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and had the opportunity to meet and talk with the nice janitor at that location - Robbie Jones. Here's how the conversation went.
So how did you get into this profession?
I love trucks, I love being near them, but I lost my license and this was the only thing I could do to be near them again.
What happened?
I used to be a driver. I was a driver ever since I was 16, but I got in trouble. My Dad trained me and then I got my license when I was 20 - it was easier back then. I was a bit of rebel though. I had the long hair and everything. I went racing up a hill in California and went racing down the other side and got in an accident and 1994. I got in a fight with the cop and he took my license. It was in the papers and everything.
How come you never reapplied?
With all the new restrictions I'd never pass these days. I'm a simple guy and it's getting too complicated out there.
Is it a lot of hard work being a truck stop janitor? What do you do?
It's a lot of hard work. I clean the showers, take care of the pumps and keep things clean around here. I like to take care of the drivers, I know they work hard and I love being around the trucks all the time.
What's one thing you would like to let the drivers know?
I would like to see the drivers have a better attitude when they come in the door. I know they live a hard life, always working, but I would like to see them appreciate what we do for them. We feed them and we clean up after them, a better attitude is all we would like to see. Sometimes they come in after a long day and they're grumpy and they treat me like dirt. I want to take care of them and it hurts.
I'm sure they don't always mean it.
Well, it's not just that, some of them are real mean to their co-drivers and their wives. It's hard for me not to want to stand up for them. I know those truckers wives have it real hard, because they do what I do all the time. The cooking, the dishes, taking the anger when things go wrong.
It's not all that bad, but it is hard at times. I need to go, but can I let the public know your name?
Yeah, It's Robbie Jones. You know it's really nice that you're asking about this. No one has asked me for my opinion before.
No problem.
So how did you get into this profession?
I love trucks, I love being near them, but I lost my license and this was the only thing I could do to be near them again.
What happened?
I used to be a driver. I was a driver ever since I was 16, but I got in trouble. My Dad trained me and then I got my license when I was 20 - it was easier back then. I was a bit of rebel though. I had the long hair and everything. I went racing up a hill in California and went racing down the other side and got in an accident and 1994. I got in a fight with the cop and he took my license. It was in the papers and everything.
How come you never reapplied?
With all the new restrictions I'd never pass these days. I'm a simple guy and it's getting too complicated out there.
Is it a lot of hard work being a truck stop janitor? What do you do?
It's a lot of hard work. I clean the showers, take care of the pumps and keep things clean around here. I like to take care of the drivers, I know they work hard and I love being around the trucks all the time.
What's one thing you would like to let the drivers know?
I would like to see the drivers have a better attitude when they come in the door. I know they live a hard life, always working, but I would like to see them appreciate what we do for them. We feed them and we clean up after them, a better attitude is all we would like to see. Sometimes they come in after a long day and they're grumpy and they treat me like dirt. I want to take care of them and it hurts.
I'm sure they don't always mean it.
Well, it's not just that, some of them are real mean to their co-drivers and their wives. It's hard for me not to want to stand up for them. I know those truckers wives have it real hard, because they do what I do all the time. The cooking, the dishes, taking the anger when things go wrong.
It's not all that bad, but it is hard at times. I need to go, but can I let the public know your name?
Yeah, It's Robbie Jones. You know it's really nice that you're asking about this. No one has asked me for my opinion before.
No problem.