To Wear,...and A Spare

Lists, lists and more lists, we got 'em. There are lists of what to take to school, training, and beyond. Everyone sweats any and all details; like flashlights, tools, duct-tape, aspirin, (chewing gum for me) and underwear. Nothing is ever left to chance. About once per month we get a post asking about this sort of thing and many of us are happy to add our two-cents and refer to previous threads on the subject. Usually a feeding frenzy ensues trying to help a new person. All good!

I like many of you, require my vision corrected to 20/20. I can wear either glasses or contact lenses, my personal preference for driving is the glasses. I save the contacts for intimate dinner dates...LOL. The point of this post is what about a backup for corrected vision? Eyesight is our most important sense in this job, necessary for safety and performance. 30 years in IT taught me a multitude of lessons on what can happen if data, email, or software isn't adequately backed up and readily recoverable. And for trucking, is there a difference? I am always evangelizing the need for the Truckers Road Atlas as a failsafe backup to GPS. Same for paper log backups if the QC craps the bed and is disabled. Backups.

But there was at time about 3 years ago where admittedly, I was unprepared without a backup plan and didn't know it. I vividly recall an incident while I was training a new driver when my glasses came off my face and fell to the floor of the trailer we were working in,...literally showing him the ropes on raising the bulkheads in the reefer; "watch how this is done". During my demonstration the edge of the door grazed the side of my face, knocking my glasses to the floor. "New guy" (you guessed it), accidently stepped on them, snapping-off one of the arms. Not his fault, a bit dark back there. At that very moment in time I realized that I had not a spare set of glasses and no contact lenses on board the truck. NO BACKUP. Utterly shameful considering my former career. However luck was on my side..."Welcome to Walmart". Fortunately the Walmart store we were delivering to was able to repair them quickly and get us back under way, for free no less. But what if I was solo, in the middle of no-where USA when something like this happened? Not sure about the rest of you, but no way I would attempt driving the Beast, especially at night without my glasses or contacts. Could be a problem if I either break them or lose them. Added this to the book of wisdom, page 1.

What prompted me to write this after all this time has passed...? For starters, my eye Doctor Appointment is due. But also, I was training a new guy two weeks ago who lost a contact lens while we were overseeing a live unload. He was basically a One-Eyed Jack at that point, and asked me to drive (new hires on the Walmart Account run super-solo for two-three days of training). Fortunately he had fresh lenses back at the DC and was able to complete his training requirement the next day. His embarrassment was obvious and brought back memories of my own folly. Again, like my previous incident he got lucky and learned a valuable lesson.

So...yes, make sure you have a backup set of glasses and/or contact lens. Especially if your trucking job requires any physical labor. You may never need them...but far better to be prepared.

Safe travels.

I have started using an on-line place to pick up cheap prescription glasses. There are many but I use a place called Eye Buy Direct. You can get a pair of basic single vision glasses for under $20. Bi-focal and other options add price but aren't really needed for an emergency driving pair. By no means high fashion but they get the job done. I now have extra pairs stashed on my motorcycle and cars.

Just ask for a copy of your prescription after your exam.

Good reminder G-town. I have extra contacts in my backpack, which always comes with me to work, but all my solution and extra cases are at home. I'll put those in my backpack as well so I can avoid being stranded if something happens to my glasses. My vision is 20/400 without glasses so if something happens to them I can't even order fast food!

Very good point G-Town. And you really don't even need to spend anything to accomplish this. Whenever I get new glasses, I simply carry my old pair along. Might not see quite as good as with the current ones, but good enough to get out of a bind. Better than nothing.

LOL I just had my eye check up last week. Always have 3prs on the truck. 2 regular 1 sunglasses. Good post I don't know if it's actually true but another driver had told me 2 pair were required. I've never checked so maybe someone could shed some light on it.

I have 20/20 vision... Yay?

I have 20/20 vision... Yay?

Lucky!

I have 20/20 vision... Yay?

Wait till you my age...I had 20/20 when I was 12.