A TRUCKER’S MEMOIR - Stony Morton

A TRUCKER’S MEMOIR

Legend Nominee: Stony Morton

The crisp smell of burning leaves in the dead of winter sends Stony Morton back in time; he is a young child again, age four. Flashes of open fields pass him by as he runs through, acre after acre. He is joined by his four older siblings in a small town located outside of Topeka, Kansas. The open country land is a large playground, for as long as their stay allowed. The Morton family moved around often during the 50’s in search of work to support their full house, introducing Stony to new places and faces time and again.

In a suburb found tucked away in a rural area away from the cities of Cheyenne, Wyoming, his family raised chickens. Now eight, his new home though short lived was also home to many farm animals. He enjoyed their company referring to them as his little friends. Again, finding happiness among all around him. Memories, such as; playing with his brothers on rope swings tied to branches, hanging from tall trees in the yard, continue to bring a smile to his face. A deep collection of images from his past are held dear to him, as he explains every meaningful detail that has ultimately played a part in the image of the man we know today.

By nine, the Morton’s settled down in Abilene, Texas where Stony’s carefree childhood evolved into a maturity well beyond his years. Eager to help with his share of income, despite his age, he joined his older brothers in delivering newspapers before school hours. The Morton boys started each day at 3 o’clock in the morning, distributing the daily paper to 2,000 houses that resided along their three bike routes. On the weekends for extra money, they sold newspapers from the streets to people walking by. For five years, Stony stuck it out proving himself capable of more responsibilities.

He took on work at various ranches at 13, that’s when he began driving grain trucks and flatbeds to mills for local farmers. As a teenager, he recalls driving his 1958 pickup to a nearby truck stop to socialize with his friends, secretly imagining himself as a professional truck driver taking a quick break from the road. Throughout high school, Stony continued to juggle several side jobs: hauling hay, digging post holes, spraying cactus plants. He says, “Loading cow manure for five dollars a load was big money for a kid back then.” The summer before his senior year, Stony was presented with an opportunity of a lifetime.

On a whim, he applied for a position at a guest ranch; also known as a dude ranch, located in Oregon. Operating as a type of ranch used for guests/tourists to enjoy and experience life on a working ranch, Stony tended to the maintenance on the property, the care of animals, and all other needs that derived during his stay. Riding horses, exploring the natural forest and witnessing the beauty of nature up close is more awe-inspiring moments that are centered within the recesses of his heart.

After high school, he left for Hawaii to visit with his sister. She was station in Honolulu with her husband, who was serving in the Navy at the time. Initially, a two-week vacation stretched out to last two years. The following 24 months, Stony used as a time of self-discovery; though continuously working two jobs, he never lost sight of what he always felt was his calling. Before his twentieth birthday, he returned to Abilene and landed his first job driving an 18-wheeler. He drove five nights a week in a bobtail International, for a wholesale food company running mostly regional work.

Fast forward to today… to the eye, Stony is a 45-year veteran truck driver, but as we all know, seasoned drivers with such experience possess invaluable heaps of knowledge. Don’t let his age throw you off his scent, he is just as sharp now as he has ever been. His honesty and forthright shoots straight from the hip. He is very candid, yet sincere in his delivery. His interview contains helpful advice for all aged truckers along with enough trucking stories to fill a book.

“To succeed as a truck driver, you have to make it your number one priority. You will need to embrace everything about it. By it, I mean the truck, the clients, the loads, the entire job! Trucking has to be a calling, plain and simple.

Over the years, I’ve drove flatbed, dry box, reefer, tanker, and the two denominators that have kept me safe for this long is God and lots of patience. I say this, because driving an 18-wheeler can be dangerous. You have to put the good Lord first! I might be the one behind the wheel, but He is the one steering it. I truly believe that! And a truck driver must have patience behind the wheel… patience with receivers, patience with shippers, patience with traffic, and most importantly, patience with yourself.

That is why I say this profession is more than a nine to five occupation. It’s a way of life that requires not just a strong interest, but a devotion. It’s hard work, and even harder on your loved ones if you’re not careful. Trucking is a lifestyle that can provide a driver with a long, successful career if willing to listen and learn.”

Barbara, Stony’s wife of 35 years recognizes her husband’s personal obligation to trucking. Once attempting to manage an office position, Stony knew without a doubt that a job that didn’t involve driving trucks would never suffice. Stating, “Nothing smells better than diesel smoke on a cold morning!” In exchange for his dream job he needed the support of his loved ones at home, explaining that it is the only way possible for the two worlds to coincide. He adds, “I was miserable working in an office. So, I can’t express how important the family’s role is when a person is ready to pursue trucking full-time. Their complete understanding that driving a truck isn’t just a job makes all the difference. For a trucker, your family must be behind you 110%. Mostly for the reason being; separation. They must be comfortable living without you while you’re gone. When I leave my wife home by herself, she does it all. She does everything around the house, basically relying on herself as an independent woman so that I can provide for us doing what I love. It’s a sacrifice on both ends. Without her support, trust and companionship we wouldn’t be having this conversation. None of this would be possible.”

Forty-five years prior, newly married with a newborn baby, Stony knew the challenges he faced starting out as a trucker with little to no professional experience, but he was no stranger to hard work. The trucking company that gave Stony his start put him in a truck with a senior driver that was well-qualified and willing to take him under his wing…

“I remember we were going to be out four to five days on our first trip, and all I could think about was that I had absolutely nothing to live on. I had the clothes on my back and not even fifteen cents in my pocket. All we had in the truck was a CB radio. I learned so much about life in such a short amount of time during that one trip!

My trainer had been talking with drivers over the CB, as I listened in. Later, we pulled into an area to stop for the night. There were about seven other truckers already set up. They had grills fired up, food cooking, coffee pots full and tv’s on. They all knew one another. I was a new hand and didn’t want to intrude, so I stayed in the truck. Well, long story short, my trainer came over and knocked on the door and got me out. They fed me steaks, potatoes and salad. For the next three days, they all took care of me.

The first check I received, I took a hundred dollars and went to the grocery store, then headed straight over to those guys. I told them that I wanted to repay them for taking care of me when I had nothing. What they said back has stuck with me almost fifty years later. They said, ‘We take care of our own.’

That is the difference in what we do as opposed to a regular job. Trucking is a way of life and a kinship. We’re all family out here on the road, helping each other survive so we can make it back home to our other family.”

During those few days as a rookie truck driver, for Stony he didn’t lack the confidence to succeed. After all, he was more than familiar with the undertaking he was seeking and took pride in pursuing the profession. It was the comradery found in the thick of things; the humility displayed by men and women he crossed paths with. Every surprising aspect that he observed, helped set the tempo for Stony’s trucking career.

In 2017, Stony joined Cardinal Logistics as a company driver for their Dallas, Texas terminal. His dedicated run covers 5-7 regional states. With 2.5 million lifetime miles under his belt, he states that when he gets stopped by strangers who recognize his Million Mile Jacket, it always tends to lift his spirit. He says, “When they ask how have I done it… driven a truck for so long… for so many miles, I just tell them: One gear shift at a time.”

Before Cardinal Logistics, Stony owned and operated a hotshot business, LD Morton Transportation, LLC. Barbara joined him on the road regularly, as the couple enjoyed traveling together and seeing the country. His plans are to retire, sell their house in the city and settle down out in the open countryside. Seeing that his roots originally lay in the hinterlands, returning to where it all began is understandable.

His work ethic is as purposeful and resolute as the ambitious boy standing on the street corner fifty years ago, selling papers for change. As for advice, for truck drivers blazing their own trails, Stony claims these few simple lessons if applied can take anyone as far as they wish to carry their own career:

Do the best you can.

Take pride in your work.

Be professional; people will respect you.

Do everything right the first time. So, you don’t have to do it twice.

Keep a good heart and an open mind.

And lastly, always help your fellow man out. Whether it’s giving an extra hand with a load or tarping.

Adding, “What goes around comes around, tenfold.” Overcoming his share of struggles and adversity, aside from his principles applied to work, Stony says that a close friend who is a preacher shared a little piece of wisdom with him years earlier that he has since found to ring true. Do what is right in your heart, have faith in God and everything else will fall into place. Stony’s testimony is living proof.

Stony and Barbara have two sons, Steven (35) and Cody (26). When he is not away on the road, he enjoys working on Cody’s 1973 AMC Javelin. Stony purchased the 2-door muscle car when his son was 13 years old. Over the years, the two have slowly striped its interior and exterior, and completely remodeled the classic. Now running smooth with a fresh paint job, Stony says there is still some work to finish, but the togetherness he spends with his son is what makes it all worth it.

Family, faith, and trucks.