FIXTITLE Grama Candy.docx

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The Story

Of

Mary “Candy” Bass

You know how some people come into your life like a breath of fresh air? And when they leave, you're still left smiling... This Legend gives back to the trucking community in more ways than she is aware of. She is every meaning of the term, inspirational. With her upbeat charm and positive outlook on life, one could never imagine the diversity and struggles she has been forced to overcome. From battling cancer to returning to driving a truck after an accident nearly took her life, this nominee is a force to be reckoned with. She is a long needed hug with an infectious laughter that brings happiness to every ear within hearing distance. Her name is Mary “Candy” Bass, but known and loved by many as Grama Candy. She shines in glitter and any event that includes her presence will have a story to share about later. Her love of glitter has dubbed her, Glitter Granny and it sparkles as bright as her smile.

Candy has been in trucking for more than half her lifetime. This December she will be celebrating her 72nd birthday. With over 42 years of experience driving a truck and close to 5 million miles to date, she continues her legacy as a trailblazer. Being a female professional truck driver in the 1970’s was not a growing trend during that era. However, trucking has been and will always be a profession to be proud of. All drivers are to be respected, the bond within the industry is united, and the allegiance of the work force is faithful. Through the years, with the given developments of any industry, modifications cause shifts in focus. People handle change differently. In all, transformation is needed to advance.

Candy joined the trucking realm during a time when trucking was much simpler, less technology and coordination. Besides the fact that these massive semi-trucks were enormous, Candy was petite in frame, weighing under 100 pounds, operating a diesel truck with the best of them. Back then, there were no devices to tell you which road to turn on, or how far your destination was from point A to point B. There definitely was not a talking gadget redirecting you to a shorter route, preventing you from running off schedule.

Adamant and full of ambition, Candy ran business the good old-fashioned way; with a map and CB. When the situation called for help, she found the nearest truck stop and dialed out on a pay phone. She is a pioneer from the days of trucking when the knowledge you gained came directly from personal experience, not from a class room or text book.

By finding a way to get the job done, Candy became a leader in an industry initially designed for a man. In today’s market, it is more common for women in trucking to have a successful career. Due to Candy’s perseverance to a profession that she loves, she paved a way for many women that share in her dedication to feel welcomed as a necessity, filling the role of a vital position within the transportation field.

Born in Nashville, Tennessee Candy remained a southern girl at heart. Her mother’s background dealt with computers and her father was a musician for a broadcasting company. As a drummer, he played at a breakfast club in downtown Chicago. The family relocated to Arlington, Illinois and he continued working with the radio program for many years. Living up north for the majority of her upbringing, Candy never really felt that she belonged. Almost like a fish out of water. She says, “I grew up there, but didn’t fit in. All of my mom’s family is from the south. Right after high school, at 17 I made a bee line straight to Alabama.”

Over the course of the following ten years, Candy was free to decide her own destiny. She spent some time back in Tennessee working in the office of a shoe company. Like her mother, Candy was familiar with computers. A company based out of Florida offered her an office position and she went further down south. “I moved around a bit. I guess you can say, I had to see what all was going on out there,” she said. With a traveler’s soul looking for adventure Candy explored the states of Tennessee, Alabama, Florida, and ended up in Texas. She secured a management position for a company in charge of high-rise apartments located in Houston and Pasadena. At night, she bartended part-time for a local pub owned by the Dallas Cowboys. In her late 20’s, still young and energetic Candy liked to keep her schedule full.

It was in 1974 when Candy’s (then) husband decided to go back to driving a truck. She knew there was no need in her staying in Texas alone. Especially not when her husband is traveling the country. At the time Candy did not have a driver’s license, nor did she have a clue how to drive a truck. She explains, “He told me that if I wanted to go with him I would have to learn how to drive. Well, I was all for it. So I told him that he will have to teach me. I had never driven a standard in my life, but I knew I had to pass a road test in order to take the commercial chauffeurs test. Only then would he teach me how to drive a truck. First, I had to pass the written test. I did well enough to move on to the road test. There was a rental truck service a block from the driver’s license building. We went over there and explained to the gentleman working that I needed a truck to take my road test. He put me in a 5-speed and we drove about five blocks. That was all of the training I received. When it came time to do my driving test, we went around a few blocks and a couple of other places. Then the man evaluating my every move turned to me and said, ‘You know what is wrong? I think you are used to driving a 13-speed.’ And I agreed! I said, ‘You are so right.’ I had no earthly idea what he was talking about, but it sounded good to me.”

For four years, Candy took turns driving and together the two ran as a team. The only key factor to driving a truck that her ex-husband failed to teach her was how to back up the trailer to a dock. She states, “He taught me how to drive forward and I became good at it, but he always said it was just easier for him to back it up. That there was no need to teach me because he would be there to handle that part.” In January 1979, the couple split. “That’s when things got a tad tricky. I was all by myself and I didn’t know how to back up a trailer. All I knew was that I really enjoyed driving and I wasn’t about to quit! Through trucking I was able to see Mount Rushmore and all kinds of beautiful places. I thought, there was no way I was going back to an office job after this.”

With her mind made up, Candy stuck with it and learned a little more each trip out. Her first year on her own was an essential learning period with a flood of mixed emotions. She was scared to death, confident, nervous and determined all at the same time. Different days called for a different order, but she never let fear get the best of her. The camaraderie among truck drivers is similar to an unspoken alliance. The pact between a driver and another is to always help one another and encourage each other’s abilities. Candy continues, “You know who taught me how to back up a trailer? He was an elderly driver. I didn’t know him from Adam. He politely came over to me and explained the whole process in the simplest terms. He said it was like coloring in a coloring book. To watch my trailer tires, keeping them within the lines; it’s the same idea as coloring. Keeping it between the lines. And that’s exactly how I learned.” The advice of a friendly driver, by taking a few minutes out of his schedule he completely altered Candy’s career on that very day. It goes to show the difference in a person’s life one conversation can make…

On April 30th, 1987 on a typical run up to Oklahoma, Candy was traveling on Interstate 40 through New Mexico to deliver a load of produce. The wind was noticeably strong that day. A driver in a Ford pickup truck pulling a motorhome came around Candy on her right side. With the strong current blowing, she noticed the truck and motorhome swerving into her lane. She decided to slow down, let them pass and ease over to the right lane. As she did, she felt the wind hit and the rest is a blur. She says, “I don’t remember anything from the accident. I was out of work for 18 months. I was about ready to let my life of trucking come to an end, until the doctor had written on my file, ‘Will never drive again.’ I thought, I’ll teach you! See, God made sure I didn’t die that day. And I wanted to make sure everyone didn’t waste their time and prayers on me. If I’ve learned anything from all of this, you can’t sit in a corner crying, ‘Why me?’ You have to pick yourself up and go out there and try to be the best you can be.”

Aside from proving her medical advisors wrong, she returned to the road with full intention to pick up where she had left off. The opportunities to give back to numerous charities is where Candy is able to do her finest work. Her notoriety within the trucking industry provides her a platform to share with others information concerning fundraisers and help bring awareness to a specific organization in hopes to make a difference. She has participated in raising money for the St. Christopher Truckers Fund and has teamed up with the Truckers United for Charity program. She is a member of the Trucker Buddy Program and was named their Driver of the Month, July of 2013. Since 2008, she has also been an active member of Women In Trucking, in which she was recognized as one of their Drivers of the Month, as well. In 2014, Candy received an award from the National Day of Prayer Organization for her work with their program. Her biggest surprise came when she was named, 2016 Citizen Driver Honoree. With this award, she was granted a TA truck stop of her choosing from any city and state to be named in her honor. She selected the TA in her hometown of Nashville. It is now known as the, Candy Store.

At this year’s Great American Trucking Show hosted in Dallas, Texas Candy raised funds for the victims of the catastrophic floods in Louisiana. She recently received a certificate for her hard work from the Wounded Warrior program for her efforts in raising money to ship baseball caps to wounded soldiers. “It is absolutely amazing how people come together to help others. People have no idea how giving we are as a whole, within the trucking family,” she says.

Candy has been with Transport Design for five years. She’s currently in a 2007 International. She loves their old school values and their one on one relationships with the office staff. “I always know who I’m talking to. We’re a smaller sized company, with a little over 200 trucks. We have no Qualcomm or forced dispatch. They’re extremely laid back and great people to work for. They appreciate me and it goes both ways. When I run all of my hours and need to do my 34-hour restart, they will send me places where I get to enjoy doing something during my off time. Like Minnesota or Oregon. I love to go shopping at the outlets there,” she said. Yes, even with her busy schedule and philanthropy work she still finds a way to squeeze in some shopping time. After all, you can’t be Glitter Granny by staying cooped in a truck 24-7. She adds, “I want to be remembered as that person with a smile on their face. You know what? I’m just a crazy, grey haired old lady that loves glitter.” And for that she is loved by many!

During her ceremony to receive the 2016 Citizen Driver award, the area was standing room only. As a cancer survivor, she asked to be accompanied on stage by other cancer survivors in attendance. The beautiful gesture is another reason she is adored by everyone she meets.

Candy has 3 children, 7 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren. She is extremely close with her family and enjoys spending quality time with them every chance she gets. She has a lifetime of achievements to be proud of and a million reasons to smile. She made a statement during our interview that I found enlightening, with a touch of Candy, “My faith in God is what gets me through the day and keeps me safe… And I’m glad He knows how to back up a trailer because I ask for his help all of the time.”

Thank you, Candy for your commitment to our industry and for being such an amazing inspiration to us all!

“It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light it scattered the night and made the day worth living.”

-F. Scott Fitzgerald