By Bill Martin
Whether it’s hauling produce, or sound equipment for country music stars, Robert Lawson loves the challenge.
Which is more challenging for Robert Lawson, hauling fresh produce or hauling sound gear for country music stars George Jones and John Anderson?
This Meansville, GA boy from the Deep South was attired in his finest New York outfit being a Giants fan and all psyched for Eli Manning and teammates to kick some New England Patriots butt in the Super Bowl only three days away (NY won 21-17). But we got Robert to shift his attention from the big game to tell why he likes to haul produce — and eventually share some interesting tidbits about Jones and Anderson.
Robert has been driving a truck since the late 1980s and currently works for Kennesaw Transportation Inc. of Atlanta. Over the years he’s hauled almost everything one can think of, but really enjoys the challenges associated with hauling fresh fruits and vegetables. In fact, he had just delivered a load of Washington state apples to the Atlanta Farmers Market.
In no particular order, Robert cited several frustrations and challenges if you haul produce, although some are faced by most types of truckers.
*Language barriers. “There used to be signs on the walls that were printed in English and Spanish. Now those signs are in Spanish followed by English.”
*As a produce trucker, Robert said it is frustrating to arrive at a dock to pick up berries and other items and the pallets have already been sealed in modified atmosphere bags. The process is designed to perserve quality and extend the life of the product. The veteran driver prefers not only to be able to do a carton or tray count of the product being loaded, but also to check its quality.
“I can’t see the (bagged) produce when it is being loaded and it (the sealed bag) is not broke open until it arrives at destination,” he surmises.
But overall, Robert wouldn’t trade hauling produce for anything else. “When I haul produce it isn’t like hauling steel. You deliver it (produce) in good shape and you feel like you have done something.”
A primary concern is making sure the produce is stacked correctly on pallets and secured properly to the trailer. Otherwise shifting of the load may occur, resulting in damage to the product, and a possible claim at destination.
One of the biggest problems he faces is making sure you are not “shorted” on a load. “If I arrive at a produce house and I am supposed to pick up 880 cases of lettuce, then I find this guy (warehouseman) and I ask him how much product he’s loading, and I’m told 660 cases. I have got to get that amount changed on the bill of lading. Once you sign a bill of lading, you have got to deliver it from point A to Point B. I’ve actually seen a couple of guys arrested for delivering produce to somewhere besides what is stated on the bill.”
Robert, who drives a 2011 International conventional with a 10-speed tranny and 283-inch wheelbase, pulls a 53-foot long Utility trailer chilled by an Ingersoll Rand reefer unit.
Besides making sure there is a correct count for the load, Robert stresses the importance of maintaining proper temperature in the trailer. Particularily in the south where it is warmer, he says if you leave the rig unattended for a while, make sure the reefer unit doesn’t run out of fuel.
“It’s all on the driver; the proper count; the quality of the produce being loaded; the way it is secured and the way it is delivered,” he says. “You have to pay attention to all of these things.”
Now this is for those curious about his dealings with George Jones and John Anderson. Robert hauled sound equipment for both, but also acted as a body guard for Jones.
Robert described working for Jones as “an experience. I did it because it was challenging. I am not star struck.”
He recalls one time Jones had three concerts at Daytona Beach, FL occurring at the same time as a planned shuttle launch at nearby Cape Canaveral. Two of the shows were for dignitaries attending the launch, and the other performance was for fans. During the intermission of one of the shows, attendees went outside to watch the shuttle launch.
When Robert worked for John Anderson, he said the country star swas very personable. “John would say, ‘when I’m on that stage, I’m a star. But when I walk off that stage, I’m just one of the guys. I’m your friend. If you want to go fishing, we’ll go fishing.'”
Robert comes off as the consummate professional driver in a similar manner of his description of Anderson. “When I go to a produce house, I get to know the people there. It helps to avoid problems,” he concludes.