Little Truckers: Feeling Scrappy

By Jeffrey Otersen

A legendary semi-truck named Petee begins to think hes too old for his job after a recent breakdown on the road. Mr. McClainey surprises all the trucks at Shamrock Lucking Trucking Company in Truckington, Ohio, with a brand-new, state-of-the-art semi-truck named Vahnders.

Vahnders thinks he can do everything better and faster than all the other trucks at Shamrock Lucking Trucking Company. Mr. McClainey sends Vahnders on his first run to deliver some very important freight that has a deadline. Mr. McClainey then calls the scrap yard to have some old junk scrap metal hauled away. Petee overhears the phone conversation, thinking hes been replaced by Vahnders.

Petee gets hauled away by Scrappy to the scrap yard. Petee leaves behind his Qualcomm computer (a messaging system with built-in GPS, which is tied into the trucks computer) with a message that hes gone on a big adventure, not ever returning.

Vahnders is stranded on top of Big Bear Mountain in a blizzard. Mr. McClainey decides to send Kenny to help Vahnders, but he too gets stranded in the blizzard up in the mountains after an avalanche.

All the trucks of Shamrock Lucky Trucking Company must find Petee to rescue Vahnders and Kenny. Hes the only truck that can save them and help get the important freight delivered on time to save the Shamrock Lucky Trucking Company from going bankrupt.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499095203

Jeffrey Otersen

I was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio. I currently live in Sylvania, Ohio. I have been working in the Trucking industry for 37 years. Writing books is my passion.

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Copyright © 2014 by Jeffrey Otersen.

Library of Congress Control Number:   2014919092

ISBN:      Hardcover    978-1-4990-9521-0

                Softcover      978-1-4990-9522-7

                eBook           978-1-4990-9520-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 02/03/2015

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I t’s late Friday afternoon at the Shamrock Lucky truck yard located in a Midwest city in Truckington, Ohio.

The winter season has just got under way as the trucks return from a long week of grueling work out in the cold snowy weather, except for Petee’ and Mr. McClainey.

Petee’ is a stylish old black semitruck built in the late sixties and has a long needle nose hood with lots of chrome accessories detailing his truck with two very tall smokestack exhaust pipes standing high in the air, a personal trait that can be seen from far away.

Petee’ is from Colorado, home of the Great Rocky Mountains, where trucks have guts of sheer bravery and strength to pull their heavy loads up steep-sloped mountains and soar back down their terrifying, treacherous downgrades.

Petee’ is a veteran truck and also a living legend known throughout the country, recognized for always pulling through, no matter how tough the workload or how severe the weather can be … Petee’ never quits!

Mr. McClainey, a classic white delivery van from Ireland who speaks with an Irish accent, is decorated with a big green shamrock logo and green fancy letters spelling Shamrock Lucky Trucking Company on both sides of his van. He’s always telling Irish sayings to all the trucks, keeping them in good spirits.

Mr. McClainey believes his good luck derives back to when he stumbled upon a four-leaf clover in Ireland, which he always carries on his dashboard wherever he travels.

A long time ago, when Mr. McClainey was a younger truck, he decided to set sail on a vessel to America with a dream of owning his own business, a trucking company.

Mr. McClainey has had to work very hard to overcome a lot of obstacles, striving to obtain his dream.

Mr. McClainey has fulfilled his lifelong dream—he is the proud owner of Shamrock Lucky Trucking Company with a fleet of trucks proven to be the best trucks in their class, having a lot of heart that he considers family.

All the trucks wait patiently at Shamrock Lucky truck yard for Mr. McClainey to return from his road trip with Petee’ so they can receive their paychecks and take them to the bank to cash them as they always do on Fridays.

Blade, a big orange snowplow truck with bright-yellow flashing lights and a long sharp snow blade carrying a big dump bucket full of clumpy rock salt, is from Buffalo, where it always snows a lot in the winter.

Blade looks over at Hook, a fluorescent green wrecker tow truck equipped with orange emergency lights that has a gigantic rusty tow hook from Chicago, where there’s never a dull moment.

Blade tells Hook, I can hardly wait until Petee’ gets back to tell us all about his long road trip with Mr. McClainey.

Hook nods. I know whatcha mean. I’m very anxious too! replies Hook, swinging his tow hook like a pendulum, keeping himself occupied.

I don’t know what’s taking them so long! They should’ve been back hours ago! adds Longhorn, a faded-yellow cattle hauler from Texas who speaks with a Texas drawl and has a long shiny brass air horn mounted on the top of his cab. It’s so loud it can be heard for miles!

Longhorn also has a distinct set of bullhorns displayed as a hood ornament standing out on the nose of his hood, reminding him of the great state of Texas, where he’s very proud to be from.

Petee’ always has great stories to tell. That always makes for a fun weekend! announces Kenny, a retroactive blue cab-over semitruck who pulls a covered wagon and is from St. Louis. He speaks with a strong Southern accent and always sings the blues.

Kenny, you’re right! Petee’s stories are great! I bet you’ve heard all of Petee’s stories since the two of you have been trucking buddies for years! says Longhorn.

Kenny agrees by nodding his cab. "Yep, Petee’ and I go way back. Petee’s my best friend! I’m very fortunate to have been a part in some of Petee’s great stories.

As ya’ll know, Petee’ has helped me so many times! More times than I can count on my tires! I’m an eighteen-wheeler! exclaims Kenny.

Wow-wee, that’s a lot, aye! replies Lumberjack, a dark-green log hauler semitruck from Vancouver, Canada, who speaks with a Canadian accent and is always hungry.

All the trucks wait patiently as the sun is fading fast from the winter sky, becoming dusk.

The trucks are becoming very concerned for Mr. McClainey and Petee’ since they still haven’t returned from their long road trip.

This sure isn’t like Mr. McClainey! He’s always on time! comments Lumberjack, looking worried.

No! It sure aint! You can set your clock stereo to Mr. McClainey! He’s like clockwork! replies Hook.

Yah, I agree. Mr. McClainey is very punctual! He runs a tight ship! He’s always on time! Every time! informs Blade.

And you can bet your bumpers on that! adds Kenny.

Longhorn gives Kenny a peculiar look. Well, I’m not betting my bumpers! I’m kind of attached to them! All the trucks laugh.

Good one, Longhorn! shouts Blade.

Hook sighs. Oh no! Looks like we’re not gonna make the bank! It’s closing time!

Kenny frowns. Darn! I really wanted to go shopping for a new blue tarp. My old tarp is torn and is beginning to fray, and I’m looking a little raggedy!

I swear, Kenny. You change your tarp more often than I change my oil! teases Longhorn as he chuckles.

I’m just trying to uphold my image is all! justifies Kenny.

Don’t fret any, Kenny! The bank’s open back up on Saturday till noon, informs Blade. Kenny enthusiastically shouts "Shazaaam!" as his mood instantly changes for the better.

Lumberjack suggests, I think it’s time to get high tech with direct deposit so we never have to worry about making the bank again, aye!

Yah, we’re gonna have to stop living like we’re stuck in the seventies! comments Blade as he smirks.

C’mon! The seventies were groovy! replies Kenny.

I wouldn’t know! I was built in the eighties! mentions Hook.

Kenny sighs. Ahhh! The eighties were great too! Kenny begins to reminisce, closing his eyes. Then Kenny falls asleep, while the other trucks are having a conversation. Blade suddenly notices thick black smoke filling the sky.

Look at all that black smoke in the air! says Blade as he points toward the sky with his snow blade.

All the trucks look up to see a long trail of thick black smoke high in the air as the sun sets in the sky.

Longhorn calls out to Kenny, Look at all that thick black smoke filling the sky! Kenny doesn’t respond as he is sound asleep, snoring.

Longhorn calls out to Kenny again, Kenny, snap out of it! Wake up! Still no response from Kenny. He’s not waking up, so Longhorn blows his horn as loud as he can Honk! Honk!

Kenny awakes startled. What? What? Where am I? frantically asks Kenny.

It’s okay, Kenny. You’re here with us in the truck yard, assures Hook.

Golly! Thank goodness! I-I-I thought I was gonna get trucked by a train! stutters Kenny. All the trucks laugh.

That was just Longhorn blowing off some hot air, says Blade.

All of a sudden, all the trucks hear a loud roar and then see two round bright lights shining from their great friend Petee’, while Mr. McClainey is trailing close behind.

All the trucks cheer, honking their horns as Petee’ and Mr. McClainey pull into the Shamrock Lucky truck yard. Thank you for the warm welcome, me little truckers! Sorry we’re late! We had a wee bit of trouble, says Mr. McClainey.

What kind of trouble? anxiously asks Blade.

Well, Petee’ had a breakdown. It took some time to get him back on his tires, putting us behind schedule. I didn’t think we would be back home until tomorrow, but surprisingly enough, Petee’ put the hammer down! explains Mr. McClainey.

Hey, Petee’, I didn’t know you were a carpenter too! blurts Tanks, a bright-red semitruck who