The Lament of a log trucker's wife

When I got married it was just my luck

to land a man with a used logging truck.

Now I'm weeping over all my ills

and I haven't a cent to pay our bills.

I've swept with a broom, no vacuum to ease

and scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees.

I've owned not a dress, 'tis jeans I wore

and washed on a board till my fingers were sore.

I'm dragged out of bed at four in the morn

and lost so much sleep that I'm wrinkled and worn.

I've made hundreds of lunches, I'm under his spell, to think in this trap I deliberately fell.

My mother once told me of a woman's sad fate,

the conceit of men as husbands, not just a date.

But I paid no mind and in best bib and tucker, married myself a crazy log trucker.

The grand attitude of my heart's desire

is "After me, you're first, if I don't need a tire." It's reaches and binders, hooks and scales,

worn out rear ends and motors that fail.

There's fuel bills and tow bills and taxes you see,

and anything left goes to other state fees. It's a losing game I can plainly see,

for there's never a penny — left for me.

I just left the market, for heavens sake,

with a mere bag of beans but never a steak.

But there's payments to make and winter to buck, for my husband owns a used logging truck.

But collectors are ringing my phone,

the Internal Revenuers won't leave us alone,

They are taking the stove, the kids ain't been fed, my old man is hiding out in the shed.

In the summer it's heat, in the winter it's snow

fall is deer hunting, for me that's a pain, when spring comes, the wind blows,

I hang on in vain, 'till my hubby is back to his hauling again.

Now I have two gorgeous daughters,

who are starting to roam, and soon they'll be dragging a son-in-law home.

My rolling pins ready and he'd better duck if he boasts that he owns a used Logging Truck!

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Over the last several years, most log truckers in Montana have seen their standard of living fall.

While the mills continue to record profits, log truckers have found it harder and harder to make ends meet

As a log trucker you earn the right to have fair treatment and respect every hauling day. Log trucking is a profession and a dangerous job that requires skill. It's also a business, and these days if you don't pay attention to business you'll most likely find yourself broke. The bottom line reason for joining the L.T.A.M. is to give yourself some more control over your business. To give collective strength in helping solve common problems.

In just a little over three years the L.T.A.M. has done the following for the log trucking industry:

1. L.T.A.M. was successful in having the major mills agree to pay what the log trucker hauls into the mill.

2. L.T.A.M. successfully was able to get 15% decrease in log truck work comp rates when a 2% increase was planned.

3. L.T.A.M. has made log trucking a recognized and separate industry in the state of Montana.

4. L.T.A.M. helped to better the relationship with the county and the state. Examples: Great Northwest Log Haul, Log Truckers Diesel Truck Drags, Parades and write-ups in the local newspapers. These are just to name a few things, that have helped the image of the log trucker. L.T.A.M. has brought pride back to our profession.

5. L.T.A.M. had 80,000 Ibs. for 5-axle logging trucks passed into law in 1991.

6. L.T.A.M. has been able to put together a first class truck insurance program for members through Progressive Insurance Company.

7. L.T.A.M. has put together a medical insurance program with Glacier Insurance Company.

8. L.T.A.M.in 1991 researched, pursued, and acquired a bill that would unify and standardize log trucking practices, which resulted in the passage of House Bill #192.

9. L.T.A.M. is researching and pursuing a rate for House Bill #192.

10. L.T.A.M. has put together a complete safety program.

The L.T.A.M. is working everyday to improve Montana's log trucking industry. To help it become every more effective the L.T.A.M. needs your support. It needs your dues, your participation and your input.

Please join and become an active participant in your business association, (The Log Truckers Association of Montana).