To All Outlaw Truckers 5/6/04:

A friend of mine and possibly yours passed today. His name was Corky Barker but many of you would have known him as the SALT SHAKER. He was a true outlaw trucker for more than 35 years, and never a day passed when he wasn't running fast, overweight or both. (police, weather and warm female truckers not prohibiting)

He was as fast on 18 wheels as he was with his fist when he was a younger man, as he got older he became more tolerant of others on the road who were more talk than talent, but to the day he died he never had anything nice to say about a man who would rather spend more time behind a cup of coffee than the wheel of his rig.

He respected the Highway Patrol for doing their job when they did it fairly, but never had anything nice to say about California's 55mph speed limit. As a man he respected anyone working for the D.O.T who needed the paycheck to feed their families, but had nothing but disdain for the outdated rules and regulations they enforced. He hated Deregulation and said it so often I made him a t-shirt that said "Fuck Deregulation" (he wore it proudly.) He hated Lumper Fee's but paid them like the rest of you. And God Forbid if you wanted proper digestion for your lunch, it was best not to get him started on the price of diesel fuel being what it has been for so many years! He could never understand why diesel fuel was easier to refine, and therefore cheaper to produce than regular fuel, but was the same price or more.

I met my friend when he came on payroll to drive the wardrobe trailer on a feature I was working on. (I used to dispatch for the studios) He had a reputation for being the man to call when you needed something delivered in a "Timely Manner". Over the years I would tell my boss that Corky had dropped his trailer and wanted instructions for the back haul...and every time, my boss would look at his watch and do the math of miles versus hours and shake his head in disbelief asking How Does He Do It? In the same breath he would say I Don't Want to Know! He was one of the most respected over the road drivers ever to have worked local 399. (Even though he was banned from two of the major studios for indiscretions unbecoming a teamster)

Whenever he tired of working in town he would make a call and find a load going somewhere. The pay for teamsters at the studio is very good and I wasn't the first person to question his sanity for wanting to leave for the open road. His response?  Just cause I punch a clock this week don't mean I still aint an outlaw trucker to my soul! Off he would go to only return when the rent or alimony payments were overdue.

I enjoyed driving with him when I had the chance to escape work (and the wife) for a week at a time. He did all of the driving, only letting me take over to refill his Gatorade bottle, or to stretch his legs. I don't have a CDL and he was willing to teach me to drive truck but I wasn't buying. I told him the life of a trucker may be for you but it isn't for everyone! He respected my preference for all things not 18 wheels. Laughing he wondered aloud "Lord, Why Am I Stuck With Someone That Cant Parallel Park a Two Wheeler Let Alone An 18?"

 Thinking as fast as he was passing other rigs he swiftly (and correctly) gave me the handle I was to have for years - Dead Weight! (We laughed through two counties!)

The laughs we shared over the years were as real as the cancer that took him off the road, and from his family and friends. I am going to miss him because real friends are few and far in between.

My last visit with him I had to cut short, I didn't want to leave, but had no choice. Bubba he told me, you got to do what you gotta do, you know that! His family called today telling me of his passing. He will be missed, and though he may be far from me as the miles are counted he will be forever in my heart, so never very far! It saddens me that we didn't have the chance to say goodbye so I am going to say it now

Bubba - you did what you had to do, so in death do as you did in life, hit the road and have no regrets, keep em rolling and I'll catch you on the next run!

I love you bro,