September 01 2025
By: Traci D. Long
While I am still figuring out how to customize my settings to reduce distractions, my new Ford F-350 reminded me of something important — to use the proper tool/equipment for the job. It's easy to think of the truck as a daily driver, since I'm currently down a vehicle it HAS been used regularly for everything. But a grocery getter is NOT what this truck was made for — that's abundantly clear when I'm unable to limit parking to a single spot.
As you may have seen from our last two newsletters, I had a severe storm roll through at home that wreaked havoc. Half of the metal roof was torn off the house and thrown against our back fence. Living in Southern Colorado, we've learned to watch the weather religiously and heed the warnings of potential severity. Although it didn't look like much rolling in, we took precautions and secured the animals – and just in time.
I had just locked the door when torrential rain and wind started, and while most storms simply blow through, this one lasted over 20 minutes with an absolute downpour. Toward the end of it, we heard the roof being blown apart and looked out in time to see a camper slowly start to fall over. There was a car hauler next to it that broke its fall. It looked like a soft landing — ha!
My husband works on RVs and we were lucky that of the 8 campers on our property, only 1 was damaged. We had secured them all prior to the storm. After taking pictures, checking in with the insurance company and customer (owner), we needed to get it back upright. After some talking, thinking through and circling the camper, it was time to break out “beast mode” on the truck to get the RV back on its wheels. My husband drove into place, switched to 4-wheel low and locked the hubs.
There were no attempts, trials or challenges whatsoever. This is what the F-350 was made for — to be a beast when needed. And while we could have prepared a little more, it did exactly what was needed without hesitation. Just like my F-350 thrives in beast mode for heavy pulls but struggles in a crowded parking lot, we are rewarded in safety when we match our tools to the task at hand.
"If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." — Abraham Maslow
Traci D Long is the Director of Operations for ProAct Safety. With more than 20 years of experience, she assists with statistical analyses of safety management data, provides project oversight and management for client and internal projects, and assists with the development of quality assurance efforts.
For more information, call +1.936.273.8700 or email info@ProActSafety.com.
