The trucking community has always had its own language, or lingo. Some phrases, such as the 10-codes, are more universally used, but many other phrases were born in the trucking community. Phrases like, “The coops are open,” or “There’s a full-grown (bear) sittin’ in the comedian, shootin’ ya in the back.” Most of us know and comprehend these phrases. Another phrase, which has all but gone the way of the buffalo, is when someone refers to the left lane as the “Monfort Lane”. This nickname came from a time when Monfort of Colorado was a fleet of recognizable orange, yellow and white rigs (A.K.A. Circus Wagons).
Monfort had a reputation for having fast trucks, and drivers who weren’t afraid to mash on it. Making back-to-back trips from Colorado to New York couldn’t have been an easy Sunday drive, so these trucks were often seen in a blur of paint and chrome, making tracks in the left lane. There were other fleets that were known to run, too, but, somehow, Monfort has the honors of carrying that left lane nickname to their grave. I would make a politically-correct disclaimer about not condoning excess speed on the highways, but I think that should be obvious. Remember when trucks looked like trucks and driving them was a great, big, fun, pain-in-the-back? I guess time flies, faster than a circus wagon in the Monfort Lane! Thanks go out to Harry Patterson of New Jersey for allowing us to use his great photo of the old Monfort KW from way back in the day! Read more >
