Possible Clues:

• Seems one claims to have been in no hurry to be in the van
• Ran but got nowhere
• Was not in gear?
• Had nothing to do in paid ledgers
• Waited for the green
• Paused in a car
• Puttered around
• Hung around
• How I would have been in command without having done much about it
• I'd been usher, then sat back