October 24, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS: (Tuesday-Oakfield, Wisconsin)
THE LOAD OF TOTAL FRUSTRATION...Oakfield, Wisconsin...Woke up again to someone beating on the side of my tractor. I answered the "knock". A warehouseman asked where my load of canned fruit and vegetables was going. I had a "pick up" number that I gave to him and told him it was going to a warehouse in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He looked at his clipboard and then assigned me to a dock. He asked if I had been there before and I told him no. He said that I would have to verify what goes into my trailer as they will not "seal" the load. I had to count the pallets and the number of cases per pallet that they placed on the dock before loading my trailer. Once I finished the count, they loaded the trailer and I signed the paperwork. I then called dispatch and LOCKED my unsealed trailer. I did not log, in my logbook, that I had spent a half hour counting the contents of my trailer even though I should have legally. I was happy to be on my way...
There were a couple good ways to make this trip and I chose to travel through Chicago, Indianapolis, Louisville and Nashville. This route would put me going down the steep road grade from Monteagle(framed "Rocky Top"), Tennessee. (paid miles: 723 with a total weight of 78,880 lbs.). Luckily this place had a certified scale(government verified) to weigh on. Got everything legal and was on my way. Since my weight is close to the legal limit of 80,000 lbs, I keep track of my miles so that I will know how much fuels to add. I don't want to put anymore on than I have at the start of the trip. I figure the fuel by: gallons to add is equal to miles driven divided by 6.5 miles per gallon---pretty close. I leave the cannery and take Hwy 151 north to Fond du Lac, Wisconsin where I hook up with Hwy 41 south. Hwy 45 joins Hwy 41 during this stretch to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I follow Hwy 45 to I-894 east where I go around the borders of Milwaukee city limits. I am not feeling like going through a downtown area right now. I caught I-94 east("even" numbered interstates go east/west directions) toward Chicago. As soon as I get out of the Milwaukee area, back into country, I start seeing the small cheese stores on the west side of the interstate. These stores continue to the state border where I enter Illinois. I hit Chicago after the lunch rush hour as the trip through Chicago is nice and not crowded. I like traveling through Chicago and I don't know why. I follow I-94 into Indiana where I get on I-65 heading for Indy. It is not long before I am surrounded by farmland; this goes on for hours. I travel past Lafayette(Indiana) and caught the next rest area for a break. I am hungry but feel I need a brake here and now....so I take it. I take a half hour break; I walk around, eat a snack and use the rest room. Continued through downtown Indianapolis and headed for Louisville, Kentucky. Stopped at a truckstop in Henryville(Indiana) where I ate and then continued. After 8 hours of driving time, I stopped at Smith's Grove, Kentucky(just north of Bowling Green) for a legal 8 hour sleep break. My day ends, but the frustrations with this load continues on...