FIRST 5 YEARS: (Wednesday)
Yes, I started the day off in violation. Started day off not being able to find parking in San Antonio, Texas. Since my logbook showed me out of driving hours, I probably could of looked harder...but I didn't. Got my rig headed south and had a BIG DOG(faster truck) from my company caught up with me. I picked up my speed and we ran together to Laredo. Got to our company terminal, parked my rig and got some sleep, waking up at 7 AM. Checked in with dispatch and was told to deliver my load to the broker's(company that gets trailer over border) yard. It amazes me where we have to drop these trailers. At least this place has a fence and guard!! Bobtailed(went with no trailer) around Laredo and ended up checking into the motel for the night. Went to eat lunch at the Chinese restaurant by the motel. Waitress recognized me as a regular customer and I thought to myself that I have been down here a lot. One thing I need to do is find some new restaurants. Went back to room and watched TV the rest of the day. Fell asleep hoping to get out of here tomorrow.
SECOND 5 YEARS: (running too heavy)
I had unloaded here in Jersey City, New Jersey and was sent to a spice company to pick up a load to Detroit, Michigan. It seems that things are running normal as the shipper is not ready to fully load me. I backed up to the docks and the shipper let me walk around the warehouse. I counted three foreign languages being spoken along with English. I was loaded around 3 PM and the shipping bills(paperwork with information on what I am carrying) read I had 44,000 lbs on board. I took it to the truck stop and weighed the load. I weighed 82,000 lbs, and thus the paperwork was wrong. My load weighed more like 47,000 lbs. I called dispatch only to find that the shipper was closed for the day and so dispatch said to run with it. I did. I ate at "Just a Truck Stop" and thought about how I was going to Detroit. If I go I-80, I have two chicken coupes(state weight stations) to worry about. If I take I-76(Pennsylvania Turnpike) I only have the Michigan chicken coupe (south of Detroit) to worry about, but it is more miles and about 1 1/2 hour longer drive. I took I-76 and did my logbook when I got to Detroit. When I got to I-75, (north of Toledo, Ohio) I started asking, over the CB radio, if anyone knew how to get around the Michigan chicken coupe. I had a fellow who drove a big dump truck tell me to follow him as he was over weight also. I did and got around the coupe in the early hours of the morning. I found the receiver before dawn. Parked my rig by the dock(only had one) and got some sleep after I got my logbook legal.....
I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.
About Me
- The Protraveller...
- Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.
About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...
I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net
Blog Dictionaries...
The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...
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- 666--Highway (2)
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