December 3, 1989, 2009

FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Knoxville, Tennessee)
Woke up from a good night's sleep around 6:30 AM. Only have a 3 ½ hour drive today so I decided to take my time and have the breakfast buffet. I did and looked around the truckstops trucker store. Boy, are things expensive. Luckily the spare parts(light, fuses etc) I need occasionally, our maintenance shop provides use with. Went out to my tractor and got all my paperwork work done. Pulled out on I-75 south and headed for Atlanta, Georgia. This I-75 south in Tennessee looks so peaceful and quiet but I delivered along Hwy 11 east of this interstate earlier this year and found it very active. All kinds of businesses in and out off of the trees. Traveled passed Cleveland(Tennessee) and into Chattanooga, Tennessee. Never stopped until I entered Georgia. I stopped at the first Georgia rest area as I have time and it is a very nice place the take a break. Took a ½ hour break and walked around, threw a couple rocks into the woods, and enjoyed the myself. The place I am going isn't more than five blocks from the “ALL Right Truckstop” off the south part of the loop around Atlanta. Sunday Afternoon and as I entered the Atlanta loop on the west side, I felt I was entering a raceway; not as a watcher, but as a participant. I was in the slow lane and doing 55 miles per hour. Vehicles were passing me like I was standing still. I was sitting outside the customer's building at 3:30 PM and they were open. I talked to the guard at the front gate and he said I would have to wait until tomorrow to get unloaded but that I could stay where I was until then. I said thanks and went back to my truck. It was about an hour later that the guard came out to me and said that they would unload me now. I asked why and was told they needed now what I have on my trailer. NO PROBLEM. They had me unloaded by 5 PM (EST) and I called dispatch that I was empty. Dispatch told me to go to La Grange, Georgia tomorrow and pick up an auto parts load to Kansas City. I have time and don't really like it at this truckstop, so I headed out on I-285 westward to I-85 south. I found the customer in La Grange about 7 PM and they were open also. Gave the guard my pickup number and he told me to open my doors, back up to door three, caulk (special blocks that keep tires from moving)my tires and go to bed. I said thanks and did what he said. They will load me in the morning...