FIRST 5 YEARS: (Saturday-Georgetown, Texas)
Woke at the sun was coming up but I think I beat it up. Walked into truckstop and got some munchies to eat(didn't eat them until today) and talked to the clerk about Georgetown. Got log book caught up and headed out for Laredo. Got to where they have a double decked interstate freeway through Austin, Texas. I took the upper level as the traffic was very mild on top. Being Saturday, the lower level was mild also most likely. Just before San Antonio I slowed down for the know speed trap through Selma, Texas. The speed trap no longer exists as the highway was redone and the places the policeman sat were done away with. Stopped at “Just a Truckstop” east of the I-10 & I-410 intersection east of San Antonio(Texas). Filled my tanks(took 44 gallons) as there is no good fuel stop for us in Laredo, Texas. This stretch between San Antonio and Laredo usually has several broken cars around the road. This is a long quiet drive if you are running by yourself. The towns you encounter are very small and off the road one side or the other. Got to our terminal in Laredo,Texas and found that they wanted me to deliver the load to the custom broker's(the company that takes care of the trailer going across the border) yard. I delivered the load and then bobtailed(no trailer) to our yard. No load out and was told it would be awhile and to get a motel room(our company paid $20.00/day for us to get a motel room).
Trucker helpful hint: (watch yourself...)
For refrigerated(reefer) trailer drivers....I ran across a driver with the company I was driving for, that had a story that we all can learn from. He claimed that he stopped for the night at the southbound rest area on the West Virginia Turnpike. He had left his reefer unit running and went to sleep. He woke up during the night and the reefer unit was NOT running. He got out to check it and as he was looking at it, a person stuck a gun in his back and robbed him of $400+. He had been saving that money for his daughter's Christmas present. Possible suggestion... 1-blow your air horn before getting out of your tractor. You will irritate other drivers, but may scare a thief away. 2-get up and drive your rig down the road before checking the reefer unit. 3-keep any large amount of money hidden and always keep a small amount of money easily available. Truckers are believed to be carrying good amounts of money as they often have fees to pay. Be careful...
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...
November 18, 2009
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- 666--Highway (2)
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