FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday- Hilliard, Ohio)
After delivering yesterday here in Hilliard and having lunch with the other driver from my company, I have been sleeping. I am well rested and anxious to get going. 2 AM EST and I can't sleep anymore.
I had a urinate(Pee) so so walked over to the open convenient store about 1 ½ blocks from the truck. I did my “thing” and started back to the truck. A city kitty(local policeman) drove up to me and ask if I was the driver of the semi-truck behind the fast food restaurant. I said yes and he asked me to sit in his patrol car. I did and I asked if there was a problem. He said someone had called me in for “peeing” next to my truck. I told him that the reason I went to the convenient was to “pee”and that, since I was parked on asphalt, any liquid on the ground should be easily seen. He didn't drive to the truck yet to check. I couldn't see anyone calling me in as cell phones, at that time, weren't used by the average person; if they were, they were too heavy(bag phones)to carry around. I saw no one and I was not in a residential neighborhood I feel he just used the “peeing” as an excuse to check me out. NO PROBLEM. He asked for my drivers' license and I told him it was in the truck as I just walked to the store to “pee”. He then asked my name, state or residence and birth date. With that, he drew up a whole lot of information on me. All good. He then drove me to my truck, wished me a good day and said thanks for my time. I told him he was welcome and he drove off.
I got my wallet and writing pad and went back to the store which had places to sit and eat. I bought some munchies and was happy eating, writing and talking to the gal working at the store. I stayed there until about 8 AM EST when I called dispatch. I was told that I was to pick up an auto parts load in Batavia, Ohio Monday morning. I went down the street and got a motel room for the night. Walked the neighborhood and “looked” around. Spend most of day outside walking. Had dinner at a restaurant called “Big Boys” and watched motel TV into the late night hours...
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.
March 31, 2010
March 30, 2010
March 30, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEAR:(Friday-traveling)
As my day started at midnight, I was closing in on Springfield, Illinois on Hwy 36(now I-72). At 1 AM CST I was leaving the east side of Springfield with my sites on Decatur(Illinois). Now the question. Do I take the interstate or stay on the shorter Hwy 36 to Indianapolis, Indiana? Since I have taken Hwy 36 before to Brazil, Indiana, and experienced the city lights, slower speeds and stop signs, I will take the interstate. It will be more miles, about the same time but a lot less stress as I am pushing this load. Do I have to push it? Not with this company. I could just call and tell them I am out of my 10 driving hours and they would figure out a relay or call the receiver and reschedule the drop. Well, I was told the receiver needed this load so let's get going. When I got to I-57, I 72 ended and so I wend north a very short distance to I-74 where I took it, I-74, east past Urbana, Illinois into Indiana. Time was important so I watched it very closely. It was 2:45 AM CST (3:45 AM EST now) as I went into Indiana heading east on I-74. Now when I got to Indianapolis, the highway switching got interesting. I started on I-74 east; got on I-465 north to I-65 south; to I-70(downtown Indy) east. Followed I-70 east into Ohio and stopped at the first rest area(right over the border) for a 15 minute break. By 6;30 AM EST, I was heading east again on I-70. When I got to I-270(around Columbus, Ohio), I went north about 5 miles to the Hilliard, Ohio exit. Found the receiver at 8:45 AM EST. and also found another truck from my company there and unloading. There was a fast food hamburger restaurant with truck parking few blocks down the street. Bill(the other driver's name)and I went there after we were unloaded. I told dispatch I was long out of hours and I needed to sleep. Bill and I had lunch when the restaurant opened and he found he had a load out. About noon EST I went to bed as I was really tired. I woke up around 8 PM EST and called dispatch. Nothing for me now and was told to call back in the AM. I went back to my truck and dozed off. My day ended here I Hilliard, Ohio. OH YES....I did get an “atta boy” for getting the load there as soon as I did. The customer actually called in and said thanks. NOW, don't think that the company wouldn't fire me if I had a serious accident!!! I am only a “pawn” doing a job.
As my day started at midnight, I was closing in on Springfield, Illinois on Hwy 36(now I-72). At 1 AM CST I was leaving the east side of Springfield with my sites on Decatur(Illinois). Now the question. Do I take the interstate or stay on the shorter Hwy 36 to Indianapolis, Indiana? Since I have taken Hwy 36 before to Brazil, Indiana, and experienced the city lights, slower speeds and stop signs, I will take the interstate. It will be more miles, about the same time but a lot less stress as I am pushing this load. Do I have to push it? Not with this company. I could just call and tell them I am out of my 10 driving hours and they would figure out a relay or call the receiver and reschedule the drop. Well, I was told the receiver needed this load so let's get going. When I got to I-57, I 72 ended and so I wend north a very short distance to I-74 where I took it, I-74, east past Urbana, Illinois into Indiana. Time was important so I watched it very closely. It was 2:45 AM CST (3:45 AM EST now) as I went into Indiana heading east on I-74. Now when I got to Indianapolis, the highway switching got interesting. I started on I-74 east; got on I-465 north to I-65 south; to I-70(downtown Indy) east. Followed I-70 east into Ohio and stopped at the first rest area(right over the border) for a 15 minute break. By 6;30 AM EST, I was heading east again on I-70. When I got to I-270(around Columbus, Ohio), I went north about 5 miles to the Hilliard, Ohio exit. Found the receiver at 8:45 AM EST. and also found another truck from my company there and unloading. There was a fast food hamburger restaurant with truck parking few blocks down the street. Bill(the other driver's name)and I went there after we were unloaded. I told dispatch I was long out of hours and I needed to sleep. Bill and I had lunch when the restaurant opened and he found he had a load out. About noon EST I went to bed as I was really tired. I woke up around 8 PM EST and called dispatch. Nothing for me now and was told to call back in the AM. I went back to my truck and dozed off. My day ended here I Hilliard, Ohio. OH YES....I did get an “atta boy” for getting the load there as soon as I did. The customer actually called in and said thanks. NOW, don't think that the company wouldn't fire me if I had a serious accident!!! I am only a “pawn” doing a job.
March 29, 2010
March 29, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Kansas City, Missouri)
Spent the day at the terminal and on the trucker's ready board. I wanted to get my tractor washed and didn't have a trailer hooked to it so I went into the yard and got a dirty trailer. Went to the wash bay and got my tractor and that dirty trailer cleaned. Put trailer(now clean) back in the yard and went to the fuel islands where I fueled(180 gallons). Went to the lunch buffet and then went back to the terminal where I sat around until about 3:30 PM CST.
Dispatch called me to the dispatch window and said they had a load from St Joesph (Missouri)to Hilliard, Ohio that needed to be there at 7:30 AM EST. I said to give it to me as I had napped off and on all day and I felt fully rested. Got an empty trailer to take to St Joseph and left on I-435 north and followed it to I-29 north. On to St Joesph where I went to our drop yard. I looked for the trailer and couldn't find it. I called dispatch and was told to bobtail(go with no trailer) to the shipper and see if they have it. Sure enough, the trailer was at their dock being loaded. I asked about it and was told that I could hook up to it when it was loaded, not before(safety reasons). Frustration...I need to get moving! I called dispatch again and told them what was happening; told to wait for it. By the time I was Oked to hook up to the trailer, I was totally ready to leave. Was given the paperwork for the load at 7:20 PM CST and I called dispatch to get dispatched on the load.
I informed them that there was no way I could be there by 7:30 AM EST and I was told to do my best and my comment was noted on the load notes.
I decided I was going to get this there as soon as I could; It's a 12 ½ hour run and I had 12 hours. I headed out 7:30 PM CST. I headed straight across Hwy 36 through Missouri and into Illinois. I got on the big road(now I-72) in Illinois(the road had very little traffic) and I stopped on the side of the hwy for less than 5 minutes to stretch my legs. Back in the tractor, I was about a hour out of Springfield, Illinois as my day(midnight) ended. Kept going...
Tomorrow: Time matters...Do I go straight through on smaller roads or add a few miles and stay on the interstate highways???
Spent the day at the terminal and on the trucker's ready board. I wanted to get my tractor washed and didn't have a trailer hooked to it so I went into the yard and got a dirty trailer. Went to the wash bay and got my tractor and that dirty trailer cleaned. Put trailer(now clean) back in the yard and went to the fuel islands where I fueled(180 gallons). Went to the lunch buffet and then went back to the terminal where I sat around until about 3:30 PM CST.
Dispatch called me to the dispatch window and said they had a load from St Joesph (Missouri)to Hilliard, Ohio that needed to be there at 7:30 AM EST. I said to give it to me as I had napped off and on all day and I felt fully rested. Got an empty trailer to take to St Joseph and left on I-435 north and followed it to I-29 north. On to St Joesph where I went to our drop yard. I looked for the trailer and couldn't find it. I called dispatch and was told to bobtail(go with no trailer) to the shipper and see if they have it. Sure enough, the trailer was at their dock being loaded. I asked about it and was told that I could hook up to it when it was loaded, not before(safety reasons). Frustration...I need to get moving! I called dispatch again and told them what was happening; told to wait for it. By the time I was Oked to hook up to the trailer, I was totally ready to leave. Was given the paperwork for the load at 7:20 PM CST and I called dispatch to get dispatched on the load.
I informed them that there was no way I could be there by 7:30 AM EST and I was told to do my best and my comment was noted on the load notes.
I decided I was going to get this there as soon as I could; It's a 12 ½ hour run and I had 12 hours. I headed out 7:30 PM CST. I headed straight across Hwy 36 through Missouri and into Illinois. I got on the big road(now I-72) in Illinois(the road had very little traffic) and I stopped on the side of the hwy for less than 5 minutes to stretch my legs. Back in the tractor, I was about a hour out of Springfield, Illinois as my day(midnight) ended. Kept going...
Tomorrow: Time matters...Do I go straight through on smaller roads or add a few miles and stay on the interstate highways???
March 28, 2010
March 28, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Ridgway, Illinois)
I was up at 6 AM CST as I had lot of rest time last night. I was unloaded by 8 AM CST and I talked with the fellow that unloaded me about the Popcorn Capitol topic....interesting. I went into the office to make my check call and talked to the office staff about the same thing.
I am not into the business part of this trucking stuff but it seems somewhat logical to me that if I bring in a bunch of empty containers, that I would leave with full containers to deliver. NOPE. I was empty and told to go to Greencastle, Indiana again(almost 200 miles) while their were several trucks waiting to be loaded that came in empty. Oh well, I get paid for doing what I am told to...
Followed Hwy 1 out of “Popcornville”(one person said they tried to rename the town) north at a little after 8:30 AM CST. Even though I don't get excited about the Illinois scenery, this Hwy 1 was, and hopefully still is, a nice drive. It was a nice enough drive to want to follow up to I-70 instead of going over to Hwy 41(four lane road) in Indiana and following it north. Had a pleasant ride to I-70 where I went east into Indiana.
Since my drive was very pleasant up Hwy 1, I probably took more time then I would usually but that's the breaks. I got to Hwy 231 (exit 41) crossing I-70 and took it-Hwy 231-north about 5 miles to the shipper. I reported to the shipper that I was there and was given dock 3 to back up to. They didn't start loading me until 2:30 PM EST and by 3:15 PM EST I was on my way down Hwy 231 toward I-70.
Got to I-70 where I went west past Terre Haute, Indiana and into Illinois. My load weight was around 35,000 lbs and I didn't have state scales to worry about(Many drivers don't worry about them even if they're over weight. Go figure) At 6:45 PM CST, after taking I-70, I-270(over the top of St Louis) and I-70 west again, I stopped in Warrenton, Missouri for a couple cheap hamburgers and two large(the largest)orders of fries. Added a lot of salt and took off west down I-70 again. It was getting dark and I had had a busy day. I shot straight into our Kansas City(Missouri) terminal off of I-435. The time was a little after 10 pm CST and I was in violation of the logbook again....Dropped my trailer in the yard, turned in my loads paperwork, turned on my TV and went to bed for the night...
I was up at 6 AM CST as I had lot of rest time last night. I was unloaded by 8 AM CST and I talked with the fellow that unloaded me about the Popcorn Capitol topic....interesting. I went into the office to make my check call and talked to the office staff about the same thing.
I am not into the business part of this trucking stuff but it seems somewhat logical to me that if I bring in a bunch of empty containers, that I would leave with full containers to deliver. NOPE. I was empty and told to go to Greencastle, Indiana again(almost 200 miles) while their were several trucks waiting to be loaded that came in empty. Oh well, I get paid for doing what I am told to...
Followed Hwy 1 out of “Popcornville”(one person said they tried to rename the town) north at a little after 8:30 AM CST. Even though I don't get excited about the Illinois scenery, this Hwy 1 was, and hopefully still is, a nice drive. It was a nice enough drive to want to follow up to I-70 instead of going over to Hwy 41(four lane road) in Indiana and following it north. Had a pleasant ride to I-70 where I went east into Indiana.
Since my drive was very pleasant up Hwy 1, I probably took more time then I would usually but that's the breaks. I got to Hwy 231 (exit 41) crossing I-70 and took it-Hwy 231-north about 5 miles to the shipper. I reported to the shipper that I was there and was given dock 3 to back up to. They didn't start loading me until 2:30 PM EST and by 3:15 PM EST I was on my way down Hwy 231 toward I-70.
Got to I-70 where I went west past Terre Haute, Indiana and into Illinois. My load weight was around 35,000 lbs and I didn't have state scales to worry about(Many drivers don't worry about them even if they're over weight. Go figure) At 6:45 PM CST, after taking I-70, I-270(over the top of St Louis) and I-70 west again, I stopped in Warrenton, Missouri for a couple cheap hamburgers and two large(the largest)orders of fries. Added a lot of salt and took off west down I-70 again. It was getting dark and I had had a busy day. I shot straight into our Kansas City(Missouri) terminal off of I-435. The time was a little after 10 pm CST and I was in violation of the logbook again....Dropped my trailer in the yard, turned in my loads paperwork, turned on my TV and went to bed for the night...
March 27, 2010
March 27, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Kansas City, Missouri)
Got up and checked with dispatch. Was told I had a load of empty container going to Ridgway, Illinois that are due tomorrow. I looked at the map and that will be no problem; it wouldn't be a problem anywhere in Illinois. By 10 AM CST I was fueled(125 gallons) and on my way south on I-435 to I-70 where I headed east. I stopped for my mail in Fulton, Missouri at 12:30 PM CST and was back on I-70 going east at 1 PM CST. I stayed on I-70, through St. Louis and across the Mississippi River as I got on I-64 east on the Illinois side. Followed I-64 east passed Mt Vernon and onto exit 110 where I went south on Hwy 45. I left Hwy 45 when Hwy 1 swapped directions with it. Now on Hwy 1 heading south. Passed Omaha, Illinois and went 11 more miles to the Ridgway exit which was well marked. Turned left toward the town and passed a sign calming that Ridgway was, and still is, the popcorn capitol of the world. By 6 PM CST I was parked at the receivers. I found that I am hauling some sort of popcorn container. I walked around the area for a while and then settled down for the night...
Got up and checked with dispatch. Was told I had a load of empty container going to Ridgway, Illinois that are due tomorrow. I looked at the map and that will be no problem; it wouldn't be a problem anywhere in Illinois. By 10 AM CST I was fueled(125 gallons) and on my way south on I-435 to I-70 where I headed east. I stopped for my mail in Fulton, Missouri at 12:30 PM CST and was back on I-70 going east at 1 PM CST. I stayed on I-70, through St. Louis and across the Mississippi River as I got on I-64 east on the Illinois side. Followed I-64 east passed Mt Vernon and onto exit 110 where I went south on Hwy 45. I left Hwy 45 when Hwy 1 swapped directions with it. Now on Hwy 1 heading south. Passed Omaha, Illinois and went 11 more miles to the Ridgway exit which was well marked. Turned left toward the town and passed a sign calming that Ridgway was, and still is, the popcorn capitol of the world. By 6 PM CST I was parked at the receivers. I found that I am hauling some sort of popcorn container. I walked around the area for a while and then settled down for the night...
March 26, 2010
March 26, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEAR:(Monday-Taylor, Michigan)
Got up early with hopes of getting out of here as soon as possible. About 8 AM EST, I got a load to Kansas City, Missouri but I had to go “live load” it in Riverview(Michigan). By 9 AM EST I had fueled (142 gallon) and was in Riverview(15 minutes from Taylor, Michigan) waiting to be loaded while their one loading dock had no truck at it. A few minutes passed and the fellow the loaded me came out and asked me to back to the deck. He loaded me in 10 minutes. He apologized for making me wait to back up to the dock. He said the dock was broke and he had to hook it to my trailer manually. When I drove up, he was getting my load reading...NO PROBLEM. By 10 AM EST I had my load and paperwork and was rolling south on I-75. I had decided not to go through Des Moines, Iowa on this trip(I can made up my own trip routing) so I took off for Toledo, Ohio. I remember the old “Danny Thomas Show” every time I go through Toledo(The show was to have taken place there). Got over the Ohio/Michigan border and shortly took I-475 west and then south to Hwy 24. Hwy 24 took me through the beautiful community(especially at Christmas time) of Waterville(Ohio). This road-Hwy 24-to Ft Wayne, Indiana, (back in 1990) was mostly a two lane road but it moved pretty fast as it was(and I believe it still is) a main trucking route. I got to Antwerp, Ohio and this town sure irritates me. Three stoplights in this town and the first light on the east side of town HAS NO PURPOSE other than slow the traffic down!!! Anyway, got through the town and over the Indiana border on this two lane road. It was not long before I passed the huge tire factory on the south side of the highway. Continued to New Haven, Indiana where there is-or was-a convenient store with a decent amount of truck parking. I enjoyed stopping at the store(just east of I-469 after I-469 was put in) and taking a brake as the prices are OK, the parking is, or was, good and often there would be an Amish buggy parked on the side. Sometimes several. Great environment!!! Continued into Ft. Wayne on Hwy 930(I-469 not completed)and onto I-69 south. Took I-69 down to the eastern loop(I-465) south to I-70 west. When on I-70 west, I went right through the Indianapolis center(beautiful at night) and toward Illinois. I stopped at the rest area by Monrovia(Indiana) at 4:45 PM EST and took a short brake. By 5 PM EST I was heading for Kansas City again. Once again, I enter Illinois and the mile after mile farm land becomes the total scenery. By the time I got to I-270, around the top of the St .Louis suburbs, I was out of driving hours but decided to keep going illegally. I don't feel tired an am pretty enjoying the drive. I took I-270 into Missouri and then took I-70 west. I thought about stopping for my mail in Fulton, Missouri, but I didn't even feel like stopping for it, the mail. Wouldn't you know it, the Missouri truck weigh station at Odessa was open. My weight was far within the legal limits so I didn't have any problems with that; I had just worried that they would just randomly pick me for paperwork checks. Nope, got through just fine and when I got to I-435, I went north to our Kansas City(Missouri) terminal. Checked with dispatch and was told to drop the trailer in the yard. I did and went to bed in my truck...
East coast, customs and Canadian fun next week.....PT
Got up early with hopes of getting out of here as soon as possible. About 8 AM EST, I got a load to Kansas City, Missouri but I had to go “live load” it in Riverview(Michigan). By 9 AM EST I had fueled (142 gallon) and was in Riverview(15 minutes from Taylor, Michigan) waiting to be loaded while their one loading dock had no truck at it. A few minutes passed and the fellow the loaded me came out and asked me to back to the deck. He loaded me in 10 minutes. He apologized for making me wait to back up to the dock. He said the dock was broke and he had to hook it to my trailer manually. When I drove up, he was getting my load reading...NO PROBLEM. By 10 AM EST I had my load and paperwork and was rolling south on I-75. I had decided not to go through Des Moines, Iowa on this trip(I can made up my own trip routing) so I took off for Toledo, Ohio. I remember the old “Danny Thomas Show” every time I go through Toledo(The show was to have taken place there). Got over the Ohio/Michigan border and shortly took I-475 west and then south to Hwy 24. Hwy 24 took me through the beautiful community(especially at Christmas time) of Waterville(Ohio). This road-Hwy 24-to Ft Wayne, Indiana, (back in 1990) was mostly a two lane road but it moved pretty fast as it was(and I believe it still is) a main trucking route. I got to Antwerp, Ohio and this town sure irritates me. Three stoplights in this town and the first light on the east side of town HAS NO PURPOSE other than slow the traffic down!!! Anyway, got through the town and over the Indiana border on this two lane road. It was not long before I passed the huge tire factory on the south side of the highway. Continued to New Haven, Indiana where there is-or was-a convenient store with a decent amount of truck parking. I enjoyed stopping at the store(just east of I-469 after I-469 was put in) and taking a brake as the prices are OK, the parking is, or was, good and often there would be an Amish buggy parked on the side. Sometimes several. Great environment!!! Continued into Ft. Wayne on Hwy 930(I-469 not completed)and onto I-69 south. Took I-69 down to the eastern loop(I-465) south to I-70 west. When on I-70 west, I went right through the Indianapolis center(beautiful at night) and toward Illinois. I stopped at the rest area by Monrovia(Indiana) at 4:45 PM EST and took a short brake. By 5 PM EST I was heading for Kansas City again. Once again, I enter Illinois and the mile after mile farm land becomes the total scenery. By the time I got to I-270, around the top of the St .Louis suburbs, I was out of driving hours but decided to keep going illegally. I don't feel tired an am pretty enjoying the drive. I took I-270 into Missouri and then took I-70 west. I thought about stopping for my mail in Fulton, Missouri, but I didn't even feel like stopping for it, the mail. Wouldn't you know it, the Missouri truck weigh station at Odessa was open. My weight was far within the legal limits so I didn't have any problems with that; I had just worried that they would just randomly pick me for paperwork checks. Nope, got through just fine and when I got to I-435, I went north to our Kansas City(Missouri) terminal. Checked with dispatch and was told to drop the trailer in the yard. I did and went to bed in my truck...
East coast, customs and Canadian fun next week.....PT
March 25, 2010
March 25, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Taylor, Michigan)
Slept in this morning and got up about 9 AM EST. Nothing much happening and I will be here at the terminal until tomorrow. I went to the Swedish restaurant at 11 AM EST for lunch...and it was great. Went to the terminal and watched a driver play with his good sized radio controlled car in the yard. Talked with the other drivers and watched terminal TV into the night. Ate munchies through the evening. Went to bed about 10 PM EST...
Trucker's Helpful Hint:(Know your logbook)
I had an older couple(husband & wife) as friends I would see once in a great while. He was the driver and she was the rider. Her job was to do all the paperwork; and I mean all the paperwork. She had done his logbooks at least for the last 10 years and he said that he hadn't even looked at them in that time. He claimed he had forgotten how to do them. Well, the morning that he told me this, his dispatcher had informed him that he was being pulled in for a logbook update class. He figured he was going to have problems with it. All drivers were pulled in for the class so it wasn't because she was doing anything wrong. I never had trouble with the logbook so I didn't understand what his problem with relearning it would be. Then I taught truck school and I had several students who had problems understanding it. KEEP AT IT...
Slept in this morning and got up about 9 AM EST. Nothing much happening and I will be here at the terminal until tomorrow. I went to the Swedish restaurant at 11 AM EST for lunch...and it was great. Went to the terminal and watched a driver play with his good sized radio controlled car in the yard. Talked with the other drivers and watched terminal TV into the night. Ate munchies through the evening. Went to bed about 10 PM EST...
Trucker's Helpful Hint:(Know your logbook)
I had an older couple(husband & wife) as friends I would see once in a great while. He was the driver and she was the rider. Her job was to do all the paperwork; and I mean all the paperwork. She had done his logbooks at least for the last 10 years and he said that he hadn't even looked at them in that time. He claimed he had forgotten how to do them. Well, the morning that he told me this, his dispatcher had informed him that he was being pulled in for a logbook update class. He figured he was going to have problems with it. All drivers were pulled in for the class so it wasn't because she was doing anything wrong. I never had trouble with the logbook so I didn't understand what his problem with relearning it would be. Then I taught truck school and I had several students who had problems understanding it. KEEP AT IT...
March 24, 2010
March 24, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Taylor, Michigan)
Was sleeping nicely when I heard a knock on my tractor. I asked what “they” wanted and it was dispatch. He had a load of auto parts that needed to be taken to Talbotville, Ontario and dropped at the auto factory. I asked if I would be up in Canada all weekend and he said no; that I would be deadheaded (empty trailer) back to Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal after I drop it. I had hoped to sleep until I felt like getting up but I said I would take it. I looked at my clock and it was 7:30 AM EST. I got up and checked with dispatch to see if I had time to go to the store and I was told yes. I just went to the grocery store and got a whole bunch of munchies, 4 gallons of drinking water and a half gallon of chocolate milk(it didn't last long). I was back at the terminal by 8:45 AM EST hooked up to the trailer. Checked the paperwork and it showed the weight of the load to be 29,576 lbs. I filled my tanks(136 gallons) and got my paperwork all legal and then took off for my drop off in Canada. Took I-75 to the Ambassador Bridge, paid the toll and then went over the Detroit River into Canada. Had to stop at the custom broker(a company that helps with the paperwork and fees between the countries) and got cleared to go to my delivery point. Traveled through Windsor, Ontario on Hwy 7 to the start of the Queen's Highway(now the King's Highway) 401. (see February 25, 1990, 2010 for more detail) I wasn't on Hwy 401 very long until I came to the first rest area. I stopped and bought a dozen donuts and paid for them with an America $20 bill. I got back over $23 in Canadian change. Continued northeast on Hwy 401 toward London, Ontario. The speed limit is 100 here...that is 100 kilometers/hr or 62 miles/hr..Went to exit 177 and got off Hwy 401 and went to the auto assembly plant in Talbotville. Turned my paperwork into the receiver and then dropped my trailer. Hooked up to an empty trailer, did a vehicle inspection and called the Taylor(Detroit)terminal dispatch. They said to come back to Taylor empty. Got my paperwork caught up and left for Taylor, Michigan about 12:30 PM EST. I just got back on the Queen's Highway(now King's Highway) 401 and headed for Windsor, Ontario where I paid the toll over the Ambassador bridge with the Canadian money(I get a free dozen donuts that way-see 2/25/1990, 2010). Take I-75 back to the Taylor terminal and am back by 3 PM EST. I them checked in with dispatch and got on the trucker's ready board where I was number 12. I won't be going out tonight. I and a couple drivers went to the Swedish buffet and filled up our tanks. Back to the terminal and we watched terminal TV until we went out to my trucks to go to bed....
Was sleeping nicely when I heard a knock on my tractor. I asked what “they” wanted and it was dispatch. He had a load of auto parts that needed to be taken to Talbotville, Ontario and dropped at the auto factory. I asked if I would be up in Canada all weekend and he said no; that I would be deadheaded (empty trailer) back to Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal after I drop it. I had hoped to sleep until I felt like getting up but I said I would take it. I looked at my clock and it was 7:30 AM EST. I got up and checked with dispatch to see if I had time to go to the store and I was told yes. I just went to the grocery store and got a whole bunch of munchies, 4 gallons of drinking water and a half gallon of chocolate milk(it didn't last long). I was back at the terminal by 8:45 AM EST hooked up to the trailer. Checked the paperwork and it showed the weight of the load to be 29,576 lbs. I filled my tanks(136 gallons) and got my paperwork all legal and then took off for my drop off in Canada. Took I-75 to the Ambassador Bridge, paid the toll and then went over the Detroit River into Canada. Had to stop at the custom broker(a company that helps with the paperwork and fees between the countries) and got cleared to go to my delivery point. Traveled through Windsor, Ontario on Hwy 7 to the start of the Queen's Highway(now the King's Highway) 401. (see February 25, 1990, 2010 for more detail) I wasn't on Hwy 401 very long until I came to the first rest area. I stopped and bought a dozen donuts and paid for them with an America $20 bill. I got back over $23 in Canadian change. Continued northeast on Hwy 401 toward London, Ontario. The speed limit is 100 here...that is 100 kilometers/hr or 62 miles/hr..Went to exit 177 and got off Hwy 401 and went to the auto assembly plant in Talbotville. Turned my paperwork into the receiver and then dropped my trailer. Hooked up to an empty trailer, did a vehicle inspection and called the Taylor(Detroit)terminal dispatch. They said to come back to Taylor empty. Got my paperwork caught up and left for Taylor, Michigan about 12:30 PM EST. I just got back on the Queen's Highway(now King's Highway) 401 and headed for Windsor, Ontario where I paid the toll over the Ambassador bridge with the Canadian money(I get a free dozen donuts that way-see 2/25/1990, 2010). Take I-75 back to the Taylor terminal and am back by 3 PM EST. I them checked in with dispatch and got on the trucker's ready board where I was number 12. I won't be going out tonight. I and a couple drivers went to the Swedish buffet and filled up our tanks. Back to the terminal and we watched terminal TV until we went out to my trucks to go to bed....
March 23, 2010
March 23, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Altoona, Iowa)
I got up at 6 AM CST as I have a good way to drive today. I wanted to eat the breakfast buffet but I decided to wait and stop in Lake Station. Indiana to eat a formal meal. Did my vehicle inspection and paperwork and was on my way to Michigan on I-80 around 6:30 AM CST. It wasn't long a convoy (a line of trucks running together)catch up with me. I was doing 65 miles/hr and just enjoying day's drive, listening to my tapes with the CB radio on. Wasn't really listening to the CB radio but heard someone come over it with, “Hey, $^%*#&*,if you can't keep up with us big dogs(trucks moving faster then the general flow of traffic)then get out of our way..” I came back with the request to have a couple big dogs pass me and then I will get in with the group. That's what happened; I moved into the fast lane as the third truck in the convoy of about 12. We were doing around 70 miles per hour and doing it in the fast lane. I was somewhat surprised as many convoys don't stay together very long but this one never moved into the slow lane and before long we were going past Iowa City, Iowa with no slowing down. I didn't have a bird dog(radar detector) but I am sure several of the other trucks did. Didn't see any bears(highway patrol), county mounties(sheriffs) or cities kitties(city police). After Iowa city, and before the quad cities(Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island and Moline), we find several nice truckstops and I believe that is why the convoy started to fall apart; the trucks broke off the convoy to use the truckstops. By the time we went into Illinois around the east side of the quad cities, we were down to 3 trucks. What slowed us down was the Illinois weigh station; it was open and they pulled the first truck around back to check something. I was the second truck when entering the weigh station and the first truck when I came out. The truck behind me had a bird dog so he took the lead and we started moving again. His bird dog never said anything so we kept up our forward motion until we stopped at the rest area near Princeton, Illinois. When we got stopped, I got to meet the other driver(handle-nickname-was “Painted Wolf”). We weren't stopped long when we got back on the road heading east on I-80. We slowed down after we passed I-55 to the speed limit as the traffic was picking up. We came to the next state weigh station and it was closed. The traffic got real heavy past I-57 and I lost Painted Wolf. I could not pick him up on the CB radio as their was too much “hash and trash”(noise) on it. I got to exit 16 around 1 pm EST in Indiana(Lake Station) where I wanted to stop to eat and take a good break. I stayed at the “Just a Truckstop”.until 2:30 PM EST. Took I-94 east up into Michigan and continued to the Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal. Didn't have any problems the last half of the trip. Got to the terminal at 6:30 PM EST and dispatch told me to drop the trailer in the yard, which I did. I was pretty tired so I just parked my tractor and went to bed and watched my TV until I fell asleep. I did not get on the trucker's ready board...
I got up at 6 AM CST as I have a good way to drive today. I wanted to eat the breakfast buffet but I decided to wait and stop in Lake Station. Indiana to eat a formal meal. Did my vehicle inspection and paperwork and was on my way to Michigan on I-80 around 6:30 AM CST. It wasn't long a convoy (a line of trucks running together)catch up with me. I was doing 65 miles/hr and just enjoying day's drive, listening to my tapes with the CB radio on. Wasn't really listening to the CB radio but heard someone come over it with, “Hey, $^%*#&*,if you can't keep up with us big dogs(trucks moving faster then the general flow of traffic)then get out of our way..” I came back with the request to have a couple big dogs pass me and then I will get in with the group. That's what happened; I moved into the fast lane as the third truck in the convoy of about 12. We were doing around 70 miles per hour and doing it in the fast lane. I was somewhat surprised as many convoys don't stay together very long but this one never moved into the slow lane and before long we were going past Iowa City, Iowa with no slowing down. I didn't have a bird dog(radar detector) but I am sure several of the other trucks did. Didn't see any bears(highway patrol), county mounties(sheriffs) or cities kitties(city police). After Iowa city, and before the quad cities(Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island and Moline), we find several nice truckstops and I believe that is why the convoy started to fall apart; the trucks broke off the convoy to use the truckstops. By the time we went into Illinois around the east side of the quad cities, we were down to 3 trucks. What slowed us down was the Illinois weigh station; it was open and they pulled the first truck around back to check something. I was the second truck when entering the weigh station and the first truck when I came out. The truck behind me had a bird dog so he took the lead and we started moving again. His bird dog never said anything so we kept up our forward motion until we stopped at the rest area near Princeton, Illinois. When we got stopped, I got to meet the other driver(handle-nickname-was “Painted Wolf”). We weren't stopped long when we got back on the road heading east on I-80. We slowed down after we passed I-55 to the speed limit as the traffic was picking up. We came to the next state weigh station and it was closed. The traffic got real heavy past I-57 and I lost Painted Wolf. I could not pick him up on the CB radio as their was too much “hash and trash”(noise) on it. I got to exit 16 around 1 pm EST in Indiana(Lake Station) where I wanted to stop to eat and take a good break. I stayed at the “Just a Truckstop”.until 2:30 PM EST. Took I-94 east up into Michigan and continued to the Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal. Didn't have any problems the last half of the trip. Got to the terminal at 6:30 PM EST and dispatch told me to drop the trailer in the yard, which I did. I was pretty tired so I just parked my tractor and went to bed and watched my TV until I fell asleep. I did not get on the trucker's ready board...
March 22, 2010
March 22, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
I was up and ready to go by 3:30 PM CST. I decided to shoot up I-35 north and get on the Kansas turnpike. At Emporia, Ks., I-35 north leaves the turnpike and heads for the lower part of Kansas City, Missouri. I stopped in Lebo, Kansas for a break and ended up eating lunch there as the buffet looked good. I was in Lebo about 1 ½ hours before I was back on the road. When I got to I-435,. I went east and then north on the east side of Kansas City to our Kansas City(Missouri) terminal. Just before 11 AM CST, I checked with dispatch and he told me to drop the load in the yard as it wasn't due at the plant until tomorrow at the earliest. I dropped it and turned my paperwork into dispatch. I went on the trucker's ready board as the weather report said the Kansas Cities were to get snow tomorrow. I don't like driving in snow or ice; rain is OK but no way for snow or ice. About 1 PM CST, I had a load of empty auto parts racks back to our Taylor(Detroit suburb) Michigan terminal. Since there is no real weight to the empty racks, I decided to fuel my fuel tanks and did(142 gallons). I left at 2 PM CST after hooking up, doing a vehicle inspection, fueling and getting my paperwork all legal. I headed north on I-435 to I-35 where I took it (I-35) north. The Missouri weigh stations were both open and I had no problem with them. I crossed into Iowa where I found their weigh station closed. It was a cloudy day and driving was nothing special. General chit-chat on the CB radio but nothing out of the regular “garbage”. I had started a list of radio stations I liked so that is could follow them as I traveled ; still was far from being complete. When I-35 connected with I -80, I followed I-80 east just north and past Des Moines, Iowa where I stopped at 5:45 PM CST for the night at a real nice truckstop in Altoona, Iowa. I walked into the truckstop and the buffet looked really good. I just had the salad bar and a strawberry milkshake. After wards, I went to one of the two movie rooms they had. Actually, only on of the movie rooms was open and showing movies. Watched some scary high school kid/ horror movie and then something else. Boring!!! Went to my tractor, turned on my TV and went to sleep....www.skyways.org/towns/Lebo/index.htm
I was up and ready to go by 3:30 PM CST. I decided to shoot up I-35 north and get on the Kansas turnpike. At Emporia, Ks., I-35 north leaves the turnpike and heads for the lower part of Kansas City, Missouri. I stopped in Lebo, Kansas for a break and ended up eating lunch there as the buffet looked good. I was in Lebo about 1 ½ hours before I was back on the road. When I got to I-435,. I went east and then north on the east side of Kansas City to our Kansas City(Missouri) terminal. Just before 11 AM CST, I checked with dispatch and he told me to drop the load in the yard as it wasn't due at the plant until tomorrow at the earliest. I dropped it and turned my paperwork into dispatch. I went on the trucker's ready board as the weather report said the Kansas Cities were to get snow tomorrow. I don't like driving in snow or ice; rain is OK but no way for snow or ice. About 1 PM CST, I had a load of empty auto parts racks back to our Taylor(Detroit suburb) Michigan terminal. Since there is no real weight to the empty racks, I decided to fuel my fuel tanks and did(142 gallons). I left at 2 PM CST after hooking up, doing a vehicle inspection, fueling and getting my paperwork all legal. I headed north on I-435 to I-35 where I took it (I-35) north. The Missouri weigh stations were both open and I had no problem with them. I crossed into Iowa where I found their weigh station closed. It was a cloudy day and driving was nothing special. General chit-chat on the CB radio but nothing out of the regular “garbage”. I had started a list of radio stations I liked so that is could follow them as I traveled ; still was far from being complete. When I-35 connected with I -80, I followed I-80 east just north and past Des Moines, Iowa where I stopped at 5:45 PM CST for the night at a real nice truckstop in Altoona, Iowa. I walked into the truckstop and the buffet looked really good. I just had the salad bar and a strawberry milkshake. After wards, I went to one of the two movie rooms they had. Actually, only on of the movie rooms was open and showing movies. Watched some scary high school kid/ horror movie and then something else. Boring!!! Went to my tractor, turned on my TV and went to sleep....www.skyways.org/towns/Lebo/index.htm
March 21, 2010
March 21, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Lubbock, Texas)I was awake at 3 AM CST and just couldn't go back to sleep. Four hours until this warehouse opens up. I walked around the neighborhood, which wasn't much; ended up talking to a couple other drivers waiting to unload...I was first in the line up and hope that means I will be first. Around 6AM, the lumpers(persons that load/unload trailers)showed up and I hired one to unload my load of diapers. At 6:45 AM I was instructed what dock to back up to. I backed up to it and my lumper got right to work. I was done and out of there by 9:15 AM CST. I went to the the nearby truckstop and called in to dispatch. I had a message on my dispatcher's screen. It was to go back to the warehouse and pick up the paperwork of a driver who forgot to get his. I walked to the warehouse and got the paperwork and then called dispatch again. Was told to deadhead(go empty) to Frederick, Oklahoma for an auto parts load to Kansas City, Missouri. I was on my way by 10:15 AM CST. The routing for this trip looked like, and was, mostly all back roads. Since I was on the south side of Lubbock, I took the 289 loop east and north to Hwy 62 east. Hwy 62 went east to Ralls, Texas where it changed directions to the north. Hwy 62 joins Hwy 70 and travels east again. I followed Hwy 70 for a good while and into Oklahoma where it is running with Hwy 183. Just as I cross into Oklahoma at Davidson(Oklahoma), the two highways split and I followed Hwy 183 north to Frederick. I find the shipper at the city airport around 2:30 PM CST. The warehouse I was to load at was right on the airport landing strip. I was instructed to use the dock where my tractor was facing the landing strip. I got backed in and was informed that they had trouble with the paperwork and it would be a little longer to get loaded. No problem. Fighter jets were doing “touch and go” maneuvers the whole time I was being loaded. I wasn't more than 300 feet from them when they would touch down. I just enjoyed watching them. It was about 5 PM CST when I was loaded and had the paperwork. I was heading for Kansas City, Missouri by 5:15 PM CST on Hwy 183 north to Hwy 62. Hwy 62 was taken east to I-44 north to Oklahoma City. Since I wanted dinner and needed to estimate my fuel, I took I-40 east to the “Just a Truckstop” there in Oklahoma City. Got to the truckstop around 7:45 PM CST. My fuel should be fine to Kansas City and so I went in and ate dinner, I had “all the ribs” I could eat and when I was done I went to the tractor and went to sleep. Decided to stay here for my break and get up early and go...
March 20, 2010
March 20, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Hutchinson, Kansas)
Was up by 3:30 AM CST and traveling west on Hwy 50 a short distance to Hwy 61. Took Hwy 61 to the southwest to Pratt, Kansas. Hwy 61, in the dark, has been really beautiful to travel....The beauty of the surroundings start falling off after Pratt-and the sun came up-but aren't bad. This time of year, the wheat waving in the breeze is not there as the farmers will be planting it soon. Continued west on Hwy 54. Stopped at the truckstop at Liberal, Kansas for a break at 7:30 AM CST. Was in the truckstop about 15 minutes only and I was back on Hwy 54 west bound when I slipped into Oklahoma for about 30 minutes. Following Hwy 54 west I went into Texas and changed highways in Stratford. Took Hwy 287 south through Dumas, Texas and down into Amarillo, Texas. In Amarillo, I stopped for lunch at “Just a Truckstop”. Since this is a fuel stop of ours and I don't know where I will go after delivery, I decided to fill my tanks.... Fueled them(120 gallons). Ate lunch and on my way again by 12:30 PM CST. Traveled down I-27. By 3 PM CST, I pulled into the warehouse where I will deliver these diapers in Lubbock, Texas tomorrow. Went to the truckstop a few blocks away from the warehouse and got all my paperwork caught up. Nothing special so I went back to the warehouse where I decided to stay for the night. Took it easy, ate munchies, watched my TV and dozed off when I felt like it...
Tomorrow: an interesting place to pick up a load...
A TRUCKER'S TALE:
This happened to me so it is my tale. I had delivered my load in Burnaby, British Columbia. With my trailer empty, I was told to go back into the United States. I got to the border at Blaine, Washington and the posted customs instructions were to park and go into the customs building. I walked up to the customs officer and claimed my emptiness. He said,”That will be $5.00.”. I said that I was empty and asked why I needed to pay $5.00???? He said that I just did. I stood there for a second and then said,”Shoot, for $5.00 I should at least get to talk to her(The female agent in the next booth that had no one in line and who had heard us talking.), He said,”OK” and moved the paperwork he had to her. I walked over to her and she said,”That will be $5.00.”. She said nothing more. I gave her the $5.00 and she gave me the token I needed to get out of the customs yard. I left...
Was up by 3:30 AM CST and traveling west on Hwy 50 a short distance to Hwy 61. Took Hwy 61 to the southwest to Pratt, Kansas. Hwy 61, in the dark, has been really beautiful to travel....The beauty of the surroundings start falling off after Pratt-and the sun came up-but aren't bad. This time of year, the wheat waving in the breeze is not there as the farmers will be planting it soon. Continued west on Hwy 54. Stopped at the truckstop at Liberal, Kansas for a break at 7:30 AM CST. Was in the truckstop about 15 minutes only and I was back on Hwy 54 west bound when I slipped into Oklahoma for about 30 minutes. Following Hwy 54 west I went into Texas and changed highways in Stratford. Took Hwy 287 south through Dumas, Texas and down into Amarillo, Texas. In Amarillo, I stopped for lunch at “Just a Truckstop”. Since this is a fuel stop of ours and I don't know where I will go after delivery, I decided to fill my tanks.... Fueled them(120 gallons). Ate lunch and on my way again by 12:30 PM CST. Traveled down I-27. By 3 PM CST, I pulled into the warehouse where I will deliver these diapers in Lubbock, Texas tomorrow. Went to the truckstop a few blocks away from the warehouse and got all my paperwork caught up. Nothing special so I went back to the warehouse where I decided to stay for the night. Took it easy, ate munchies, watched my TV and dozed off when I felt like it...
Tomorrow: an interesting place to pick up a load...
A TRUCKER'S TALE:
This happened to me so it is my tale. I had delivered my load in Burnaby, British Columbia. With my trailer empty, I was told to go back into the United States. I got to the border at Blaine, Washington and the posted customs instructions were to park and go into the customs building. I walked up to the customs officer and claimed my emptiness. He said,”That will be $5.00.”. I said that I was empty and asked why I needed to pay $5.00???? He said that I just did. I stood there for a second and then said,”Shoot, for $5.00 I should at least get to talk to her(The female agent in the next booth that had no one in line and who had heard us talking.), He said,”OK” and moved the paperwork he had to her. I walked over to her and she said,”That will be $5.00.”. She said nothing more. I gave her the $5.00 and she gave me the token I needed to get out of the customs yard. I left...
March 19, 2010
March 19, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Arnold, Missouri)
Was sleeping good when my alarm clock went off and awake I became. I got up and shortly the shipper opened his dock doors and had me back in. I was docked but they didn't get me loaded until 4 AM CST. Last time I was here, I was loaded immediately and gone within 45 minutes. This time, I was gone by 4:15 AM CST after being docked about 2 ½ hours. Anyway, I left going north on I-55 to I-270 which I took west and then north to Hwy 61 west. I went to I-70 which I took west also. I was too early to hit the traffic of ST. Louis, Missouri luckily. I decided to stop at the truck school where I learned how to drive this big ol' thing. I stopped at it in Columbia, Missouri and talked with the old instructors and some students. Some of the students looked over the tractor and Ed, one of the instructors, grabbed a camera and took a picture of the tractor and me for the truck school picture file. I was their for about an hour and then left for Kansas City, Kansas. Just stayed on I-70 west. Just after Booneville, Missouri I saw a west bound Missouri Highway Patrolman with three cars pulled to the side of the road...accident or tickets??? I don't know. I know where I was going so I stayed on I-70 over into Kansas. Got to the receiver and they were waiting for me. Got in and out in ½ hour. Called dispatch(Kansas City)around 10:15 AM CST and was told to go to the Kansas City(Missouri) terminal which I did. Got to the terminal and was there only for a couple hours when I got a load of diapers to Lubbock, Texas. I had to go to St. Joseph, Missouri to our trailer drop yard to get it. I fueled since the trailed won't weigh much(15,000 lbs, if that). I put in 85 gallons when I fueled. I was on my way to St Joseph up I-635 to I-29 north by 1 PM CST and had the trailer and on my way to Lubbock by 2:15 PM CST. I followed I-29 south to I-435 where I took it south past the west side of Kansas City, Kansas. I got to I-35 and headed southwest on it. After I got to Emporia, Kansas I took Hwy 50 west. I got time to travel the back roads as I don't need to be there until tomorrow night. I finding the scenery very pleasant so I figure I will enjoy the trip(at least the first part). In passed Newton, Kansas and then stopped at the truckstop in the northwest side of Hutchinson, Kansas at 7 PM CST for my legal sleep break. Went into truckstop for awhile and came back to the tractor and went to sleep...
Was sleeping good when my alarm clock went off and awake I became. I got up and shortly the shipper opened his dock doors and had me back in. I was docked but they didn't get me loaded until 4 AM CST. Last time I was here, I was loaded immediately and gone within 45 minutes. This time, I was gone by 4:15 AM CST after being docked about 2 ½ hours. Anyway, I left going north on I-55 to I-270 which I took west and then north to Hwy 61 west. I went to I-70 which I took west also. I was too early to hit the traffic of ST. Louis, Missouri luckily. I decided to stop at the truck school where I learned how to drive this big ol' thing. I stopped at it in Columbia, Missouri and talked with the old instructors and some students. Some of the students looked over the tractor and Ed, one of the instructors, grabbed a camera and took a picture of the tractor and me for the truck school picture file. I was their for about an hour and then left for Kansas City, Kansas. Just stayed on I-70 west. Just after Booneville, Missouri I saw a west bound Missouri Highway Patrolman with three cars pulled to the side of the road...accident or tickets??? I don't know. I know where I was going so I stayed on I-70 over into Kansas. Got to the receiver and they were waiting for me. Got in and out in ½ hour. Called dispatch(Kansas City)around 10:15 AM CST and was told to go to the Kansas City(Missouri) terminal which I did. Got to the terminal and was there only for a couple hours when I got a load of diapers to Lubbock, Texas. I had to go to St. Joseph, Missouri to our trailer drop yard to get it. I fueled since the trailed won't weigh much(15,000 lbs, if that). I put in 85 gallons when I fueled. I was on my way to St Joseph up I-635 to I-29 north by 1 PM CST and had the trailer and on my way to Lubbock by 2:15 PM CST. I followed I-29 south to I-435 where I took it south past the west side of Kansas City, Kansas. I got to I-35 and headed southwest on it. After I got to Emporia, Kansas I took Hwy 50 west. I got time to travel the back roads as I don't need to be there until tomorrow night. I finding the scenery very pleasant so I figure I will enjoy the trip(at least the first part). In passed Newton, Kansas and then stopped at the truckstop in the northwest side of Hutchinson, Kansas at 7 PM CST for my legal sleep break. Went into truckstop for awhile and came back to the tractor and went to sleep...
March 18, 2010
March 18, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday- Kingdom City, Missouri)Went to bed shortly after my day started at midnight. Got up at 8 AM CST and got ready for church with my children. Church was at 9AM CST in Fulton, Missouri. My trailer was empty(no weight concern***) so I was about to park the whole truck next to the church while I attended. My children were busy after church, so all the time I got with them was when they and some other kids came out to “play” in my tractor for a few minutes. Afterwords, I headed east on I-40 to I-270 south. Southbound, I went to I-55 south to Arnold, Missouri and found the shipper by 4 PM CST. I was the first truck there and will be the first to be loaded. I have been here before and know that I will get up around 1 AM CST. I watched my TV and dozed off with my alarm clock set for 1 AM.
Trucker Helpful Hint: ***Be concerned about the roads and small bridges you travel over. Many have weight limits and some small back-road or private bridges are OBVIOUSLY unable to take the truck's weight. It is NOT worth an accident to take a chance. Be concerned with your weight of any non-pavement surface(ie: dirt, mud, gravel, etc,) or “new” pavement(still warm). I bring these up as I have seen or heard of trucks getting stuck...
Trucker Helpful Hint: ***Be concerned about the roads and small bridges you travel over. Many have weight limits and some small back-road or private bridges are OBVIOUSLY unable to take the truck's weight. It is NOT worth an accident to take a chance. Be concerned with your weight of any non-pavement surface(ie: dirt, mud, gravel, etc,) or “new” pavement(still warm). I bring these up as I have seen or heard of trucks getting stuck...
March 17, 2010
March 17, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Joplin, Missouri)
Checked in with dispatch when I got up and was told that there is a load coming in this afternoon that I can take to Kansas City and drop. I waited around for the load all morning and into the afternoon. I did, after I was told I would be waiting, go out and fuel my tractor. Because my tanks were about ¼ full I decided to put on only 12 gallons. I believed I had enough to reach Kansas City but didn't want to take a chance. My load came in about 1:45 PM CST. I hooked up and weighed as it was around 44,000 lbs. The previous driver had got the weights on the wheels legal so that wasn't a problem. I took off for the Kansas City(Missouri) terminal at about 2:00 PM CST. Took I-44 east to Hwy 71 north. Followed Hwy 71 to I-635 and took it up the east side of Kansas City, Missouri to the terminal. I dropped the trailer in the drop yard and took my paperwork into dispatch(5 PM CST). I was informed that that dispatcher could dispatch me to deadhead(go empty) to Arnold, Missouri where I would pick up a load of cans for Kansas City, Kansas early Monday AM. I took the deadhead and load as I have done this load before and know where the shipper is. Knowing my load will be extremely light in weight, I filled my tanks(174 gallons). I was off for Kingdom City, Missouri and the “Just a Truckstop” by 6:30 PM CST. A lot of traffic out tonight and driving was a little slower it seemed . Got parked at the Kingdom City truckstop by 9:30 PM CST and decided to wait to see the kids tomorrow as it was late now. Went inside truckstop and “pigged” out on “all I can eat” ribs and then went to their movie room where I watched a movie with the other drivers until about midnight....
Checked in with dispatch when I got up and was told that there is a load coming in this afternoon that I can take to Kansas City and drop. I waited around for the load all morning and into the afternoon. I did, after I was told I would be waiting, go out and fuel my tractor. Because my tanks were about ¼ full I decided to put on only 12 gallons. I believed I had enough to reach Kansas City but didn't want to take a chance. My load came in about 1:45 PM CST. I hooked up and weighed as it was around 44,000 lbs. The previous driver had got the weights on the wheels legal so that wasn't a problem. I took off for the Kansas City(Missouri) terminal at about 2:00 PM CST. Took I-44 east to Hwy 71 north. Followed Hwy 71 to I-635 and took it up the east side of Kansas City, Missouri to the terminal. I dropped the trailer in the drop yard and took my paperwork into dispatch(5 PM CST). I was informed that that dispatcher could dispatch me to deadhead(go empty) to Arnold, Missouri where I would pick up a load of cans for Kansas City, Kansas early Monday AM. I took the deadhead and load as I have done this load before and know where the shipper is. Knowing my load will be extremely light in weight, I filled my tanks(174 gallons). I was off for Kingdom City, Missouri and the “Just a Truckstop” by 6:30 PM CST. A lot of traffic out tonight and driving was a little slower it seemed . Got parked at the Kingdom City truckstop by 9:30 PM CST and decided to wait to see the kids tomorrow as it was late now. Went inside truckstop and “pigged” out on “all I can eat” ribs and then went to their movie room where I watched a movie with the other drivers until about midnight....
March 16, 2010
March 16, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-McLean, Illinois)
Midnight started my day and I was sleeping in my tractor bunk. For some reason, I awoke and couldn't go back to sleep. I just laid there and soon I sat up and looked at the time: 1 AM CST. I decided to drive a little so I updated my logbook and left me “sleeping” in my bunk. As I left the truckstop around 1:20 AM CST. As I pulled out on I-55 south bound, a truck from my company passed me and got a hold of me on the CB radio. His handle(nickname)was “Sleeping Dragon”. Sleeping Dragon was on his way to the Joplin, Missouri terminal and planned on driving straight through; I decided to run with him. Chit-chatting and driving, we did fine. Past Springfield, Illinois and onto St. Louis, Missouri. We took I-55 across the Mississippi River and onto I-44 west. Wasn't long and were were through the city and back in the country. We stopped for a short break at the rest area just past the St. Clair, Missouri exit. We were on the road again at 5 AM CST. After we past Rolla, Missouri we saw a semi-truck on it's side in the median(strip of land between lanes of traffic). We never heard anyone talking of the accident's details so we don't know anything about it. The Missouri truck weigh station outside of Stratford, Missouri looked like it was getting ready to open but it hadn't yet. We kept moving and pulled into our Joplin terminal yard at 8:30 AM CST. I dropped my trailer and turned the paperwork into the local dispatch and told them not to put me on the truckers ready board yet. I went out to sleep to get caught up on it. About 10:30 AM CST someone was knocking on my tractor. He said dispatch was wanting me. I checked in and was told that there was a stranded driver on the Oklahoma Turnpike, heading east that had a load that needed getting. He was about 30 miles from Joplin I was told. I took a mechanic and about 10 gallons of fuel and left(bobtailed-no trailer) to help. We got there and the mechanic found that the brand new driver had just run out of fuel. He got him going and we-the mechanic and I-went back to Joplin and I went on the trucker ready board. I was told I would be here until tomorrow. I asked for a load I could take to Kansas City, Missouri so I can take some time off. Spent the rest of day at the terminal...
Midnight started my day and I was sleeping in my tractor bunk. For some reason, I awoke and couldn't go back to sleep. I just laid there and soon I sat up and looked at the time: 1 AM CST. I decided to drive a little so I updated my logbook and left me “sleeping” in my bunk. As I left the truckstop around 1:20 AM CST. As I pulled out on I-55 south bound, a truck from my company passed me and got a hold of me on the CB radio. His handle(nickname)was “Sleeping Dragon”. Sleeping Dragon was on his way to the Joplin, Missouri terminal and planned on driving straight through; I decided to run with him. Chit-chatting and driving, we did fine. Past Springfield, Illinois and onto St. Louis, Missouri. We took I-55 across the Mississippi River and onto I-44 west. Wasn't long and were were through the city and back in the country. We stopped for a short break at the rest area just past the St. Clair, Missouri exit. We were on the road again at 5 AM CST. After we past Rolla, Missouri we saw a semi-truck on it's side in the median(strip of land between lanes of traffic). We never heard anyone talking of the accident's details so we don't know anything about it. The Missouri truck weigh station outside of Stratford, Missouri looked like it was getting ready to open but it hadn't yet. We kept moving and pulled into our Joplin terminal yard at 8:30 AM CST. I dropped my trailer and turned the paperwork into the local dispatch and told them not to put me on the truckers ready board yet. I went out to sleep to get caught up on it. About 10:30 AM CST someone was knocking on my tractor. He said dispatch was wanting me. I checked in and was told that there was a stranded driver on the Oklahoma Turnpike, heading east that had a load that needed getting. He was about 30 miles from Joplin I was told. I took a mechanic and about 10 gallons of fuel and left(bobtailed-no trailer) to help. We got there and the mechanic found that the brand new driver had just run out of fuel. He got him going and we-the mechanic and I-went back to Joplin and I went on the trucker ready board. I was told I would be here until tomorrow. I asked for a load I could take to Kansas City, Missouri so I can take some time off. Spent the rest of day at the terminal...
March 15, 2010
March 15, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Taylor, Michigan)
Woke up at 7:30 AM EST by the alarm clock. Went into the Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal dispatcher and checked in. Was told it wouldn't by long before I would be leaving on a run. I went to my tractor and got some munchies to eat and I got my paperwork caught up. Took my writing tablet in to write some “things” and I hadn't been sitting long before I was called to the dispatch window. I was to take an empty trailer and deadhead(go empty) to Ionia, Michigan where I would be loaded for Oklahoma City. I was told the load was ready now and it wasn't due in Oklahoma City(Oklahoma) until Monday. I grabbed the empty trailer I was told to take and did a vehicle inspection after I hooked to it. Found the trailer a little dirty on the inside so I cleaned it(did not log cleaning time on line four of logbook!!!). Checked out my map and routing and took off after fueling(205 gallons). Time: 9:10 AM EST. Took I-275 north to I-96 west. Stayed on I-96 around the south and west sides of Lansing, Michigan and continued to Hwy 66 where I went north to Ionia, Michigan. Inside Ionia, I had to take Hwy 21 east a short distance to the shipper. Checked in with shipping and was docked. Loading started immediately. I got out and went to the dock and watched. After I was loaded, I talked with the loader and he told me a little about the town. He said that this whole area was once owned by one man and he walked out his front door and looked around. He then said, “I own ya!!!” thus the name of the town...Ionia, pronounced “I-OWN-YA”. Also he claimed that Ionia was the home to three prisons. Got my paperwork and off I went west on HWY 21 to Hwy 66 south. Feeling tired and not in a hurry, I stopped at a truckstop at I-96 and Hwy 66. The truckstop was a nice appearing one and the restaurant was nice inside. I had two cheeseburgers, fries, malt and water. Went to my tractor and laid down for awhile. Got up after laying without sleeping and left for Oklahoma City around 2 PM EST.. Took I-96 west to Grand Rapids, Michigan where I got on I-196 south. Seeing a lot of beautiful country as I drive south. Passed Holland, Michigan and continued south where I took I-94 west to I-80 west. Followed I-80 to I-55 south and headed for St Louis, Missouri. Got to McLean, Illinois at 7:30 PM CST and decided to stay here for the night. Went into the truckstop restaurant and had a Chef's Salad(great salads at this truckstop). Went out to my truck and went to sleep....
Woke up at 7:30 AM EST by the alarm clock. Went into the Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal dispatcher and checked in. Was told it wouldn't by long before I would be leaving on a run. I went to my tractor and got some munchies to eat and I got my paperwork caught up. Took my writing tablet in to write some “things” and I hadn't been sitting long before I was called to the dispatch window. I was to take an empty trailer and deadhead(go empty) to Ionia, Michigan where I would be loaded for Oklahoma City. I was told the load was ready now and it wasn't due in Oklahoma City(Oklahoma) until Monday. I grabbed the empty trailer I was told to take and did a vehicle inspection after I hooked to it. Found the trailer a little dirty on the inside so I cleaned it(did not log cleaning time on line four of logbook!!!). Checked out my map and routing and took off after fueling(205 gallons). Time: 9:10 AM EST. Took I-275 north to I-96 west. Stayed on I-96 around the south and west sides of Lansing, Michigan and continued to Hwy 66 where I went north to Ionia, Michigan. Inside Ionia, I had to take Hwy 21 east a short distance to the shipper. Checked in with shipping and was docked. Loading started immediately. I got out and went to the dock and watched. After I was loaded, I talked with the loader and he told me a little about the town. He said that this whole area was once owned by one man and he walked out his front door and looked around. He then said, “I own ya!!!” thus the name of the town...Ionia, pronounced “I-OWN-YA”. Also he claimed that Ionia was the home to three prisons. Got my paperwork and off I went west on HWY 21 to Hwy 66 south. Feeling tired and not in a hurry, I stopped at a truckstop at I-96 and Hwy 66. The truckstop was a nice appearing one and the restaurant was nice inside. I had two cheeseburgers, fries, malt and water. Went to my tractor and laid down for awhile. Got up after laying without sleeping and left for Oklahoma City around 2 PM EST.. Took I-96 west to Grand Rapids, Michigan where I got on I-196 south. Seeing a lot of beautiful country as I drive south. Passed Holland, Michigan and continued south where I took I-94 west to I-80 west. Followed I-80 to I-55 south and headed for St Louis, Missouri. Got to McLean, Illinois at 7:30 PM CST and decided to stay here for the night. Went into the truckstop restaurant and had a Chef's Salad(great salads at this truckstop). Went out to my truck and went to sleep....
March 14, 2010
March 14, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Taylor, Michigan)
Midnight, the start of my day, found me talking to the Taylor(Detroit suburb)terminal dispatcher, The load I just brought in was delayed at the auto assembly plant so I was told to drop the load in the yard. I dropped it, gave the paperwork to dispatch and went to bed with the TV running. I didn't get up until before 9 AM EST. Went to dispatch and got on the trucker's ready board and was told that it would be tomorrow before I got out of the Detroit, Michigan area. I went to lunch at a Swedish Buffet and it was great. After I ate, I was going to go to Fred Meyers department store but had to go to my truck and lay down and watch TV and digest lunch. Visited Fred Meyers around 5 PM EST during the area's “rush” hour. Went back to the terminal and watched terminal TV with the other drivers(4) waiting for loads. Went to my truck and bed about 11 PM EST...
A Trucker's Tale:(Keep you eyes open all around you.)
This is a short tale I tell about the California Highway Patrol but it probably is told by many a driver on the road. I was driving eastbound, through the desert , on I-40, in the slow lane, with a long convoy and traveling about 62 or 63 miles per hour(speed limit was 55 m/h) when I looked in my driver side rear view mirror. I saw a highway patrol car about two or three trucks back, in the fast lane, checking the speed of each truck by driving next to it and then pulling up to the next truck in line. He checked me and then moved up to the truck in front of me and kept going. NO ONE mentioned the highway patrol on the CB radio(including me), maybe because...I don't know why...Through the years of driving, I've seen state troopers(highway patrol, police, Provincial Police, etc.) check vehicle speeds; it was not something only California Highway Patrol did.
Midnight, the start of my day, found me talking to the Taylor(Detroit suburb)terminal dispatcher, The load I just brought in was delayed at the auto assembly plant so I was told to drop the load in the yard. I dropped it, gave the paperwork to dispatch and went to bed with the TV running. I didn't get up until before 9 AM EST. Went to dispatch and got on the trucker's ready board and was told that it would be tomorrow before I got out of the Detroit, Michigan area. I went to lunch at a Swedish Buffet and it was great. After I ate, I was going to go to Fred Meyers department store but had to go to my truck and lay down and watch TV and digest lunch. Visited Fred Meyers around 5 PM EST during the area's “rush” hour. Went back to the terminal and watched terminal TV with the other drivers(4) waiting for loads. Went to my truck and bed about 11 PM EST...
A Trucker's Tale:(Keep you eyes open all around you.)
This is a short tale I tell about the California Highway Patrol but it probably is told by many a driver on the road. I was driving eastbound, through the desert , on I-40, in the slow lane, with a long convoy and traveling about 62 or 63 miles per hour(speed limit was 55 m/h) when I looked in my driver side rear view mirror. I saw a highway patrol car about two or three trucks back, in the fast lane, checking the speed of each truck by driving next to it and then pulling up to the next truck in line. He checked me and then moved up to the truck in front of me and kept going. NO ONE mentioned the highway patrol on the CB radio(including me), maybe because...I don't know why...Through the years of driving, I've seen state troopers(highway patrol, police, Provincial Police, etc.) check vehicle speeds; it was not something only California Highway Patrol did.
March 13, 2010
March 13, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEAR:(Tuesday-Martin, Tennessee)
As the day started at midnight CST I had backed up to the receiver's dock after they informed me that they were to reload me with auto parts back to Sterling Heights, Michigan. I called dispatch and confirmed that they were to reload me and they were. They told me to go to bed and they would unload and load me throughout the night. I went to sleep-when? Don't remember but did wake up around 8 AM CST and did not feel any activity going on in the trailer. Checked with shipping and they had me loaded hours ago. They said they didn't need the dock so let me sleep. I got all the paperwork for the load, did my paperwork and the vehicle inspection. I like seeing new territory so going back to Detroit, Michigan the same way I came out here(the same roads that I will travel hundreds of times) will be somewhat “boring”. Called dispatch and asked for the routed miles. Got the routing and reviewed the roads. Many roads were impossible for me to travel. After looking for a different way to go, I didn't find decent routing that would be worth going on; I stayed on the standard, and logical, routing. By 10:15 AM CST I was leaving Martin, Tennessee for Kentucky traveling north on Hwy 45E. In Kentucky, I took the Julian M Carroll Parkway(toll road in 1990). north to I-24 east . I did not spend much time on I-24 as I took the Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway east and once again saw some beautiful country before reaching Elizabethtown, Kentucky where I grabbed I-65 north. I stopped in Shepherdsville, Kentucky for a lunch of a dozen mini hamburgers, three orders of french fries and a large water*** to drink.. Took all the food/munchies with me at 3:45 PM EST as I got back on I-65 north and traveled through Louisville. Just south of the Ohio River, I got on I-71 and headed for Cincinnati, Ohio. I-71 and I-75 join south of Cincinnati and go north to Cincinnati. Before getting to the Ohio River, as a trucker I have to take the I-275 loop (I go east) because of a steep downgrade before that river. I don't like this loop as it takes extra time and miles. When I get to I-471, I go north into Cincinnati where I get on I-71 south to I-75 north. Confusing??? Life's full of confusion. Followed I-75 north, past Dayton(Ohio), and stopped at the rest area near Piqua, Ohio at 8:30 PM EST for a short break. Back heading north a 9 PM EST. Went through Toledo and into Michigan while on I-75. Got to Taylor(Detroit suburb)terminal at midnight.....Checked with dispatch and....
As the day started at midnight CST I had backed up to the receiver's dock after they informed me that they were to reload me with auto parts back to Sterling Heights, Michigan. I called dispatch and confirmed that they were to reload me and they were. They told me to go to bed and they would unload and load me throughout the night. I went to sleep-when? Don't remember but did wake up around 8 AM CST and did not feel any activity going on in the trailer. Checked with shipping and they had me loaded hours ago. They said they didn't need the dock so let me sleep. I got all the paperwork for the load, did my paperwork and the vehicle inspection. I like seeing new territory so going back to Detroit, Michigan the same way I came out here(the same roads that I will travel hundreds of times) will be somewhat “boring”. Called dispatch and asked for the routed miles. Got the routing and reviewed the roads. Many roads were impossible for me to travel. After looking for a different way to go, I didn't find decent routing that would be worth going on; I stayed on the standard, and logical, routing. By 10:15 AM CST I was leaving Martin, Tennessee for Kentucky traveling north on Hwy 45E. In Kentucky, I took the Julian M Carroll Parkway(toll road in 1990). north to I-24 east . I did not spend much time on I-24 as I took the Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway east and once again saw some beautiful country before reaching Elizabethtown, Kentucky where I grabbed I-65 north. I stopped in Shepherdsville, Kentucky for a lunch of a dozen mini hamburgers, three orders of french fries and a large water*** to drink.. Took all the food/munchies with me at 3:45 PM EST as I got back on I-65 north and traveled through Louisville. Just south of the Ohio River, I got on I-71 and headed for Cincinnati, Ohio. I-71 and I-75 join south of Cincinnati and go north to Cincinnati. Before getting to the Ohio River, as a trucker I have to take the I-275 loop (I go east) because of a steep downgrade before that river. I don't like this loop as it takes extra time and miles. When I get to I-471, I go north into Cincinnati where I get on I-71 south to I-75 north. Confusing??? Life's full of confusion. Followed I-75 north, past Dayton(Ohio), and stopped at the rest area near Piqua, Ohio at 8:30 PM EST for a short break. Back heading north a 9 PM EST. Went through Toledo and into Michigan while on I-75. Got to Taylor(Detroit suburb)terminal at midnight.....Checked with dispatch and....
***Shortly after starting to drive a semi-truck, I found that I was drinking a lot of milk and soft drinks. The cost, added up daily, came to a pretty considerable sum. I started drinking water at meals and while driving and saved alot of $$$$...
March 12, 2010
March 12, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Taylor, Michigan)
I was awaken by a driver knocking on my tractor. He told me that dispatch had a load for me. I got up and was surprised that it was 9 AM EST. Checked with dispatch and there was a trailer of empty racks in the yard that needed to go to Martin, Tennessee. Got hooked up and did a vehicle inspection. Everything was in order so I was gone by 9:45 AM EST. Headed south on I-75 into Ohio. Once in Ohio, I stayed on I-75 south but a short time when I went south on I-280. . Went to “Just a Truckstop” for bunch and a long break. The truckstop was close to the intersection of I-80 and I-280 in a community named Latchie. I was at the truckstop about 1 ½ hours and left about noon EST. I went south to Hwy 20 and then west back to I-75 south. Travel became more exciting after Findley, Ohio; I became part of a convoy. How many trucks in the convoy?? Don't know as I couldn't count them. The CB radios and radar detectors were on in all the trucks that had them. The Ohio speed limit for trucks was 55 miles/hour and the convoy was moving at 63 most the time I was with it. As the convoy got close to I-70, it started to break up with many of the trucks going to I-70. By the time I got though Dayton, Ohio I was on my own again. I stopped at the truckstop at the intersection of I-75 and Hwy 63 as they had a really great tasting bland of ice cream bar; I bought 4 of them and finished then in less them 20 minutes. I was again heading south on I-75 at 3:30 PM EST. Followed I-75 past I-275, north of Cincinnati, Ohio right down to the Ohio River. Crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky with I-71 having joined up with I-75. Shortly after entering Kentucky, I-75 separates from I-71; I took I-71 to Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky truck weigh station was open the they had me stop on the scale. After I stopped with the little weight(about 4,000 lbs of empty ranks) I had on, the DOT officer asked me to bring in ALL my paperwork for examination. I parked the truck and took in my logbook and load paperwork; he looked at the load paperwork for about 15 seconds and then said, “Thank you, you are free to go.”. I went!!! Since I stopped at the scale, and had to log at least 15 minutes by law, I decided to log it as a break also,which it was. Was moving toward Louisville by 5:30 PM EST. I-71 ends in Louisville when it meets I-65 south of the Ohio River. Took I-65 south to Elizabethtown, Kentucky where I grabbed the Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway west. This parkway has some of the prettiest greenery that one can find in North America-personal feeling. Followed the Parkway to where it meets I-24 and I follow I-24 west until I got to the Julian M Carroll Parkway(toll road in 1990). Stopped in South Fulton, Tennessee for a short break and ended up there for a half hour talking with the people in the convenient store. Took Hwy 45E to Martin, Tennessee where I found the receiver by 10:30 PM CST. The receiver was open and so I checked in. I was told this is a turn around load and that I should open my doors and back up to the dock. They would unload and reload me as I sleep, rest or whatever. I was laying down in my bunk as the day ended....
I was awaken by a driver knocking on my tractor. He told me that dispatch had a load for me. I got up and was surprised that it was 9 AM EST. Checked with dispatch and there was a trailer of empty racks in the yard that needed to go to Martin, Tennessee. Got hooked up and did a vehicle inspection. Everything was in order so I was gone by 9:45 AM EST. Headed south on I-75 into Ohio. Once in Ohio, I stayed on I-75 south but a short time when I went south on I-280. . Went to “Just a Truckstop” for bunch and a long break. The truckstop was close to the intersection of I-80 and I-280 in a community named Latchie. I was at the truckstop about 1 ½ hours and left about noon EST. I went south to Hwy 20 and then west back to I-75 south. Travel became more exciting after Findley, Ohio; I became part of a convoy. How many trucks in the convoy?? Don't know as I couldn't count them. The CB radios and radar detectors were on in all the trucks that had them. The Ohio speed limit for trucks was 55 miles/hour and the convoy was moving at 63 most the time I was with it. As the convoy got close to I-70, it started to break up with many of the trucks going to I-70. By the time I got though Dayton, Ohio I was on my own again. I stopped at the truckstop at the intersection of I-75 and Hwy 63 as they had a really great tasting bland of ice cream bar; I bought 4 of them and finished then in less them 20 minutes. I was again heading south on I-75 at 3:30 PM EST. Followed I-75 past I-275, north of Cincinnati, Ohio right down to the Ohio River. Crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky with I-71 having joined up with I-75. Shortly after entering Kentucky, I-75 separates from I-71; I took I-71 to Louisville, Kentucky. The Kentucky truck weigh station was open the they had me stop on the scale. After I stopped with the little weight(about 4,000 lbs of empty ranks) I had on, the DOT officer asked me to bring in ALL my paperwork for examination. I parked the truck and took in my logbook and load paperwork; he looked at the load paperwork for about 15 seconds and then said, “Thank you, you are free to go.”. I went!!! Since I stopped at the scale, and had to log at least 15 minutes by law, I decided to log it as a break also,which it was. Was moving toward Louisville by 5:30 PM EST. I-71 ends in Louisville when it meets I-65 south of the Ohio River. Took I-65 south to Elizabethtown, Kentucky where I grabbed the Wendell H Ford Western Kentucky Parkway west. This parkway has some of the prettiest greenery that one can find in North America-personal feeling. Followed the Parkway to where it meets I-24 and I follow I-24 west until I got to the Julian M Carroll Parkway(toll road in 1990). Stopped in South Fulton, Tennessee for a short break and ended up there for a half hour talking with the people in the convenient store. Took Hwy 45E to Martin, Tennessee where I found the receiver by 10:30 PM CST. The receiver was open and so I checked in. I was told this is a turn around load and that I should open my doors and back up to the dock. They would unload and reload me as I sleep, rest or whatever. I was laying down in my bunk as the day ended....
March 11, 2010
March 11, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Taylor, Michigan)
Got up and checked in with dispatch in Taylor. Got on the trucker's ready board but dispatch told me that I wouldn't be going out today. Went out and cleaned up the inside of my tractor and got my paperwork caught up. Talked with other drivers and when lunch time came, went to lunch with two other drivers: Dan and Snooper. Had a great lunch and we went back to the terminal. Watched TV and talked for awhile before checking again with dispatch. Dispatch said that the only one that may go out today is Snooper, so Dan and I went and got a motel room(paid for by the company). Snooper came along as a “visitor”. One rule with getting a motel room that's paid for by the company is that we have to call in and give them our phone number where we are at...which we three did. Around 4 PM EST Snooper got a call as he had a load to haul. Snooper left and we two continued watching cable TV and talking. About 8 PM EST we got a call and it was dispatch saying the they had a load for Dan to take and he did. No problem as now I can watch whatever I want...Watched TV and went to sleep...
Got up and checked in with dispatch in Taylor. Got on the trucker's ready board but dispatch told me that I wouldn't be going out today. Went out and cleaned up the inside of my tractor and got my paperwork caught up. Talked with other drivers and when lunch time came, went to lunch with two other drivers: Dan and Snooper. Had a great lunch and we went back to the terminal. Watched TV and talked for awhile before checking again with dispatch. Dispatch said that the only one that may go out today is Snooper, so Dan and I went and got a motel room(paid for by the company). Snooper came along as a “visitor”. One rule with getting a motel room that's paid for by the company is that we have to call in and give them our phone number where we are at...which we three did. Around 4 PM EST Snooper got a call as he had a load to haul. Snooper left and we two continued watching cable TV and talking. About 8 PM EST we got a call and it was dispatch saying the they had a load for Dan to take and he did. No problem as now I can watch whatever I want...Watched TV and went to sleep...
A Trucker's Tale:( A true “Catch 22”) I walked into one of our terminals one day and found a driver talking about a ticket he got in the state of California. He had been on some California highway and the traffic was extremely heavy. Even though the speed limit for "big rigs"(large semi-trucks) was 55 miles an hour, he was going 62. A highway patrolman pulled him over and gave him a ticket for “holding up traffic” EVEN THOUGH he was in the slow truck lane. The patrolman wrote the speed he was traveling(62 miles/hr)on the citation. This truck driver turned the ticket over to the "Pre-paid legal” group he belonged to. The lawyer handling his ticket contacted the appropriated courts in California and got this as an answer: California will cancel out the “holding up traffic” citation but, if they do, will issue him a citation for speeding. The officer wrote his speed on the original citation(62 miles/hr) and he was OVER the speed limit of 55 miles/hour. He chose to keep the original citation!!!
March 10, 2010
March 10, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Williamsburg, Iowa)
I wanted to have breakfast(steak and eggs) here but decided to hit the road and get moving. I was heading east on I-80 before 4:30 AM CST. Just after I got going I saw a really bright green and what appeared huge shooting star in front of me...a sign that things were going to go good today???? I followed I-80 around the quad-cities(Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island and Moline)into Illinois and found the Illinois state weigh stations closed. I am now in the state I consider the most boring to go through(at least the parts of it I go through) because of all the same looking farmland mile after mile after mile after mile...yawn!!!! After I passed I-55(I am continuing on I-80),the traffic became heavier. I-80/I-94, after the two join, I feel, is the busiest strip of highway in the United States. I stopped at the “Just a Truckstop” in Lake Station, Indiana(9:45 AM EST), for a break and breakfast. While I was in the truckstop, I had a short conversation with the gal polishing footwear about the BEAR standing by her(see “The Bear” below). I wasn't in any hurry so I went to the movie room and sat for awhile watching something that was on. About noon EST I left for my destination, Taylor(Detroit suburb)Michigan by following I-94 east from where it split from I-80 in Indiana. About 45 minutes after leaving the truckstop I entered Michigan and it wasn't long before I started hitting foggy patches. Glad I am not hitting this fog at night as it can get hard to see what's in front of me. Uneventful day and I found myself pulling into the Taylor terminal before 4:30 PM EST. I dropped the trailer as I was told that is what I was going to do when I got the load. Gave the paperwork for the load I brought in to the dispatcher and didn't go on the trucker's ready board...Watched TV in the trucker's lounge until about 9 PM EST and then went to bed...
The BEAR: In the “Just a Truckstop” in Lake Station, Indiana, there was a large Grizzly Bear in a glass casing. The bear was mounted standing on it's hind legs with it's front paws outstretched with it's mouth open. Close to it was a stand where this gal was polishing boots and shoes. To make conversation I just said to her,”Boy, that looks like my ex-wife.” To that comment I made she said,”You truckers are so stupid. You all married the same woman...”.
Side note: The bear really didn't look like my ex-wife and it probably didn't look like the other truckers ex-wives either....
I wanted to have breakfast(steak and eggs) here but decided to hit the road and get moving. I was heading east on I-80 before 4:30 AM CST. Just after I got going I saw a really bright green and what appeared huge shooting star in front of me...a sign that things were going to go good today???? I followed I-80 around the quad-cities(Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island and Moline)into Illinois and found the Illinois state weigh stations closed. I am now in the state I consider the most boring to go through(at least the parts of it I go through) because of all the same looking farmland mile after mile after mile after mile...yawn!!!! After I passed I-55(I am continuing on I-80),the traffic became heavier. I-80/I-94, after the two join, I feel, is the busiest strip of highway in the United States. I stopped at the “Just a Truckstop” in Lake Station, Indiana(9:45 AM EST), for a break and breakfast. While I was in the truckstop, I had a short conversation with the gal polishing footwear about the BEAR standing by her(see “The Bear” below). I wasn't in any hurry so I went to the movie room and sat for awhile watching something that was on. About noon EST I left for my destination, Taylor(Detroit suburb)Michigan by following I-94 east from where it split from I-80 in Indiana. About 45 minutes after leaving the truckstop I entered Michigan and it wasn't long before I started hitting foggy patches. Glad I am not hitting this fog at night as it can get hard to see what's in front of me. Uneventful day and I found myself pulling into the Taylor terminal before 4:30 PM EST. I dropped the trailer as I was told that is what I was going to do when I got the load. Gave the paperwork for the load I brought in to the dispatcher and didn't go on the trucker's ready board...Watched TV in the trucker's lounge until about 9 PM EST and then went to bed...
The BEAR: In the “Just a Truckstop” in Lake Station, Indiana, there was a large Grizzly Bear in a glass casing. The bear was mounted standing on it's hind legs with it's front paws outstretched with it's mouth open. Close to it was a stand where this gal was polishing boots and shoes. To make conversation I just said to her,”Boy, that looks like my ex-wife.” To that comment I made she said,”You truckers are so stupid. You all married the same woman...”.
Side note: The bear really didn't look like my ex-wife and it probably didn't look like the other truckers ex-wives either....
March 9, 2010
March 9, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Kansas City, Missouri)
Don't remember when I woke up this morning as I just remember having my tractor TV on for a while after I woke and realized that it was on. What ??? One of those days. I was on the trucker's ready board but our numbers weren't moving very fast. I went out for the breakfast buffet and had a couple sausage sandwiches made with Texas toast and a lot of butter. Getting hungry just thinking of it. Back to the terminal and sat around until 1:30 PM CST when I got a load to Detroit, Michigan. It was to be dropped in our Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal yard. I hooked up, did my vehicle inspection and fueled(168 gallons). I was traveling up I-435 to I-35 north heading for Des Moines, Iowa. I got to Des Moines and took I-80 east to Williamsburg, Iowa where I called it quits for the night. I had a steak dinner and then went to the movie room where I watched what was playing and then went to my tractor and to bed....
Yesterday March 8, 2010....Watch it drivers. You never know what someone will use as a weapon against you???!!! click on "weapon"...It's a felony against you if used...that is, if you want to press charges...
Don't remember when I woke up this morning as I just remember having my tractor TV on for a while after I woke and realized that it was on. What ??? One of those days. I was on the trucker's ready board but our numbers weren't moving very fast. I went out for the breakfast buffet and had a couple sausage sandwiches made with Texas toast and a lot of butter. Getting hungry just thinking of it. Back to the terminal and sat around until 1:30 PM CST when I got a load to Detroit, Michigan. It was to be dropped in our Taylor(Detroit suburb) terminal yard. I hooked up, did my vehicle inspection and fueled(168 gallons). I was traveling up I-435 to I-35 north heading for Des Moines, Iowa. I got to Des Moines and took I-80 east to Williamsburg, Iowa where I called it quits for the night. I had a steak dinner and then went to the movie room where I watched what was playing and then went to my tractor and to bed....
Yesterday March 8, 2010....Watch it drivers. You never know what someone will use as a weapon against you???!!! click on "weapon"...It's a felony against you if used...that is, if you want to press charges...
March 8, 2010
March 8, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday- Dexter, Missouri)
I was up from the bed at 2 AM CST. I left on Hwy 60 west after I got my paperwork all legal and my vehicle inspection done. Hwy 60 was a four lane Hwy until it passed Poplar Bluff-north of town-After Poplar Bluff, Hwy 60 goes “two lane, windy and hilly” for around 100 miles. When it joins up with Hwy 63 it goes back to a decent four lane highway. Hwy 63 separates from Hwy 60 at Cabool, Missouri and I followed Hwy 60. I took a short break at the Norwood, Missouri exit at 5:30 AM CST and got some munchies for breakfast. Headed for and got to Joplin, Missouri by taking Hwy 60 west to Hwy 65 north to I-44 west. Finally got to the Joplin Terminal after 8:30 AM CST. Checked in with dispatch to make my daily check call. The dispatcher wanted me to drop my trailer to Wichita and take a “HOT” load to Kansas City Missouri. I wasn't too excited about it but said yes. The dispatcher told me that they had deadheaded(trailers with no loads) several trucks to Joplin to cover this load and a couple others but they wouldn't be in Joplin for a couple hours. The trailer I was taking up was so “HOT” that they were getting ready to fly a part of the auto parts load up so the assembly line at the Ford assembly plant would not shut down.(see “Just in time” trucking note below). I hooked up to the trailer and didn't get fuel as I had enough to get me to the Kansas City Terminal after I delivered this load. I didn't weigh it either as I read the weight of the load on the paperwork(24,330 lbs) and had no concern with it. I got on east I-44 a short time to Hwy 71 north. Didn't slow down for much and kept moving the load north toward the assembly plant. South of Kansas City, I took I-235 to the east and north to the assembly plant. The plant had a yard truck(a special tractor made to move trailers around a trailer storage yard) waiting for me and so I just dropped my trailer where I was and got an empty trailer. Went to the terminal and was told to go on the trucker's ready board and wait...wait unto tomorrow and I did.
Note: “Just in time”, or "JIT loads are loads that have to be at the receiver at a certain time. The trucking company gets paid extra for this service. If the loads are late, the trucking companies have to pay for the “down time” caused by the trailer being late. Big companies "down time" could be so huge that trucking companies often would fly a part of the load if the trailer was running behind schedule.
Trucker Helpful Hint: I have found that doing a favor for a dispatcher, even if it isn't the best for you, pays off in the long run. I got many great loads because I would “help out” a dispatcher when they needed it even if it meant “crap” for me!!!.
I was up from the bed at 2 AM CST. I left on Hwy 60 west after I got my paperwork all legal and my vehicle inspection done. Hwy 60 was a four lane Hwy until it passed Poplar Bluff-north of town-After Poplar Bluff, Hwy 60 goes “two lane, windy and hilly” for around 100 miles. When it joins up with Hwy 63 it goes back to a decent four lane highway. Hwy 63 separates from Hwy 60 at Cabool, Missouri and I followed Hwy 60. I took a short break at the Norwood, Missouri exit at 5:30 AM CST and got some munchies for breakfast. Headed for and got to Joplin, Missouri by taking Hwy 60 west to Hwy 65 north to I-44 west. Finally got to the Joplin Terminal after 8:30 AM CST. Checked in with dispatch to make my daily check call. The dispatcher wanted me to drop my trailer to Wichita and take a “HOT” load to Kansas City Missouri. I wasn't too excited about it but said yes. The dispatcher told me that they had deadheaded(trailers with no loads) several trucks to Joplin to cover this load and a couple others but they wouldn't be in Joplin for a couple hours. The trailer I was taking up was so “HOT” that they were getting ready to fly a part of the auto parts load up so the assembly line at the Ford assembly plant would not shut down.(see “Just in time” trucking note below). I hooked up to the trailer and didn't get fuel as I had enough to get me to the Kansas City Terminal after I delivered this load. I didn't weigh it either as I read the weight of the load on the paperwork(24,330 lbs) and had no concern with it. I got on east I-44 a short time to Hwy 71 north. Didn't slow down for much and kept moving the load north toward the assembly plant. South of Kansas City, I took I-235 to the east and north to the assembly plant. The plant had a yard truck(a special tractor made to move trailers around a trailer storage yard) waiting for me and so I just dropped my trailer where I was and got an empty trailer. Went to the terminal and was told to go on the trucker's ready board and wait...wait unto tomorrow and I did.
Note: “Just in time”, or "JIT loads are loads that have to be at the receiver at a certain time. The trucking company gets paid extra for this service. If the loads are late, the trucking companies have to pay for the “down time” caused by the trailer being late. Big companies "down time" could be so huge that trucking companies often would fly a part of the load if the trailer was running behind schedule.
Trucker Helpful Hint: I have found that doing a favor for a dispatcher, even if it isn't the best for you, pays off in the long run. I got many great loads because I would “help out” a dispatcher when they needed it even if it meant “crap” for me!!!.
March 7, 2010
March 7, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Memphis, Tennessee)
I was up at 5:30 AM CST as I woke up and couldn't sleep. The Memphis terminal had just opened up and so I went in and checked in. The dispatcher told me that I was to deadhead(go without a load in the trailer) to Nashville, Tennessee. It was too early to wake the others up so I hooked up a trailer, fueled(98 gallons) and took off for Nashville. I was on I-240 heading east by 6:30 AM CST. Shortly I-240 turned north and then crossed I-40. I got on I-40 east and “hammered”(fast as I could go and stayed with it) until I got to our fuel stop in Nashville. Pulled into fuel stop at 10 AM CST. Called dispatch and was given a load from the Ford Glass Plant to Wichita, Kansas. I went to the glass plant and it was like they were waiting for me. I checked in the shipping guy and he said to back into the dock. I did and he had me loaded in less than 15 minutes. I signed the paperwork and he had loaded me with a load of racks and glass weighing 42,649 lbs. I went back to the fuel stop and weighed the load to be safe. My tractor drive tandems (double rear axles) were close to maximum weight so I moved my trailer tandems(trailer double axles) forward to take weight off my tractor. Now I could fill my fuel tanks and not worry about going over the legal limit. I started for Wichita, Kansas by going northwest on I-24. The first part of this trip will be great as it is all interstates and pretty flat land. When I get to Missouri, I will have about 60 miles of good roads and then Mountains and two lane curvy roads for a good while. I got to our fuel stop at exit 16 by Paducah, Kentucky at 2:30 PM CST and decided to eat there as they had some of the best fried chicken. Was on the road again around 4 PM CST on I-24 west. I-24 goes through part of Paducah within 5 miles of the Ohio River, so when I got into Paducah I took Hwy 60 west into Illinois(over Ohio River...1/4 mile of Illinois...over Mississippi River) and then Missouri. Stayed on Hwy 60 west until I got to a small truckstop by Dexter, Missouri at 6 PM CST; there I bedded down for the night.. went right to sleep even though it was about 6:15 PM...
I was up at 5:30 AM CST as I woke up and couldn't sleep. The Memphis terminal had just opened up and so I went in and checked in. The dispatcher told me that I was to deadhead(go without a load in the trailer) to Nashville, Tennessee. It was too early to wake the others up so I hooked up a trailer, fueled(98 gallons) and took off for Nashville. I was on I-240 heading east by 6:30 AM CST. Shortly I-240 turned north and then crossed I-40. I got on I-40 east and “hammered”(fast as I could go and stayed with it) until I got to our fuel stop in Nashville. Pulled into fuel stop at 10 AM CST. Called dispatch and was given a load from the Ford Glass Plant to Wichita, Kansas. I went to the glass plant and it was like they were waiting for me. I checked in the shipping guy and he said to back into the dock. I did and he had me loaded in less than 15 minutes. I signed the paperwork and he had loaded me with a load of racks and glass weighing 42,649 lbs. I went back to the fuel stop and weighed the load to be safe. My tractor drive tandems (double rear axles) were close to maximum weight so I moved my trailer tandems(trailer double axles) forward to take weight off my tractor. Now I could fill my fuel tanks and not worry about going over the legal limit. I started for Wichita, Kansas by going northwest on I-24. The first part of this trip will be great as it is all interstates and pretty flat land. When I get to Missouri, I will have about 60 miles of good roads and then Mountains and two lane curvy roads for a good while. I got to our fuel stop at exit 16 by Paducah, Kentucky at 2:30 PM CST and decided to eat there as they had some of the best fried chicken. Was on the road again around 4 PM CST on I-24 west. I-24 goes through part of Paducah within 5 miles of the Ohio River, so when I got into Paducah I took Hwy 60 west into Illinois(over Ohio River...1/4 mile of Illinois...over Mississippi River) and then Missouri. Stayed on Hwy 60 west until I got to a small truckstop by Dexter, Missouri at 6 PM CST; there I bedded down for the night.. went right to sleep even though it was about 6:15 PM...
March 6, 2010
March 6, 1990,2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Tulsa, Oklahoma)
I was up by 7 AM CST and went into see the Tulsa terminal dispatcher. Was told to call my dispatcher which I did. I was told to deadhead(go with an empty trailer)to Memphis, Tennessee. I waited in the terminal for Gemini and Okie(drivers I was with yesterday). When each came into the terminal, they found that they got the same dispatch as I did. We three got ready to leave by getting paperwork caught up(logbooks) and did our vehicle inspections. We were on our way by 9:30 AM CST. We took the Muskogee turnpike(toll road) to the southeast from Tulsa. While on the turnpike, within 15 miles of the turnpike, are towns with Indian names such as Muskogee, Coweta, Choska, Tahlequah and Okmulgee(about 25 to 30 miles from turnpike). Got to I-40 and headed east. Wasn't long before we got to Arkansas where we found the truck weigh station open. All three of us had no problem with the scales. I-40 between here and Little Rock(Arkansas) get into the mountains and at points gets mighty “hilly”. We all stopped in Russellville, Arkansas for lunch at 12:30 PM CST. We were back on the road by 1:30 PM CST. We met with a little traffic slow down in Little Rock but still got to Memphis, Tennessee a little after 5 PM CST. Went to the Memphis terminal and was told by dispatch to check back tomorrow....Went to convenience store and got some munchies. Watched TV, ate munchies and went to sleep for the night...
I was up by 7 AM CST and went into see the Tulsa terminal dispatcher. Was told to call my dispatcher which I did. I was told to deadhead(go with an empty trailer)to Memphis, Tennessee. I waited in the terminal for Gemini and Okie(drivers I was with yesterday). When each came into the terminal, they found that they got the same dispatch as I did. We three got ready to leave by getting paperwork caught up(logbooks) and did our vehicle inspections. We were on our way by 9:30 AM CST. We took the Muskogee turnpike(toll road) to the southeast from Tulsa. While on the turnpike, within 15 miles of the turnpike, are towns with Indian names such as Muskogee, Coweta, Choska, Tahlequah and Okmulgee(about 25 to 30 miles from turnpike). Got to I-40 and headed east. Wasn't long before we got to Arkansas where we found the truck weigh station open. All three of us had no problem with the scales. I-40 between here and Little Rock(Arkansas) get into the mountains and at points gets mighty “hilly”. We all stopped in Russellville, Arkansas for lunch at 12:30 PM CST. We were back on the road by 1:30 PM CST. We met with a little traffic slow down in Little Rock but still got to Memphis, Tennessee a little after 5 PM CST. Went to the Memphis terminal and was told by dispatch to check back tomorrow....Went to convenience store and got some munchies. Watched TV, ate munchies and went to sleep for the night...
March 5, 2010
March 5, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Gemini(Gal who I run with yesterday)was the first to get unloaded and I was second. During the short time that I was being unloaded, I walked around the warehouse a little. Wow!! Rows and rows of nothing but glass jars...and a lot more coming. I was impressed! When I got unloaded, there were seven more trucks to unload behind mine. We called in to dispatch and were told to go to the Tulsa terminal. We did and not having loads we decided to go to the Waffle House for breakfast. We did. The waitress asked Gemini what she wanted to drink and she asked for 2% milk. I was asked and I wanted the other 98 %...a little humor...I guess you had to be there... We had fun as we got the eating done and then back to the trucks and terminal. Sat around the terminal the rest of day as there was no loads. Gemini and I sat and talked with another driver named Okie. Okie showed us how he had installed Christmas lights in his tractor. He left them on in his sleeper as he claimed that they didn't use much power. I later installed some and he was right as they don't use much power. I showed them my desk I made that can be set up and taken down in less than a minute. We had a good “information swapping” day. The day ended as all do and I went to my bed, turned TV on and went to sleep....
Gemini(Gal who I run with yesterday)was the first to get unloaded and I was second. During the short time that I was being unloaded, I walked around the warehouse a little. Wow!! Rows and rows of nothing but glass jars...and a lot more coming. I was impressed! When I got unloaded, there were seven more trucks to unload behind mine. We called in to dispatch and were told to go to the Tulsa terminal. We did and not having loads we decided to go to the Waffle House for breakfast. We did. The waitress asked Gemini what she wanted to drink and she asked for 2% milk. I was asked and I wanted the other 98 %...a little humor...I guess you had to be there... We had fun as we got the eating done and then back to the trucks and terminal. Sat around the terminal the rest of day as there was no loads. Gemini and I sat and talked with another driver named Okie. Okie showed us how he had installed Christmas lights in his tractor. He left them on in his sleeper as he claimed that they didn't use much power. I later installed some and he was right as they don't use much power. I showed them my desk I made that can be set up and taken down in less than a minute. We had a good “information swapping” day. The day ended as all do and I went to my bed, turned TV on and went to sleep....
March 4, 2010
March 4, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Joplin, Missouri)
My tractor was being serviced as my day started at midnight. The servicing was done shortly after 1 AM CST. I just pulled out into the drop yard and went back to sleep. Got up at 8 AM CST and checked in with dispatch. Found Gemini(the Gal I was running with yesterday) in the trucker's lounge. I started talking with her and she was getting ready to leave for Tulsa, Oklahoma where we have to deliver tomorrow. We took our time and left our Joplin yard around 9 AM CST. We got to Tulsa and drove to the yard of our company's Flat Bed division. Gemini was from Tulsa so we took her car(she had parked at the Tulsa terminal) and drove out to find the place we are to deliver tomorrow. It wasn't hard to find and will be easy to get to tonight when I line up for unloading. Gemini took me(not a date) to a fun restaurant to eat and then we took in a movie. Back to the truck at 5:30 PM CST and we drove the the drop tomorrow. I let her park to be first tomorrow. Shortly after we got there, another truck from our company drove up. We all talked on the CB Radio on channel 22 for awhile and then I settled down to bed and the TV …
SECOND 5 YEARS:(Something I saw...)
I was heading east on I-70, somewhere close to Wright City, Missouri, when I saw on the side road, a highway patrolman with a lawn mower pulled over with the patrolman and three kids standing there. I would imagine that the three kids were riding the mower-all on it at the same time-on the public street...
This is not three kids on a tractor, nor is it a
Missouri Highway Patrolman. There are no
breaks for the less wealthy law breaker.
My tractor was being serviced as my day started at midnight. The servicing was done shortly after 1 AM CST. I just pulled out into the drop yard and went back to sleep. Got up at 8 AM CST and checked in with dispatch. Found Gemini(the Gal I was running with yesterday) in the trucker's lounge. I started talking with her and she was getting ready to leave for Tulsa, Oklahoma where we have to deliver tomorrow. We took our time and left our Joplin yard around 9 AM CST. We got to Tulsa and drove to the yard of our company's Flat Bed division. Gemini was from Tulsa so we took her car(she had parked at the Tulsa terminal) and drove out to find the place we are to deliver tomorrow. It wasn't hard to find and will be easy to get to tonight when I line up for unloading. Gemini took me(not a date) to a fun restaurant to eat and then we took in a movie. Back to the truck at 5:30 PM CST and we drove the the drop tomorrow. I let her park to be first tomorrow. Shortly after we got there, another truck from our company drove up. We all talked on the CB Radio on channel 22 for awhile and then I settled down to bed and the TV …
SECOND 5 YEARS:(Something I saw...)
I was heading east on I-70, somewhere close to Wright City, Missouri, when I saw on the side road, a highway patrolman with a lawn mower pulled over with the patrolman and three kids standing there. I would imagine that the three kids were riding the mower-all on it at the same time-on the public street...
This is not three kids on a tractor, nor is it a
Missouri Highway Patrolman. There are no
breaks for the less wealthy law breaker.
March 3, 2010
March 3, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS: (Saturday-sitting on I-69 southbound)
An overturned bus has held up traffic now for almost two hours. I am sitting on the interstate by the exit for Gas City, Indiana. Just after 12:30 AM EST the the traffic got moving again. Don't know any details of the accident but they had the bus in the median strip on it's side when I went past. Continued down I-69 to Indianapolis, Indiana where I took I-465 south to I-70. Went west on I-70 through Indianapolis and toward Illinois. Even though I had slept alot yesterday, I decided to stop at Effingham, Illinois and go to sleep, which I did at 3:15 AM CST. Slept well and got up at 10 :30 AM CST. Went in the restaurant and saw some other drivers from my company so I sat down with them. Waited for lunch buffet to start and then partook of it. Left Effingham around noon heading west on I-70. I went over the Mississippi River at St. Louis and then got on I-44 west toward Joplin, Missouri. Stopped at the rest area just west of Rolla Missouri for a short break. This is a pretty hilly part of Missouri where the land levels out a little past Lebanon(Missouri). Continues to our terminal in Joplin where the maintenance department wanted to service my tractor. They found several minor things to repair while servicing so I napped in the sleeper. When my day ended, my tractor was still being worked on so I just kept sleeping...
SECOND 5 YEARS:(Watch other drivers and expect the worst...)
I had to relay a load of beef with another driver at the truckstop in Effingham, Illinois. I left Olathe, Kansas with the load and headed east on I-70. I called my wife and asked if she wanted to ride along with me as we would be coming back past home tomorrow. She said she would be happy to accompany me. I picked her up in Columbia, Missouri and east we went. We got to Effingham and traded trailers with my relay. He left and we bedded down for the night as there weren't enough hours to do a round trip legally. We woke just before dawn and it had been snowing pretty good. We had breakfast in the restaurant and then headed west. The roads were very slick and special care was needed in driving. I drove in the fast lane as it was the lane the driving grooves were in the snow. Shortly after we got started, a female in a Chevy Camaro passed us on the right side. I told my wife that that gal would end up in the ditch and we would probably see it happen. She got about a 1/4 mile ahead of us when she spun out in front of me and then went into the ditch on the roads right side. I think I had enough room to stop if she hadn't gotten moved from in front of me. I wouldn't be surprised if the inside of she car had the scent of crap....In her spinning, she had to see me closing in on her...
An overturned bus has held up traffic now for almost two hours. I am sitting on the interstate by the exit for Gas City, Indiana. Just after 12:30 AM EST the the traffic got moving again. Don't know any details of the accident but they had the bus in the median strip on it's side when I went past. Continued down I-69 to Indianapolis, Indiana where I took I-465 south to I-70. Went west on I-70 through Indianapolis and toward Illinois. Even though I had slept alot yesterday, I decided to stop at Effingham, Illinois and go to sleep, which I did at 3:15 AM CST. Slept well and got up at 10 :30 AM CST. Went in the restaurant and saw some other drivers from my company so I sat down with them. Waited for lunch buffet to start and then partook of it. Left Effingham around noon heading west on I-70. I went over the Mississippi River at St. Louis and then got on I-44 west toward Joplin, Missouri. Stopped at the rest area just west of Rolla Missouri for a short break. This is a pretty hilly part of Missouri where the land levels out a little past Lebanon(Missouri). Continues to our terminal in Joplin where the maintenance department wanted to service my tractor. They found several minor things to repair while servicing so I napped in the sleeper. When my day ended, my tractor was still being worked on so I just kept sleeping...
SECOND 5 YEARS:(Watch other drivers and expect the worst...)
I had to relay a load of beef with another driver at the truckstop in Effingham, Illinois. I left Olathe, Kansas with the load and headed east on I-70. I called my wife and asked if she wanted to ride along with me as we would be coming back past home tomorrow. She said she would be happy to accompany me. I picked her up in Columbia, Missouri and east we went. We got to Effingham and traded trailers with my relay. He left and we bedded down for the night as there weren't enough hours to do a round trip legally. We woke just before dawn and it had been snowing pretty good. We had breakfast in the restaurant and then headed west. The roads were very slick and special care was needed in driving. I drove in the fast lane as it was the lane the driving grooves were in the snow. Shortly after we got started, a female in a Chevy Camaro passed us on the right side. I told my wife that that gal would end up in the ditch and we would probably see it happen. She got about a 1/4 mile ahead of us when she spun out in front of me and then went into the ditch on the roads right side. I think I had enough room to stop if she hadn't gotten moved from in front of me. I wouldn't be surprised if the inside of she car had the scent of crap....In her spinning, she had to see me closing in on her...
March 2, 2010
March 2, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-traveling)
Running with “Pocket Watches”(works for same company as me) and “Yellow Bird”(Canadian driver returning to Canada). We were on I-55 north getting close to I-80 as our new day was starting. My driving hours were running out and so were Pocket Watches. I don't know what Yellow Birds hours looked like and didn't ask. The three of us really wanted to continue so we did(log book violation). I ran out of hours around Lake Station, Indiana. We all followed I-94 east when I-80 separated from it. As we crossed the border from Indiana into Michigan, we stopped at the rest area for a short break and got back on the road. Yellow Bird told us that he had an extra 110 gallon fuel tank that he runs empty into the US and before he goes back into Canada, he has to fill up all his tanks. This he does because of the price and taxation of fuel in Canada. Pocket Watches and I separated from Yellow Bird when we told I-275(western loop around Detroit, Michigan) south and he stayed on I-94 to get to Sarnia, Ontario. We told I-275 south to get to exit 15 where we went east to the terminal in Taylor, Michigan. Got there at 6:15 AM EST. Dropped my trailer and was checking in with dispatch by 6:30 AM EST. I got on the trucker ready board as they had several drivers waiting for loads and dispatch told me I wouldn't get out until later tonight if at all. I went out to bed in the truck and went to sleep with no problem. Woke up at 3 AM EST by my alarm clock. Checked with dispatch and found my number was #8 from the top of the trucker ready board. I had a load by 5:30 PM EST going to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a load of glass jars. I hooked up and weighed my whole truck as the paperwork shows a load weight of 39,560 lbs. I was legal with the weight so I fueled(142 gallons) and did my vehicle inspection. I had another female driver-Gemini-that was going to the same place as I was and she asked to run with me...no problem. Gemini and I took off at 5:30 PM EST and headed down I-75 into Ohio. At Toledo, Ohio we took I-475 west and then south to Hwy 24 southwest toward Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Gemini chit chatted all the way to Ft. Wayne(no I-469 loop in 1990) and stopped at a restaurant for dinner with a big parking lot at 9 PM EST. They were just locking their doors for the night so I decided to go on; Gemini was feeling tired so she wanted to take her 8 hour break. I left her at the restaurant and took off for I-69 which I took south. I was going fine until I have to stop on the interstate for an accident(over turned bus) a couple miles ahead of me. I was stopped near the Gas City, Indiana exit and sat there through the mid-night hour....
Running with “Pocket Watches”(works for same company as me) and “Yellow Bird”(Canadian driver returning to Canada). We were on I-55 north getting close to I-80 as our new day was starting. My driving hours were running out and so were Pocket Watches. I don't know what Yellow Birds hours looked like and didn't ask. The three of us really wanted to continue so we did(log book violation). I ran out of hours around Lake Station, Indiana. We all followed I-94 east when I-80 separated from it. As we crossed the border from Indiana into Michigan, we stopped at the rest area for a short break and got back on the road. Yellow Bird told us that he had an extra 110 gallon fuel tank that he runs empty into the US and before he goes back into Canada, he has to fill up all his tanks. This he does because of the price and taxation of fuel in Canada. Pocket Watches and I separated from Yellow Bird when we told I-275(western loop around Detroit, Michigan) south and he stayed on I-94 to get to Sarnia, Ontario. We told I-275 south to get to exit 15 where we went east to the terminal in Taylor, Michigan. Got there at 6:15 AM EST. Dropped my trailer and was checking in with dispatch by 6:30 AM EST. I got on the trucker ready board as they had several drivers waiting for loads and dispatch told me I wouldn't get out until later tonight if at all. I went out to bed in the truck and went to sleep with no problem. Woke up at 3 AM EST by my alarm clock. Checked with dispatch and found my number was #8 from the top of the trucker ready board. I had a load by 5:30 PM EST going to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a load of glass jars. I hooked up and weighed my whole truck as the paperwork shows a load weight of 39,560 lbs. I was legal with the weight so I fueled(142 gallons) and did my vehicle inspection. I had another female driver-Gemini-that was going to the same place as I was and she asked to run with me...no problem. Gemini and I took off at 5:30 PM EST and headed down I-75 into Ohio. At Toledo, Ohio we took I-475 west and then south to Hwy 24 southwest toward Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Gemini chit chatted all the way to Ft. Wayne(no I-469 loop in 1990) and stopped at a restaurant for dinner with a big parking lot at 9 PM EST. They were just locking their doors for the night so I decided to go on; Gemini was feeling tired so she wanted to take her 8 hour break. I left her at the restaurant and took off for I-69 which I took south. I was going fine until I have to stop on the interstate for an accident(over turned bus) a couple miles ahead of me. I was stopped near the Gas City, Indiana exit and sat there through the mid-night hour....
March 1, 2010
March 1, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Kingdom City, Missouri)
I woke up shortly after 12:30 AM CST and was heading for Kansas City, Missouri by 1 AM CST. Hammered on it(went as fast as I could) all the way to our terminal in Kansas City, Missouri. Pulled in the yard just before 3:15 AM CST. Talked with dispatch and was told to just drop my load ed trailer in the terminal yard. I went on the trucker ready board and then went outside, dropped my trailer and went to sleep. I woke up 10 AM CST and went into the trucker lounge to find I was close to getting a load. I sat around the lounge with the other waiting drivers, watched TV and talked with them. A couple drivers wanted to order pizza so I had them order me one also. Shortly after I ate my pizza, I got called up to the dispatch window where they had a trailer of empty racks(returning racks to manufactures) for me to take to Taylor(Detroit suburb)Michigan terminal. The destination of these racks will be someplace in Canada. I had to take an empty trailer to our drop yard(a place where a company stores trailers-full and empty)in St. Joseph, Missouri where I would pick up the trailer with the racks. I was getting ready to leave the driver's lounge when a female driver, who's handle (nickname) was “Pocket Watches”, asked if she could follow me as she had the same assignment as me. I said yes and we were off to hook up our empty trailers and fuel(racks don't weigh much so load light). I did a vehicle inspection and fueled(168 gallons). Pocket Watches did also. We were off for St. Joseph at 12:30 PM CST. We were at our St. Joseph drop yard just after 1:30 PM CST and dropping our empty trailers. My trailer was in the yard but her's wasn't. Her trailer wasn't there yet. The local driver came in with her trailer in about 10 minutes after I got hooked up. We got her hooked up, vehicle inspections done and dispatched by 1:30 PM CST. I told her I was going to take Hwy 36 to Hannibal, Missouri where I will continue to Taylor(Detroit)Michigan. She said, “Fine. Let's go.”...We left heading east on Hwy 36. Hit the Missouri weigh scales open but we had no problem. Followed the highway through much of the rolling farm lands of Missouri. Just before we got to the small truckstop east of Monroe City, Missouri we had another driver break into our CB radio conversation. Turned out he was a Canadian driver going back to Canada. His handle(nickname)was “Yellow Bird” and he would be running with us. We stopped at the truckstop just east of Monroe City for a short break and munchies. Headed on over the Mississippi River at Hannibal, Missouri and followed Hwy 36(now I-72) toward Springfield, Illinois. Got to Springfield, Illinois where we took I-55 north to Funks Grove rest area where we took a break. We were at the rest area for about a half hour. Got back on I-55 north at 10:15 PM CST. Followed I-55 north toward I-80 as our day ended
I woke up shortly after 12:30 AM CST and was heading for Kansas City, Missouri by 1 AM CST. Hammered on it(went as fast as I could) all the way to our terminal in Kansas City, Missouri. Pulled in the yard just before 3:15 AM CST. Talked with dispatch and was told to just drop my load ed trailer in the terminal yard. I went on the trucker ready board and then went outside, dropped my trailer and went to sleep. I woke up 10 AM CST and went into the trucker lounge to find I was close to getting a load. I sat around the lounge with the other waiting drivers, watched TV and talked with them. A couple drivers wanted to order pizza so I had them order me one also. Shortly after I ate my pizza, I got called up to the dispatch window where they had a trailer of empty racks(returning racks to manufactures) for me to take to Taylor(Detroit suburb)Michigan terminal. The destination of these racks will be someplace in Canada. I had to take an empty trailer to our drop yard(a place where a company stores trailers-full and empty)in St. Joseph, Missouri where I would pick up the trailer with the racks. I was getting ready to leave the driver's lounge when a female driver, who's handle (nickname) was “Pocket Watches”, asked if she could follow me as she had the same assignment as me. I said yes and we were off to hook up our empty trailers and fuel(racks don't weigh much so load light). I did a vehicle inspection and fueled(168 gallons). Pocket Watches did also. We were off for St. Joseph at 12:30 PM CST. We were at our St. Joseph drop yard just after 1:30 PM CST and dropping our empty trailers. My trailer was in the yard but her's wasn't. Her trailer wasn't there yet. The local driver came in with her trailer in about 10 minutes after I got hooked up. We got her hooked up, vehicle inspections done and dispatched by 1:30 PM CST. I told her I was going to take Hwy 36 to Hannibal, Missouri where I will continue to Taylor(Detroit)Michigan. She said, “Fine. Let's go.”...We left heading east on Hwy 36. Hit the Missouri weigh scales open but we had no problem. Followed the highway through much of the rolling farm lands of Missouri. Just before we got to the small truckstop east of Monroe City, Missouri we had another driver break into our CB radio conversation. Turned out he was a Canadian driver going back to Canada. His handle(nickname)was “Yellow Bird” and he would be running with us. We stopped at the truckstop just east of Monroe City for a short break and munchies. Headed on over the Mississippi River at Hannibal, Missouri and followed Hwy 36(now I-72) toward Springfield, Illinois. Got to Springfield, Illinois where we took I-55 north to Funks Grove rest area where we took a break. We were at the rest area for about a half hour. Got back on I-55 north at 10:15 PM CST. Followed I-55 north toward I-80 as our day ended
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