FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Houston, Texas)
Woke up around 5 AM CST and found my windows frosted over with the humidity on the outside. I was really cool inside and it was hot and humid outside even at the early hour. I wiped the outside of the windows off and ran my windshield wipers; it didn't get far.
At 7 AM CST the guard came out and got me to back up to the docks; he told me which one. After opening my doors I backed up to the assigned dock. I was unloaded by 7:45 AM CST and I called in to find I was going to Port Neches, Texas for a load to Tennessee for tomorrow.
Got moving. Took I-10 east to Beaumont, Texas and took Hwy 287 south to Port Neches. The pick up company was easy to find and I checked in. I backed up to the assigned dock and they started loading at 10 AM CST. After two pallets, they stopped loading me. I asked why and was told I was getting my destination changed. At 11:15 AM CST the loader took out the two pallets and started loading me with other pallets going to Ft. Wayne, Indiana(FOR MONDAY!).
I was loaded and moving out of the parking lot by 2 PM CST.
I had alot of time so I will do most back roads to Ft Wayne, Indiana. I took Hwy 287 north to I-10 and went east into Louisiana. Went past the beautiful community of Lake Charles, Louisiana to Hwy 165 north. The skies were gray with dark clouds but the area was still really nice to visit. I got to Alexandria, Louisiana and stopped at the Wal-Mart store to get some things around 5:30 PM CST. I stopped in the pharmacy department as the gal behind the counter had such a fantastic Cajun accent. I stood looking at the selves as I listened to her. I actually was there long enough for another employee(associate???) to think I needed help. I told the asker that I was OK and listened to the gal a little longer...Just loved it!!!
I left Alexandria around 8 PM CST and continued up Hwy 165 toward Monroe, Louisiana. Darkness totally set in before I got to Monroe probably because of the cloud covering. The smell of the area-petroleum production-was pretty strong as I wasn't use to it. When I got to I-10, I took it east to Vicksburg, Mississippi. I hit rain until I got close to Vicksburg and the rain made the night really seen dark.
After Vicksburg I took I took Hwy 61 north and as I was passing Onward. Mississippi(Yep, the name of the town is Onward.) midnight hit and my Thursday ended...
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.
May 31, 2010
May 30, 2010
May 30, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
I was feeling kinda important that morning at 3 AM CST as I realized that what I had on the trailer would be spread out in most homes from Dallas, Texas to the Gulf coast by the Sunday coming up. WOW!
I was up and headed for Dallas, Texas a little before 4 AM CST. I have on three drops, all to the newspapers that sell the Sunday paper. Heading down I-35 into Texas went well. I got to I-35E and took it to Dallas. I found the newspaper around 7:30 AM CST and checked in with the guard. He called someone and then came back to me. He told me what dock to back up to. I opened my doors and backed up to the assigned dock and went inside to watch the unloading. When I have more than one drop I worry that the first drops may take off more that they are suppose to. The unloaders unloaded with a forktruck and didn't take long at all. I was out of there by 8:45 AM CST and things were looking good.
Felt good and kept my speed up down I-45. Got to Hwy 190 and took it to Bryan(College Station), Texas and found the newspaper at around noon CST. IT WAS 2:30 PM CST BEFORE THEY GOT ME READY TO LEAVE. Boy was I upset! Why so long....They were just too busy I guess.
Took Hwy 6 to Hwy 105 and then got on I-45 south. Took I-610 to the east and then around to the south. Found the newspaper at 4:30 PM CST. Checked in and was told I was too late to get unloaded today but I could stay parked were I was. I wasn't happy but I wasn't scheduled until tomorrow anyway. I left the engine running and used my air conditioning as it was really hot and humid outside. Watched my TV and ate munchies...stayed here until tomorrow....
I was feeling kinda important that morning at 3 AM CST as I realized that what I had on the trailer would be spread out in most homes from Dallas, Texas to the Gulf coast by the Sunday coming up. WOW!
I was up and headed for Dallas, Texas a little before 4 AM CST. I have on three drops, all to the newspapers that sell the Sunday paper. Heading down I-35 into Texas went well. I got to I-35E and took it to Dallas. I found the newspaper around 7:30 AM CST and checked in with the guard. He called someone and then came back to me. He told me what dock to back up to. I opened my doors and backed up to the assigned dock and went inside to watch the unloading. When I have more than one drop I worry that the first drops may take off more that they are suppose to. The unloaders unloaded with a forktruck and didn't take long at all. I was out of there by 8:45 AM CST and things were looking good.
Felt good and kept my speed up down I-45. Got to Hwy 190 and took it to Bryan(College Station), Texas and found the newspaper at around noon CST. IT WAS 2:30 PM CST BEFORE THEY GOT ME READY TO LEAVE. Boy was I upset! Why so long....They were just too busy I guess.
Took Hwy 6 to Hwy 105 and then got on I-45 south. Took I-610 to the east and then around to the south. Found the newspaper at 4:30 PM CST. Checked in and was told I was too late to get unloaded today but I could stay parked were I was. I wasn't happy but I wasn't scheduled until tomorrow anyway. I left the engine running and used my air conditioning as it was really hot and humid outside. Watched my TV and ate munchies...stayed here until tomorrow....
May 29, 2010
May 29, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Phillipsburg, Kansas)
I was up and going at 5 AM CST and since everyone else wasn't, I took a walk around the neighborhood. Nothing special but nothing I would think was out of the ordinary. Nice but normal.
The roofing place started to come to life around 6:30 AM CST and I checked in. Slim, the other driver from my company was getting up and around about them. I pulled out a ways to open my trailer doors then backed back to the dock. The unloading started moments after I parked back at the dock. By 7:30 AM CST I was unloaded and they were working on Slim's trailer.
I called dispatch and was told to call back in an hour. I sat on the roofing company's property but out of the way of the action; Slim joined me. At 8:45 AM CST we both called in and I had a load; Slim didn't. I was to go to the west side of Wichita, Kansas and pick up a load of Sunday Paper inserts going to Dallas, Bryan(College Station) and Houston, Texas. I left after the call as I had got my logbook caught up and my vehicle inspection done earlier.
Yesterday I came up to Phillipsburg, Kansas from Wichita and so I just reversed my routing and went back. Took Hwy 183 south a short distance to Hwy 9. Hwy 9, once again was a beautiful route. Along Hwy 9, I stopped at Portis, Kansas and mailed some letters I wrote. While at the Post Office, I did what I liked to do, talk to the local residents. The gal behind the counter was very talkative and I feel I learned alot about the area. Continued on Hwy 24 to Hwy 81 southbound. Hwy 81 turned into interstate 135 and I took it to Wichita. Found the pick up point and was backed to the dock by 1:15 PM CST. It was a huge building in the middle of no where. At least it had a huge paved place for the shipping department.
I picked up the load, which weighed 39,960 lbs. and I was off down I-35 into Oklahoma. Rolled into the "Just a Truckstop" in Oklahoma City at 5 PM CST. I fueled(136 gallons) and went into the restaurant and had dinner.
Went to my tractor after dinner and tried to get some sleep. The weather was pretty wild as the truck kept rolling and rain kept pounding on it. No tornado problems as I had my TV on and they had no weather advisories on....
I was up and going at 5 AM CST and since everyone else wasn't, I took a walk around the neighborhood. Nothing special but nothing I would think was out of the ordinary. Nice but normal.
The roofing place started to come to life around 6:30 AM CST and I checked in. Slim, the other driver from my company was getting up and around about them. I pulled out a ways to open my trailer doors then backed back to the dock. The unloading started moments after I parked back at the dock. By 7:30 AM CST I was unloaded and they were working on Slim's trailer.
I called dispatch and was told to call back in an hour. I sat on the roofing company's property but out of the way of the action; Slim joined me. At 8:45 AM CST we both called in and I had a load; Slim didn't. I was to go to the west side of Wichita, Kansas and pick up a load of Sunday Paper inserts going to Dallas, Bryan(College Station) and Houston, Texas. I left after the call as I had got my logbook caught up and my vehicle inspection done earlier.
Yesterday I came up to Phillipsburg, Kansas from Wichita and so I just reversed my routing and went back. Took Hwy 183 south a short distance to Hwy 9. Hwy 9, once again was a beautiful route. Along Hwy 9, I stopped at Portis, Kansas and mailed some letters I wrote. While at the Post Office, I did what I liked to do, talk to the local residents. The gal behind the counter was very talkative and I feel I learned alot about the area. Continued on Hwy 24 to Hwy 81 southbound. Hwy 81 turned into interstate 135 and I took it to Wichita. Found the pick up point and was backed to the dock by 1:15 PM CST. It was a huge building in the middle of no where. At least it had a huge paved place for the shipping department.
I picked up the load, which weighed 39,960 lbs. and I was off down I-35 into Oklahoma. Rolled into the "Just a Truckstop" in Oklahoma City at 5 PM CST. I fueled(136 gallons) and went into the restaurant and had dinner.
Went to my tractor after dinner and tried to get some sleep. The weather was pretty wild as the truck kept rolling and rain kept pounding on it. No tornado problems as I had my TV on and they had no weather advisories on....
May 28, 2010
May 28, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Memorial Day-Joplin, Missouri)
Was awake and ready to leave for Phillipsburg, Kansas at 1:30 AM CST. checked in with dispatch and let him, who I knew pretty well, know I was leaving. He asked why I was leaving in the middle of the night and I answered simply," There shouldn't be any traffic".....and there wasn't for several hours.
I left Joplin on Hwy 66 westbound into Kansas where I grabbed Hwy 69 Alternate(69 ALT) and went north. About 10 miles, I took Hwy 160 west into Independence, Kansas(I always liked Independence, Kansas...Maybe because it had a KFC fast food restaurant that was easy to park at and I used almost every time I went through?). Hooked onto Hwy 400 north, went past the KFC restaurant, and continued on Hwy 400 when it when westbound. Got to Severy, Kansas and took Hwy 99 north, past the town of Climax, up to Hwy 54 and took it westbound. Just past I-35, I jumped onto Hwy 254 into the north part of Wichita, Kansas(Park City) and entered I-135 north. I stopped at a truckstop in Newton, Kansas at 6 AM CST and found the restaurant empty as well as the rest of the truckstop, except for the truck parking area. This first 4 hours of traveling, even though it was nighttime, was fantastic. Highway almost totally empty and traveling was "easy".
Was now on the interstate as I left the truckstop in Newton at about 6:30 AM CST. I-135 was also pretty quiet until I got past Salina, Kansas and I-70. Interstate still wasn't busy but it had the most traffic I had seen since I started today.
I-135 northbound ended and became Hwy 81 North. Stayed on Hwy 81 about 20 miles until I got to Hwy 24 which I took westbound. a little while after I got on Hwy 24, Hwy 9 joined it. Hwy 9 was shown on my map to be "scenic route" so I stayed on it until it came to Hwy 183. The scenic route was GREAT!!! It added alot of joy to my day. Got to Phillipsburg, Kansas at 10 AM CST.
Found the delivery place and they had opened docks. The company was closed. I backed up to the long dock and dropped my trailer. I put a pin lock(a lock that keeps someone from hooking to the trailer) on my trailer and bobtailed(went with no trailer) around town. I called my church denomination to see if they had a Memorial Day Celebration(most of the US congregations do) and I got no one answering the phones...they were probably at the celebration when I called. I found the pizza place still having their noon buffet so I had that. I had the meal at PIZZA HUT and I mention it as it was really good!!! After eating, I went back to my trailer and just sat by it.
About 3:15 PM CST another truck from my company drove up. The driver's handle(nickname) was "Slim" and he sure was. We talked for awhile and he said he was hungry. I told him about how good I found Pizza Hut and he wanted to go eat there. Since I was unhooked from my trailer, we went to Pizza Hut in my tractor. Slim ordered a medium sausage and olive pizza and I didn't order as I was still full from lunch. I had a diet soda(soft drink in Canada). He offered me a piece but I only took ONE when I saw he wasn't going to eat the whole thing. The restaurant wasn't busy so we sat there and talked about a whole lot of things. Went back to my trailer and we kept talking until the sun went down. He went too his tractor and I went back to my bunk. I picked up a weak TV station to watch and wrote. Went to sleep pretty early...
Was awake and ready to leave for Phillipsburg, Kansas at 1:30 AM CST. checked in with dispatch and let him, who I knew pretty well, know I was leaving. He asked why I was leaving in the middle of the night and I answered simply," There shouldn't be any traffic".....and there wasn't for several hours.
I left Joplin on Hwy 66 westbound into Kansas where I grabbed Hwy 69 Alternate(69 ALT) and went north. About 10 miles, I took Hwy 160 west into Independence, Kansas(I always liked Independence, Kansas...Maybe because it had a KFC fast food restaurant that was easy to park at and I used almost every time I went through?). Hooked onto Hwy 400 north, went past the KFC restaurant, and continued on Hwy 400 when it when westbound. Got to Severy, Kansas and took Hwy 99 north, past the town of Climax, up to Hwy 54 and took it westbound. Just past I-35, I jumped onto Hwy 254 into the north part of Wichita, Kansas(Park City) and entered I-135 north. I stopped at a truckstop in Newton, Kansas at 6 AM CST and found the restaurant empty as well as the rest of the truckstop, except for the truck parking area. This first 4 hours of traveling, even though it was nighttime, was fantastic. Highway almost totally empty and traveling was "easy".
Was now on the interstate as I left the truckstop in Newton at about 6:30 AM CST. I-135 was also pretty quiet until I got past Salina, Kansas and I-70. Interstate still wasn't busy but it had the most traffic I had seen since I started today.
I-135 northbound ended and became Hwy 81 North. Stayed on Hwy 81 about 20 miles until I got to Hwy 24 which I took westbound. a little while after I got on Hwy 24, Hwy 9 joined it. Hwy 9 was shown on my map to be "scenic route" so I stayed on it until it came to Hwy 183. The scenic route was GREAT!!! It added alot of joy to my day. Got to Phillipsburg, Kansas at 10 AM CST.
Found the delivery place and they had opened docks. The company was closed. I backed up to the long dock and dropped my trailer. I put a pin lock(a lock that keeps someone from hooking to the trailer) on my trailer and bobtailed(went with no trailer) around town. I called my church denomination to see if they had a Memorial Day Celebration(most of the US congregations do) and I got no one answering the phones...they were probably at the celebration when I called. I found the pizza place still having their noon buffet so I had that. I had the meal at PIZZA HUT and I mention it as it was really good!!! After eating, I went back to my trailer and just sat by it.
About 3:15 PM CST another truck from my company drove up. The driver's handle(nickname) was "Slim" and he sure was. We talked for awhile and he said he was hungry. I told him about how good I found Pizza Hut and he wanted to go eat there. Since I was unhooked from my trailer, we went to Pizza Hut in my tractor. Slim ordered a medium sausage and olive pizza and I didn't order as I was still full from lunch. I had a diet soda(soft drink in Canada). He offered me a piece but I only took ONE when I saw he wasn't going to eat the whole thing. The restaurant wasn't busy so we sat there and talked about a whole lot of things. Went back to my trailer and we kept talking until the sun went down. He went too his tractor and I went back to my bunk. I picked up a weak TV station to watch and wrote. Went to sleep pretty early...
May 27, 2010
May 27, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-New Paris, Ohio)
I woke around 2 AM and just laid in my sleeper for awhile. Got up and went into the truckstop and bought some munchies to eat as I wasn't feeling too hungry.
Took off for Joplin, Missouri around 3 AM EST and headed west on I-70. Went through the beautifully lighted downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana and onto the state of Illinois. Slipped into the Central Time Zone and zipped past Effingham, Illinois at 5:45 AM CST. Nice running this quiet morning...second day of the Memorial Day Weekend. stopped for a comfort break at the rest area near Altamont, Illinois. Back on road in a couple minutes. I am really wanting to "move" this morning. I guess driving is in my blood...
Crossed the Mississippi River and entered St. Louis Missouri where I changed from I-70 to I-44 westbound(actually southwest bound). Got to go over some of my favorite highway(I-44 between downtown St. Louis and I-270) as it feels like a roller coaster...well to me it does.
On west on I-44 past the closed weigh station by Stanton, Missouri, passed Rolla, Missouri( home of Missouri Institute of Technology) onto Marshfield, Missouri where I stopped for lunch at 11:45 AM CST. The restaurant was right off the interstate with a little bit of truck parking. This restaurant had GREAT BAR-B-QUE and it was buffet!!!! Ate for about an hour and then got my log book all caught up. Took off for Joplin and got there at 2:30 PM CST.
At Joplin, Missouri, the maintenance department checked out my truck and adjusted what they could and let me go. I checked in with dispatch and they wanted me to drop my load and take a heavy load of roofing material to Phillipsburg, Kansas for Tuesday. I said GREAT!...a few more miles to get paid for.
Since I can get past all the state weigh scales between Joplin and Phillipsburg, I filled my tanks(121 gallons). I weighed my tractor and trailer and came out with 34,000 lbs on the trailer tandems(the duel axles on trailer), 33,640 lbs on the tractor tandems and 11,960 on my steering; pretty close to maxed out, but legal.
I was tired so I decided to stay in the Joplin yard and take my 8 hour break and leave after midnight...I like traveling on quiet nights...
I woke around 2 AM and just laid in my sleeper for awhile. Got up and went into the truckstop and bought some munchies to eat as I wasn't feeling too hungry.
Took off for Joplin, Missouri around 3 AM EST and headed west on I-70. Went through the beautifully lighted downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana and onto the state of Illinois. Slipped into the Central Time Zone and zipped past Effingham, Illinois at 5:45 AM CST. Nice running this quiet morning...second day of the Memorial Day Weekend. stopped for a comfort break at the rest area near Altamont, Illinois. Back on road in a couple minutes. I am really wanting to "move" this morning. I guess driving is in my blood...
Crossed the Mississippi River and entered St. Louis Missouri where I changed from I-70 to I-44 westbound(actually southwest bound). Got to go over some of my favorite highway(I-44 between downtown St. Louis and I-270) as it feels like a roller coaster...well to me it does.
On west on I-44 past the closed weigh station by Stanton, Missouri, passed Rolla, Missouri( home of Missouri Institute of Technology) onto Marshfield, Missouri where I stopped for lunch at 11:45 AM CST. The restaurant was right off the interstate with a little bit of truck parking. This restaurant had GREAT BAR-B-QUE and it was buffet!!!! Ate for about an hour and then got my log book all caught up. Took off for Joplin and got there at 2:30 PM CST.
At Joplin, Missouri, the maintenance department checked out my truck and adjusted what they could and let me go. I checked in with dispatch and they wanted me to drop my load and take a heavy load of roofing material to Phillipsburg, Kansas for Tuesday. I said GREAT!...a few more miles to get paid for.
Since I can get past all the state weigh scales between Joplin and Phillipsburg, I filled my tanks(121 gallons). I weighed my tractor and trailer and came out with 34,000 lbs on the trailer tandems(the duel axles on trailer), 33,640 lbs on the tractor tandems and 11,960 on my steering; pretty close to maxed out, but legal.
I was tired so I decided to stay in the Joplin yard and take my 8 hour break and leave after midnight...I like traveling on quiet nights...
May 26, 2010
May 26, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-start of Memorial Day weekend-Berkshire, Ohio)
I was in no hurry today so I got up and headed down I-71 into Columbus, Ohio. I love the older architecture of this large city. Got on I-70 heading west and stopped at "Just a Truckstop" at New Paris, Ohio. What's interesting at this truck is that, when going west, I cross the border into Indiana. Just as I cross into Indiana I get off I-70 and go north about 100 yards back into Ohio and the truckstop. When one eats in their restaurant, that person can look out the window at the businesses in Indiana.
I parked my truck at 11 AM EST and got my paperwork caught up. I repeat...I was in no hurry at all. I decided to stay here all day and just KICK back. I did decide to fuel before I ate so I did. I took on 146 gallons and one gallon of oil(semi truck diesel engines use "gallons " of oil, not quarts). I had the buffet for lunch and filled my tank up. After lunch, I went to the movie room and stayed their until around 7 PM when I went to my truck and took a nap until tomorrow...I had a nice, easy going day...
Trucker Spouses: I once had the opportunity of meeting a driver who was a lease( independent driver who drives for a particular company) driver. He owned his own tractor and his wife rode with him. I met several drivers who's wives rode with them but what was special with this one was that she prepared most all their meals. When I met them, she was putting the meat-roast- and potatoes in their oven. Their oven was a metal container they had made that was firmly attached to the engines exhaust system. She knew how many miles it would take to cook the different types of food she would make in it. They seemed very happy with their system...
I was in no hurry today so I got up and headed down I-71 into Columbus, Ohio. I love the older architecture of this large city. Got on I-70 heading west and stopped at "Just a Truckstop" at New Paris, Ohio. What's interesting at this truck is that, when going west, I cross the border into Indiana. Just as I cross into Indiana I get off I-70 and go north about 100 yards back into Ohio and the truckstop. When one eats in their restaurant, that person can look out the window at the businesses in Indiana.
I parked my truck at 11 AM EST and got my paperwork caught up. I repeat...I was in no hurry at all. I decided to stay here all day and just KICK back. I did decide to fuel before I ate so I did. I took on 146 gallons and one gallon of oil(semi truck diesel engines use "gallons " of oil, not quarts). I had the buffet for lunch and filled my tank up. After lunch, I went to the movie room and stayed their until around 7 PM when I went to my truck and took a nap until tomorrow...I had a nice, easy going day...
Trucker Spouses: I once had the opportunity of meeting a driver who was a lease( independent driver who drives for a particular company) driver. He owned his own tractor and his wife rode with him. I met several drivers who's wives rode with them but what was special with this one was that she prepared most all their meals. When I met them, she was putting the meat-roast- and potatoes in their oven. Their oven was a metal container they had made that was firmly attached to the engines exhaust system. She knew how many miles it would take to cook the different types of food she would make in it. They seemed very happy with their system...
May 25, 2010
May 25, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Fredonia, New York)
I was up and going at 5:30 AM EST but I was the only one. I walked around...about a couple blocks from the truck and enjoyed the sun come up. The company unloader came out and checked our papers. He said that I, one other truck from my company and another from another company were to go to a warehouse in Dunkirk, New York. Even though Dunkirk is only a couple miles away, we( I and and other driver from my company) called dispatch. There was a problem...we had to be dispatched to Dunkirk and the company we were delivering to was to be billed for the extra miles. The three of us went to the Dunkirk warehouse and were unloaded by 9 AM EST. The nice thing about going to Dunkirk was, between the warehouse and I-90, a morning restaurant that had phones and truck parking. The three of us had a nice breakfast and called our dispatchers. I got a load to pick up in Rochester, New York that was going to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Don't remember where the other drivers went.
I was at the Rochester shipper at 1 PM EST and loaded by 1:35 PM EST. I did the paperwork and vehicle inspection and then called dispatch. At 2 PM EST I was heading west one I-490. It wasn't long and I was on the New York Thruway(I-90....toll road) going west. Went into Pennsylvania where I stopped at the truckstop in Northeast(Pennsylvania) at 4:14 PM EST. I didn't want to hit the start of the Erie Pennsylvania Memorial Day weekend traffic and go past Cleveland. Note: I was leaving Cleveland last year on Friday, the starting of that Memorial Day weekend. This truckstop had a really good chef salad...I had two of them.
Left Northeast at 7 PM EST and headed for Cleveland, Ohio. Got on I-271 southbound east of Cleveland and took it to I-71 southbound. Stopped at the "All Right Truckstop" in Berkshire, Ohio just as my day was ending. Laid down as I was tired...
I was up and going at 5:30 AM EST but I was the only one. I walked around...about a couple blocks from the truck and enjoyed the sun come up. The company unloader came out and checked our papers. He said that I, one other truck from my company and another from another company were to go to a warehouse in Dunkirk, New York. Even though Dunkirk is only a couple miles away, we( I and and other driver from my company) called dispatch. There was a problem...we had to be dispatched to Dunkirk and the company we were delivering to was to be billed for the extra miles. The three of us went to the Dunkirk warehouse and were unloaded by 9 AM EST. The nice thing about going to Dunkirk was, between the warehouse and I-90, a morning restaurant that had phones and truck parking. The three of us had a nice breakfast and called our dispatchers. I got a load to pick up in Rochester, New York that was going to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Don't remember where the other drivers went.
I was at the Rochester shipper at 1 PM EST and loaded by 1:35 PM EST. I did the paperwork and vehicle inspection and then called dispatch. At 2 PM EST I was heading west one I-490. It wasn't long and I was on the New York Thruway(I-90....toll road) going west. Went into Pennsylvania where I stopped at the truckstop in Northeast(Pennsylvania) at 4:14 PM EST. I didn't want to hit the start of the Erie Pennsylvania Memorial Day weekend traffic and go past Cleveland. Note: I was leaving Cleveland last year on Friday, the starting of that Memorial Day weekend. This truckstop had a really good chef salad...I had two of them.
Left Northeast at 7 PM EST and headed for Cleveland, Ohio. Got on I-271 southbound east of Cleveland and took it to I-71 southbound. Stopped at the "All Right Truckstop" in Berkshire, Ohio just as my day was ending. Laid down as I was tired...
May 24, 2010
May 24, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Troy, Illinois)
Traveling day that started at 4:30 AM CST when my relay got to the Troy truckstop I was at. We switched trailers. I did the typical paperwork update, call dispatch and vehicle inspection. I weighed my truck and was legal at 77,860 lbs. I was on my way to New York eastbound on I-70 at a little past 5 AM CST.
I know it was early but look at the bright side, I got to go through some of Illinois before the sun was out in all it's glory. I entered Indiana where the time zone changes between Central Standard Time and the Eastern Standard Time. Went through downtown Indianapolis on my way to Ohio. As I got past the loop around Indianapolis on the east side, there was what looked like a minor traffic accident on the westbound lanes.
Got to New Paris, Ohio(Ohio, Indiana border) where I decided to eat as the time was 11 AM EST. I was there at the "Just a Truckstop" for 1 1/2 hours. Left and headed toward Columbus, Ohio east on I-70. In Columbus, I caught I-71 north and toward Cleveland, Ohio. I stopped in Ashland, Ohio for fuel(142 gallons) and was back northbound on I-71 at 4:30 PM EST. South of Cleveland(Ohio), I took I-271 north to I-90 east. I experienced a little traffic on I-271 but nothing that bothered me. I stopped at the rest area past the Kirtland, Ohio exit at 6 PM EST.
I should have stayed there for my 8 hour break but I wanted to get to the delivery point ASAP. I left after sitting at the rest area about 1/2 hour. Went through the short piece of interstate in Pennsylvania and then into New York. Pulled into the delivery parking lot in Fredonia at 8:30 PM EST where I shut down for the night...
Traveling day that started at 4:30 AM CST when my relay got to the Troy truckstop I was at. We switched trailers. I did the typical paperwork update, call dispatch and vehicle inspection. I weighed my truck and was legal at 77,860 lbs. I was on my way to New York eastbound on I-70 at a little past 5 AM CST.
I know it was early but look at the bright side, I got to go through some of Illinois before the sun was out in all it's glory. I entered Indiana where the time zone changes between Central Standard Time and the Eastern Standard Time. Went through downtown Indianapolis on my way to Ohio. As I got past the loop around Indianapolis on the east side, there was what looked like a minor traffic accident on the westbound lanes.
Got to New Paris, Ohio(Ohio, Indiana border) where I decided to eat as the time was 11 AM EST. I was there at the "Just a Truckstop" for 1 1/2 hours. Left and headed toward Columbus, Ohio east on I-70. In Columbus, I caught I-71 north and toward Cleveland, Ohio. I stopped in Ashland, Ohio for fuel(142 gallons) and was back northbound on I-71 at 4:30 PM EST. South of Cleveland(Ohio), I took I-271 north to I-90 east. I experienced a little traffic on I-271 but nothing that bothered me. I stopped at the rest area past the Kirtland, Ohio exit at 6 PM EST.
I should have stayed there for my 8 hour break but I wanted to get to the delivery point ASAP. I left after sitting at the rest area about 1/2 hour. Went through the short piece of interstate in Pennsylvania and then into New York. Pulled into the delivery parking lot in Fredonia at 8:30 PM EST where I shut down for the night...
May 23, 2010
May 23, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling)
On east on I-44 past Sullivan, Missouri as our day starts. "Cowboy" (driver I have been running with now 2 days) and I caught I-270 north around the west side of St.Louis and ended up going east on it. At around exit 31A, we took Hwy 367 north and it turned into Hwy 67. We followed Hwy 67 over some really "neat" bridges over the Missouri & Mississippi Rivers. We got into Illinois and Alton and found our delivery spot with no problem.
We arrived a little after 1:30 AM CST and found the truck that was driven buy the husband/wife team sitting in the company parking lot. We pulled in behind it and checked in with the guard. We then laid (at least I did) down for some sleep.
Unloading came and we all were unloaded by 8 AM CST. All three trucks called dispatch. The team and I were told to go to the truckstop in Troy, Illinois and wait for relays. Cowboy was given a load to pick up in Moline, Illinois going to El Paso, Texas.
The Team and I went to Troy where the team was given a load to Fredonia, New York to wait for. I was given a load to Oklahoma City. The 3 of us went into the truckstop restaurant, ate and talked. They both didn't want to go to New York and I wanted a little more excitement than Oklahoma City. I offered to switch loads with them and they said fine if dispatch would go along with it. I called and dispatch switched our load assignments. My load comes in in the morning and theirs in a couple hours...No problem...
After eating, the team left and I walked around the store and wasted time. Went to my tractor, ran the air conditioning, watched TV, wrote and napped through the rest of the day. Waited for my load...
On east on I-44 past Sullivan, Missouri as our day starts. "Cowboy" (driver I have been running with now 2 days) and I caught I-270 north around the west side of St.Louis and ended up going east on it. At around exit 31A, we took Hwy 367 north and it turned into Hwy 67. We followed Hwy 67 over some really "neat" bridges over the Missouri & Mississippi Rivers. We got into Illinois and Alton and found our delivery spot with no problem.
We arrived a little after 1:30 AM CST and found the truck that was driven buy the husband/wife team sitting in the company parking lot. We pulled in behind it and checked in with the guard. We then laid (at least I did) down for some sleep.
Unloading came and we all were unloaded by 8 AM CST. All three trucks called dispatch. The team and I were told to go to the truckstop in Troy, Illinois and wait for relays. Cowboy was given a load to pick up in Moline, Illinois going to El Paso, Texas.
The Team and I went to Troy where the team was given a load to Fredonia, New York to wait for. I was given a load to Oklahoma City. The 3 of us went into the truckstop restaurant, ate and talked. They both didn't want to go to New York and I wanted a little more excitement than Oklahoma City. I offered to switch loads with them and they said fine if dispatch would go along with it. I called and dispatch switched our load assignments. My load comes in in the morning and theirs in a couple hours...No problem...
After eating, the team left and I walked around the store and wasted time. Went to my tractor, ran the air conditioning, watched TV, wrote and napped through the rest of the day. Waited for my load...
May 22, 2010
May 22, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-traveling)
As The day starts, we("Cowboy" and I) are passing into Texas while going east on I-40. It seemed like about a half hour into Texas, We past the cattle yards on the side of the interstate; miles of them!!! Boy, did they stink! If we had been tired the smell would have woken us up. As we closed in on Amarillo(Texas), it was still dark but we could see the Cadillac Ranch(Cadillacs buried head first in the ground). As we traveled through the east side of Amarillo, we past "The Big Texan" restaurant(72 oz steak free if eaten in an hour with all the fixin's).
Past Amarillo and continued into Oklahoma after stopping for a short break just before leaving Texas. Went on to Oklahoma City for breakfast at "Just a Truckstop". After breakfast, we took off for Tulsa, Oklahoma where we parked our trucks for our legal 8 hour break. Neither of us were hungry so we took our sleep break at 10:30 AM CST. We agreed to get up at 6 PM CST and see what happens.
6 PM CST came and we both got up and got our paperwork caught up. He wasn't hungry and I had munchies to snack on so we took off toward Joplin, Missouri. We kept up our speed and pulled into our Joplin Terminal at 8 PM CST where we fueled(I took 108 gallons). We were back on the road by 8:30 PM CST heading toward St. Louis. At the end of our day, we were passing Sullivan, Missouri...
As The day starts, we("Cowboy" and I) are passing into Texas while going east on I-40. It seemed like about a half hour into Texas, We past the cattle yards on the side of the interstate; miles of them!!! Boy, did they stink! If we had been tired the smell would have woken us up. As we closed in on Amarillo(Texas), it was still dark but we could see the Cadillac Ranch(Cadillacs buried head first in the ground). As we traveled through the east side of Amarillo, we past "The Big Texan" restaurant(72 oz steak free if eaten in an hour with all the fixin's).
Past Amarillo and continued into Oklahoma after stopping for a short break just before leaving Texas. Went on to Oklahoma City for breakfast at "Just a Truckstop". After breakfast, we took off for Tulsa, Oklahoma where we parked our trucks for our legal 8 hour break. Neither of us were hungry so we took our sleep break at 10:30 AM CST. We agreed to get up at 6 PM CST and see what happens.
6 PM CST came and we both got up and got our paperwork caught up. He wasn't hungry and I had munchies to snack on so we took off toward Joplin, Missouri. We kept up our speed and pulled into our Joplin Terminal at 8 PM CST where we fueled(I took 108 gallons). We were back on the road by 8:30 PM CST heading toward St. Louis. At the end of our day, we were passing Sullivan, Missouri...
May 21, 2010
May 21, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-San Manuel, Arizona)
As my day started, I was sitting at the loading dock next to "Cowboy"-handle(nickname) of the other driver from our company-waiting to get loaded with copper. There was another truck from our company(husband & wife driving team) but it wouldn't get loaded for awhile after us.
The company started loading us at 12:30 AM PST(Arizona doesn't follow daylight savings time) and it didn't take long as we were both loaded by 1 AM PST. The forktruck drivers put the pallets of copper in the trailers and nailed(with a air gun) the pallets to the floor. Cowboy and I both had on about 44,000 lbs on our trailers. This company had a certified(government checked) scale for us to weigh on and we did. We both had to move our trailer tandems(double axle wheels) to get our loads legal. We got our paperwork work all legal, did our vehicle inspections and called dispatch.
By 1:30 AM PST, Cowboy and I were on our way to Alton, Illinois. We left San Manuel on Hwy 77 which we took to Tucson(Arizona) and I-10. Followed I-10 into New Mexico.
We had talked alot on how we were going to go and Hwy 77 to Hwy 60 was totally out of the question!! Back to Phoenix and up I-17 was thought of but I hate I-17 northbound...too much "up and down"!!! We decided on I-10 to Deming, New Mexico where we'll take Hwy 26 to I-25 northbound. We thought about going to Las Cruces and taking Hwy 70 to Hwy 54...naw, we decided to stay on the interstates as much as possible.
Before we got into New Mexico, we stopped at the Arizona rest area at 4:45AM PST and were back on the road by 5 AM PST. We needed to keep our speed up to get to our goal for the first day of getting to Santa Rosa, New Mexico. We used the breaks as a time saver to legally get to Santa Rosa in 10 hours. We would log a stop-logged at a minimum of 15 minutes- and stop for only about 5 to 7 minutes and then it was back on the road. We made about 5 to 7 miles per stop. We logged four stops and that gave us 1/2 free driving time(TRUCKER HELPFUL HINT). Hey, it works...I once had to log 7 breaks to get an extra needed hour legally!!!. When we got to Albuquerque, New Mexico we took I-40 to Santa Rosa where we stopped at 1 PM MST for our 8 hr break and refueling(202 gallons-I was pushing it). Cowboy and I went in, ate and returned to our trucks for sleeping. We chose to get up at 10 PM MST to get going again which we did. I went into the truckstop before we left and got some munchies. We hit the road at 10:30 PM MST and took I-40 east. By midnight, the end of our day, we were closing in on the Texas/New Mexico border...
As my day started, I was sitting at the loading dock next to "Cowboy"-handle(nickname) of the other driver from our company-waiting to get loaded with copper. There was another truck from our company(husband & wife driving team) but it wouldn't get loaded for awhile after us.
The company started loading us at 12:30 AM PST(Arizona doesn't follow daylight savings time) and it didn't take long as we were both loaded by 1 AM PST. The forktruck drivers put the pallets of copper in the trailers and nailed(with a air gun) the pallets to the floor. Cowboy and I both had on about 44,000 lbs on our trailers. This company had a certified(government checked) scale for us to weigh on and we did. We both had to move our trailer tandems(double axle wheels) to get our loads legal. We got our paperwork work all legal, did our vehicle inspections and called dispatch.
By 1:30 AM PST, Cowboy and I were on our way to Alton, Illinois. We left San Manuel on Hwy 77 which we took to Tucson(Arizona) and I-10. Followed I-10 into New Mexico.
We had talked alot on how we were going to go and Hwy 77 to Hwy 60 was totally out of the question!! Back to Phoenix and up I-17 was thought of but I hate I-17 northbound...too much "up and down"!!! We decided on I-10 to Deming, New Mexico where we'll take Hwy 26 to I-25 northbound. We thought about going to Las Cruces and taking Hwy 70 to Hwy 54...naw, we decided to stay on the interstates as much as possible.
Before we got into New Mexico, we stopped at the Arizona rest area at 4:45AM PST and were back on the road by 5 AM PST. We needed to keep our speed up to get to our goal for the first day of getting to Santa Rosa, New Mexico. We used the breaks as a time saver to legally get to Santa Rosa in 10 hours. We would log a stop-logged at a minimum of 15 minutes- and stop for only about 5 to 7 minutes and then it was back on the road. We made about 5 to 7 miles per stop. We logged four stops and that gave us 1/2 free driving time(TRUCKER HELPFUL HINT). Hey, it works...I once had to log 7 breaks to get an extra needed hour legally!!!. When we got to Albuquerque, New Mexico we took I-40 to Santa Rosa where we stopped at 1 PM MST for our 8 hr break and refueling(202 gallons-I was pushing it). Cowboy and I went in, ate and returned to our trucks for sleeping. We chose to get up at 10 PM MST to get going again which we did. I went into the truckstop before we left and got some munchies. We hit the road at 10:30 PM MST and took I-40 east. By midnight, the end of our day, we were closing in on the Texas/New Mexico border...
May 20, 2010
May 20, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Phoenix, Arizona)
Woke up in the motel room around 6 AM PST(Arizona not on DAY LIGHT Savings Time)
and got ready to leave for San Manuel, Arizona. Still feeling a little effect of all the popcorn I ate yesterday...but it was good!!!
Last night I hooked back up to my trailer; dropped it yesterday so I could drive around the city. Did a vehicle inspection and got my paperwork before I left the motel at 9:15 AM PST.
Instead of taking I-10 back to Tucson and then going to San Manuel, I decided to go down I-17 to I-10 to Hwy 60 east. I followed Hwy 60(saw the modern city desert highway system-yep, I liked what I saw)to Florence Junction where I took Hwy 79 southeast past Florence(Arizona). I got to Hwy 77 and took it northeast to the road for San Manuel. The whole drive to San Manuel from Phoenix was a fantastic trip which I find hard to put in words.
Got to San Manuel, and the parking lot to the company I was picking up from, at 12:15 PM PST. I had taken my time and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. My day's enjoyment continued when "Cowboy", another driver from my company, pulled in shortly after I did. We checked in at the guard gate and found we were parked fine and that the company would start letting us in around 11 PM PST. We were off the main road through town with what looked like the town built up the mountainside to the west of us and the mining for copper done to the east of us. Cowboy had a bar-b-que pit(small round black one) so we went in his tractor, after unhooking his trailer, to the store and bought steaks and potatoes for dinner. We started the bar-b-que going around 4 PM PST and did some cooking. By this time we had other drivers that came in and used the pit. All us drivers sat around and talked trucker things for awhile. By this time(about 6 PM PST) there were 4 trucks from our company; the third had a husband and wife team driving it and the fourth truck driver never socialized with anyone.
We talked about the ways to St. Louis, Missouri from here and decided the safest and fastest was to go back through Tucson(Arizona) and get on I-10 eastbound.
I laid down for a nap at a little before 7 PM PST and got up at 10:45 PM PST. Cowboy was awake when the gates opened and the guard let us in according to the order in which we checked in. I was first and Cowboy was second. We were directed to back up to the two outdoor loading docks and wait, which we did.
As our day ended, we were waiting for our loads...
Woke up in the motel room around 6 AM PST(Arizona not on DAY LIGHT Savings Time)
and got ready to leave for San Manuel, Arizona. Still feeling a little effect of all the popcorn I ate yesterday...but it was good!!!
Last night I hooked back up to my trailer; dropped it yesterday so I could drive around the city. Did a vehicle inspection and got my paperwork before I left the motel at 9:15 AM PST.
Instead of taking I-10 back to Tucson and then going to San Manuel, I decided to go down I-17 to I-10 to Hwy 60 east. I followed Hwy 60(saw the modern city desert highway system-yep, I liked what I saw)to Florence Junction where I took Hwy 79 southeast past Florence(Arizona). I got to Hwy 77 and took it northeast to the road for San Manuel. The whole drive to San Manuel from Phoenix was a fantastic trip which I find hard to put in words.
Got to San Manuel, and the parking lot to the company I was picking up from, at 12:15 PM PST. I had taken my time and thoroughly enjoyed the ride. My day's enjoyment continued when "Cowboy", another driver from my company, pulled in shortly after I did. We checked in at the guard gate and found we were parked fine and that the company would start letting us in around 11 PM PST. We were off the main road through town with what looked like the town built up the mountainside to the west of us and the mining for copper done to the east of us. Cowboy had a bar-b-que pit(small round black one) so we went in his tractor, after unhooking his trailer, to the store and bought steaks and potatoes for dinner. We started the bar-b-que going around 4 PM PST and did some cooking. By this time we had other drivers that came in and used the pit. All us drivers sat around and talked trucker things for awhile. By this time(about 6 PM PST) there were 4 trucks from our company; the third had a husband and wife team driving it and the fourth truck driver never socialized with anyone.
We talked about the ways to St. Louis, Missouri from here and decided the safest and fastest was to go back through Tucson(Arizona) and get on I-10 eastbound.
I laid down for a nap at a little before 7 PM PST and got up at 10:45 PM PST. Cowboy was awake when the gates opened and the guard let us in according to the order in which we checked in. I was first and Cowboy was second. We were directed to back up to the two outdoor loading docks and wait, which we did.
As our day ended, we were waiting for our loads...
May 19, 2010
May 19, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Phoenix, Arizona)
Got up this morning after laying in my motel room bed for awhile watching the TV. I had nothing planned today so I wasn't in any hurry for anything. Made a check call and nothing had changed from my Sunday night pick up. Checked with the front desk and made sure I had this room for tonight as I decided to run around town.
Unhooked my trailer so I could bobtail(no trailer) around. I wasn't really worried that someone would steal my trailer but I put a pin lock(makes the trailer unable to hook up to another tractor) on the trailer pin and a pad lock on the rear doors. Then I felt secure.
I bobtailed into Glendale, Arizona and found a shopping area with a movie theater. I went to the Denny's Restaurant(I have found them to be decent no matter where I was) and had a double cheese burger, onion rings, diet soda(soft drink in Canada) and a chocolate/strawberry milk shake(special order). Afterward I went to the movies, sat through 3 shows, ate 3 1/2 buckets of popcorn and 2 huge diet sodas(soft drinks in Canada).
Not hungry when I returned to my motel room where I retired for the night somewhat early.
Got up this morning after laying in my motel room bed for awhile watching the TV. I had nothing planned today so I wasn't in any hurry for anything. Made a check call and nothing had changed from my Sunday night pick up. Checked with the front desk and made sure I had this room for tonight as I decided to run around town.
Unhooked my trailer so I could bobtail(no trailer) around. I wasn't really worried that someone would steal my trailer but I put a pin lock(makes the trailer unable to hook up to another tractor) on the trailer pin and a pad lock on the rear doors. Then I felt secure.
I bobtailed into Glendale, Arizona and found a shopping area with a movie theater. I went to the Denny's Restaurant(I have found them to be decent no matter where I was) and had a double cheese burger, onion rings, diet soda(soft drink in Canada) and a chocolate/strawberry milk shake(special order). Afterward I went to the movies, sat through 3 shows, ate 3 1/2 buckets of popcorn and 2 huge diet sodas(soft drinks in Canada).
Not hungry when I returned to my motel room where I retired for the night somewhat early.
May 18, 2010
May 18, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Phoenix, Arizona)
Was up and out of the motel by 6 AM PST(Arizona doesn't do DAY LIGHT SAVINGS) and heading toward my last drop of tires for this load. Headed north about a mile to Bell Rd. where I headed east. It was a couple miles before I found the tire store. I got there as the manager was showing up. I pulled into the lot and he hadn't entered the store yet so I talked with him for a minute. He told me where to back and he checked my door seal(it verifies that no one has been in trailer since it was sealed). He said it would be about an hour before we would get started. I said fine.
This store didn't have donuts like the store yesterday so I went across the street to McDonalds and had some "stuff"(I like "stuff") for breakfast.
I really enjoy delivering this companies tires(Discount Tire Stores--America's Tire Stores in California and I believe Oregon) as I never, in the years of delivering, met any one that was rude to me; they all were friendly at least. In Roy, Utah-as I will report in years to come-when I had a long lay over(days with no assignment) the manager let me send the last night I was there with his family and the assistant invited me to his home for Sunday dinner if I was still there(I wasn't). My empty truck sat next to the side of the unused area of the building. When the store opened the first couple days I spent in my sleeper there, The guys would wake me up by tossing out valve stems at my sleeper. When I got up, I would go to McDonalds and have breakfast with them.... When I was in training, the Discount Tire Store my trainer and I went to in northern Indiana was so friendly that my trainer bought their whole crew pizza for lunch. Yep, I never disliked delivering tires to any of the stores I visited in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Florida, Arizona, Indiana or Michigan.
Got empty by 9 AM PST and called dispatch. I was told to call back in an hour. This tire store didn't have the room for my truck to just sit there for awhile so I traveled back to I-17 & Bell Rd. When I got on Bell Rd. earlier today, I noticed a small convenience store with dirt parking behind it and it was there that I went to wait for a dispatch.
At 1 PM PST I called my dispatcher and asked he knew of any loads for me this late on a Friday. He went and talked to the load planners and came back with a load for me. I was to pick up in San Manuel, Arizona Monday AM. I was told to be there Sunday night as they start loading after midnight. I went back to the motel I stayed at and spent the weekend there...
Was up and out of the motel by 6 AM PST(Arizona doesn't do DAY LIGHT SAVINGS) and heading toward my last drop of tires for this load. Headed north about a mile to Bell Rd. where I headed east. It was a couple miles before I found the tire store. I got there as the manager was showing up. I pulled into the lot and he hadn't entered the store yet so I talked with him for a minute. He told me where to back and he checked my door seal(it verifies that no one has been in trailer since it was sealed). He said it would be about an hour before we would get started. I said fine.
This store didn't have donuts like the store yesterday so I went across the street to McDonalds and had some "stuff"(I like "stuff") for breakfast.
I really enjoy delivering this companies tires(Discount Tire Stores--America's Tire Stores in California and I believe Oregon) as I never, in the years of delivering, met any one that was rude to me; they all were friendly at least. In Roy, Utah-as I will report in years to come-when I had a long lay over(days with no assignment) the manager let me send the last night I was there with his family and the assistant invited me to his home for Sunday dinner if I was still there(I wasn't). My empty truck sat next to the side of the unused area of the building. When the store opened the first couple days I spent in my sleeper there, The guys would wake me up by tossing out valve stems at my sleeper. When I got up, I would go to McDonalds and have breakfast with them.... When I was in training, the Discount Tire Store my trainer and I went to in northern Indiana was so friendly that my trainer bought their whole crew pizza for lunch. Yep, I never disliked delivering tires to any of the stores I visited in California, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Florida, Arizona, Indiana or Michigan.
Got empty by 9 AM PST and called dispatch. I was told to call back in an hour. This tire store didn't have the room for my truck to just sit there for awhile so I traveled back to I-17 & Bell Rd. When I got on Bell Rd. earlier today, I noticed a small convenience store with dirt parking behind it and it was there that I went to wait for a dispatch.
At 1 PM PST I called my dispatcher and asked he knew of any loads for me this late on a Friday. He went and talked to the load planners and came back with a load for me. I was to pick up in San Manuel, Arizona Monday AM. I was told to be there Sunday night as they start loading after midnight. I went back to the motel I stayed at and spent the weekend there...
May 17, 2010
May 17, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Tucson, Arizona)
I was awake before the tire store opened as I slept real well last night. The employees started showing up and the manager had a couple guys start helping me get the tires off before the store officially opened. We got their tires off and then it was to the second tire store that day. The second was on Ina Road on the north side of town. Got there and they offered me donuts, of which I took two. Got there tires off with no problem and it was off to their Mesa, Arizona store.
I have to put down here that I love most of what I see around North America. In this part of the continent it has to be the Latin/Mexican architecture and most of the desert atmosphere. I just love being around it.
I stopped in Casa Grande, Arizona--while traveling I-10--for fuel only and put in 67 gallons. I would have had breakfast but I wanted to get unloaded as soon as possible. After refueling, but a cooked turkey leg at the fuel island store and "hit" the road heading for Mesa, Arizona.
By the time I got Mesa's tires off and then Glendale's(both cities in Arizona), it was running late in the day. I was on time so I wasn't worried about being late. I called dispatch and they called the Phoenix store that was my last drop. They asked that I make their delivery in the morning which I agreed to.
I found a nice motel with truck parking so I stayed there for the night. I went across the street for some munchies for my dinner and it was back to the motel room...
Will be heading into the Arizona mountains...
I was awake before the tire store opened as I slept real well last night. The employees started showing up and the manager had a couple guys start helping me get the tires off before the store officially opened. We got their tires off and then it was to the second tire store that day. The second was on Ina Road on the north side of town. Got there and they offered me donuts, of which I took two. Got there tires off with no problem and it was off to their Mesa, Arizona store.
I have to put down here that I love most of what I see around North America. In this part of the continent it has to be the Latin/Mexican architecture and most of the desert atmosphere. I just love being around it.
I stopped in Casa Grande, Arizona--while traveling I-10--for fuel only and put in 67 gallons. I would have had breakfast but I wanted to get unloaded as soon as possible. After refueling, but a cooked turkey leg at the fuel island store and "hit" the road heading for Mesa, Arizona.
By the time I got Mesa's tires off and then Glendale's(both cities in Arizona), it was running late in the day. I was on time so I wasn't worried about being late. I called dispatch and they called the Phoenix store that was my last drop. They asked that I make their delivery in the morning which I agreed to.
I found a nice motel with truck parking so I stayed there for the night. I went across the street for some munchies for my dinner and it was back to the motel room...
Will be heading into the Arizona mountains...
May 16, 2010
May 16, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Carlsbad, New Mexico)
Woke up between 5:30 and 6 AM MST and just laid there. The Wal-Mart store I was next to wasn't open when I was ready to leave at 6:30 AM MST so I headed west on Hwy 180 without visiting the store. Traveled passed Whites City, new Mexico-home of the famous Carlsbad Caverns- and over the Guadalupe Mountains after I entered Texas. I stopped for a couple minutes at the rest area on the downgrade for the mountains where I could see the desert in front of me and EL CAPITAN-a famous peak-behind me; simply a beautiful site.
Traveled through the desert to El Paso, Texas, getting there at 10 AM MST. I stopped at our terminal in El Paso and got fuel(122 gallons) and sat in the trucker lounge for awhile and talked to the other drivers.
I found another driver going to Mesa, Arizona(I was only going to Tucson) that said he would run with me. He knew where my first drop was in Tucson and that there was a steak house across the street from it. We talked which made the time go faster and we didn't pay attention to the surroundings we were passing. We passed into Arizona where we had to stop at the state weight station. We both did OK. We got to Tucson at 4:30 PM MST and he took me to my first stop. We parked on a side street across from the steak house and tire store. We went and ate and returned to our trucks. He continued on and I checked in with the tire store. They said I would have to wait to unload until tomorrow but that I could sleep on their property.
After they closed for the night, I backed up to the door they said I needed to be at. It was a nice night and not hot so I opened my bunk side doors and did some writing and paperwork. While I was working while sitting on my bunk, a gal knocked on my tractor and asked if I dated. I told her yes and she asked if I would go to a party with her. I declined as I didn't know her or what type a party it was. There was alot of activity at the apartment complex next to me and I was sure it wasn't all legal. It kept going until at least midnight.
As the night grew darker, I turned on my engine-for air conditioning- and TV and laid there until I went to sleep...
Woke up between 5:30 and 6 AM MST and just laid there. The Wal-Mart store I was next to wasn't open when I was ready to leave at 6:30 AM MST so I headed west on Hwy 180 without visiting the store. Traveled passed Whites City, new Mexico-home of the famous Carlsbad Caverns- and over the Guadalupe Mountains after I entered Texas. I stopped for a couple minutes at the rest area on the downgrade for the mountains where I could see the desert in front of me and EL CAPITAN-a famous peak-behind me; simply a beautiful site.
Traveled through the desert to El Paso, Texas, getting there at 10 AM MST. I stopped at our terminal in El Paso and got fuel(122 gallons) and sat in the trucker lounge for awhile and talked to the other drivers.
I found another driver going to Mesa, Arizona(I was only going to Tucson) that said he would run with me. He knew where my first drop was in Tucson and that there was a steak house across the street from it. We talked which made the time go faster and we didn't pay attention to the surroundings we were passing. We passed into Arizona where we had to stop at the state weight station. We both did OK. We got to Tucson at 4:30 PM MST and he took me to my first stop. We parked on a side street across from the steak house and tire store. We went and ate and returned to our trucks. He continued on and I checked in with the tire store. They said I would have to wait to unload until tomorrow but that I could sleep on their property.
After they closed for the night, I backed up to the door they said I needed to be at. It was a nice night and not hot so I opened my bunk side doors and did some writing and paperwork. While I was working while sitting on my bunk, a gal knocked on my tractor and asked if I dated. I told her yes and she asked if I would go to a party with her. I declined as I didn't know her or what type a party it was. There was alot of activity at the apartment complex next to me and I was sure it wasn't all legal. It kept going until at least midnight.
As the night grew darker, I turned on my engine-for air conditioning- and TV and laid there until I went to sleep...
May 15, 2010
May 15, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Red Oak, Texas)
I woke up around 7 AM CST with my TV and engine going. I checked in with dispatch and was told that they had a load of tires coming in that will go to Arizona. Dispatch asked if I wanted it and I say, "YES!"for two reasons. One, it was a good load and two, it got me off the common routes our company runs regularly.
The load came in and I hooked up to it. The weight by the paperwork said 28,266 lbs of tires and so that was no problem. I fueled(128 gallons). I was ready to leave and left by noon CST. I headed up I-35E to I-20 where I went west. I followed I 20 west through some pretty boring land. This area is one of the many areas in Texas I don't enjoy traveling through. Got past Abilene and Sweetwater where I took Hwy 84 to Snyder, Texas. At Snyder, I stopped at the Diary Queen ice cream place on Hwy 180 and got a large raspberry shake. Followed Hwy 180 west through Seminole, Texas where they have, or had, the smallest Wal-Mart store I ever saw. Kept on Hwy 180 into New Mexico and through Hobbs(New Mexico). After Hobbs I took Hwy 529(pretty interesting travel if you like oil rigs) to Hwy 82. Went through Artesia on Hwy 82 and went past Artesia, The road had some huge signs I didn't pay any attention to.
Got through the little town of Hope, New Mexico and I saw the signs again. They said that I couldn't continue on this highway unless I had an engine retarder(Jake Brake?) because of the mountain road's steepness. I pulled over and truly thought about continuing. Should I or shouldn't I??? I really thought and thought. I decided to return to Artesia and go down to Carlsbad, New Mexico as a driver that past me said that often there will be an officer checking for engine retarders down the road. This I did even though I hate to back track!
I got to Carlsbad and shut down at 10:15 PM CST for the night in the dirt lot next to the Wal-Mart store. I adjusted my time so it didn't show the screw up with going to Artesia. Yep, it showed me going from Hobbs to Carlsbad. Hey, it is lost money if time becomes short. I turned on my TV, laid down, left my engine running-for the air conditioning- and went to sleep...
I woke up around 7 AM CST with my TV and engine going. I checked in with dispatch and was told that they had a load of tires coming in that will go to Arizona. Dispatch asked if I wanted it and I say, "YES!"for two reasons. One, it was a good load and two, it got me off the common routes our company runs regularly.
The load came in and I hooked up to it. The weight by the paperwork said 28,266 lbs of tires and so that was no problem. I fueled(128 gallons). I was ready to leave and left by noon CST. I headed up I-35E to I-20 where I went west. I followed I 20 west through some pretty boring land. This area is one of the many areas in Texas I don't enjoy traveling through. Got past Abilene and Sweetwater where I took Hwy 84 to Snyder, Texas. At Snyder, I stopped at the Diary Queen ice cream place on Hwy 180 and got a large raspberry shake. Followed Hwy 180 west through Seminole, Texas where they have, or had, the smallest Wal-Mart store I ever saw. Kept on Hwy 180 into New Mexico and through Hobbs(New Mexico). After Hobbs I took Hwy 529(pretty interesting travel if you like oil rigs) to Hwy 82. Went through Artesia on Hwy 82 and went past Artesia, The road had some huge signs I didn't pay any attention to.
Got through the little town of Hope, New Mexico and I saw the signs again. They said that I couldn't continue on this highway unless I had an engine retarder(Jake Brake?) because of the mountain road's steepness. I pulled over and truly thought about continuing. Should I or shouldn't I??? I really thought and thought. I decided to return to Artesia and go down to Carlsbad, New Mexico as a driver that past me said that often there will be an officer checking for engine retarders down the road. This I did even though I hate to back track!
I got to Carlsbad and shut down at 10:15 PM CST for the night in the dirt lot next to the Wal-Mart store. I adjusted my time so it didn't show the screw up with going to Artesia. Yep, it showed me going from Hobbs to Carlsbad. Hey, it is lost money if time becomes short. I turned on my TV, laid down, left my engine running-for the air conditioning- and went to sleep...
May 14, 2010
May 14, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Stafford, Texas)
Was awake at 3:15 AM CST and couldn't go back to sleep. Wasn't worried about finding my delivery point as I had been there before. Was up and heading for delivery at 4:30 AM CST. Took off up Hwy 59 toward the downtown area of Houston were I caught the I-610 loop and took it to the north side. Got to the receiver a little before 5:30 AM CST and just parked on the street.
I sat in my cab and wrote in my journal and got my logbook caught up. About 6 AM CST some activity was seen at the receiver. I checked in at 6:30 AM CST and was told to back up to the dock; I did. I got out and walked in to watch the unloading. A gal unloaded me and she moved that fork truck pretty fast. I was unloaded by 7:15 AM CST and calling dispatch at 7:30 AM CST. I called the dispatch in Joplin, Missouri and was told to call Red Oak( Dallas, Texas) terminal for dispatch; I did. I was told to deadhead(go empty) to Red Oak Terminal and check in
Wasn't in any hurry so I took side "city" roads to I-45 north. Didn't see anything on the side roads except traffic. Yep, I guess I was watching traffic instead of looking around at things. Took I-45 north and stopped at the rest area outside of Huntsville, Texas. Took a short break and brought two packages of Hostess Snowballs from the junk food machine. Got back to heading north on I-45. Got to I-20 and took it west to I-35E south to Red Oak. Pulled into the terminal around noon and dropped my trailer. Checked in with dispatch and was told I would be here until tomorrow...OH JOY! Just hung around the terminal and talked to the others until the terminal closed. Went out to my tractor, watched TV and went to sleep...
Tomorrow: "Should I or shouldn't I???"
Was awake at 3:15 AM CST and couldn't go back to sleep. Wasn't worried about finding my delivery point as I had been there before. Was up and heading for delivery at 4:30 AM CST. Took off up Hwy 59 toward the downtown area of Houston were I caught the I-610 loop and took it to the north side. Got to the receiver a little before 5:30 AM CST and just parked on the street.
I sat in my cab and wrote in my journal and got my logbook caught up. About 6 AM CST some activity was seen at the receiver. I checked in at 6:30 AM CST and was told to back up to the dock; I did. I got out and walked in to watch the unloading. A gal unloaded me and she moved that fork truck pretty fast. I was unloaded by 7:15 AM CST and calling dispatch at 7:30 AM CST. I called the dispatch in Joplin, Missouri and was told to call Red Oak( Dallas, Texas) terminal for dispatch; I did. I was told to deadhead(go empty) to Red Oak Terminal and check in
Wasn't in any hurry so I took side "city" roads to I-45 north. Didn't see anything on the side roads except traffic. Yep, I guess I was watching traffic instead of looking around at things. Took I-45 north and stopped at the rest area outside of Huntsville, Texas. Took a short break and brought two packages of Hostess Snowballs from the junk food machine. Got back to heading north on I-45. Got to I-20 and took it west to I-35E south to Red Oak. Pulled into the terminal around noon and dropped my trailer. Checked in with dispatch and was told I would be here until tomorrow...OH JOY! Just hung around the terminal and talked to the others until the terminal closed. Went out to my tractor, watched TV and went to sleep...
Tomorrow: "Should I or shouldn't I???"
May 13, 2010
May 13, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Laredo, Texas)
Woke up early while sleeping in my tractor at the terminal. The terminal had just opened up and I checked with dispatch to see if I would be getting out today. I was number 8 on the trucker's ready board and I was told that there was only a slim chance of me getting out. Dispatch told me that he had a load for Houston, Texas that was due Tuesday but I could deliver tomorrow if I wanted it. I took it and found that I had been to that place before. I was ready to go by 8:45 AM CST. The load was 32,000 lbs and not bad. I got on Hwy 59 heading toward Houston.
Stopped at the border check and had no problem. The border guards were having a easy day so far.
Stopped in Freer, Texas(home of an annual "Rattlesnake" festival) and got a couple ice cream bars and a soda(soft drink in Canada). Was there about 30 minutes.
Went through Beeville, Texas around 11:30 AM CST. This town had a downtown bypass that is well marked but I don't like to take it. The bypass is too much out of the way and not very good. I just went through town and had no problem.
Had two lane roads until I got to Victoria, Texas. The bypass around Victoria is great. Took it and got on the four lane highway. Followed the four lane to Stafford, Texas where I stopped at a convenience store with truck parking before I got to Houston. The time was about 2:45 PM CST and so I had time to "goof" around. There were two drivers at the convenience store that I talked to for awhile. Spent the rest of day in Stafford and went to bed with my engine running before the sun went down. ..
Woke up early while sleeping in my tractor at the terminal. The terminal had just opened up and I checked with dispatch to see if I would be getting out today. I was number 8 on the trucker's ready board and I was told that there was only a slim chance of me getting out. Dispatch told me that he had a load for Houston, Texas that was due Tuesday but I could deliver tomorrow if I wanted it. I took it and found that I had been to that place before. I was ready to go by 8:45 AM CST. The load was 32,000 lbs and not bad. I got on Hwy 59 heading toward Houston.
Stopped at the border check and had no problem. The border guards were having a easy day so far.
Stopped in Freer, Texas(home of an annual "Rattlesnake" festival) and got a couple ice cream bars and a soda(soft drink in Canada). Was there about 30 minutes.
Went through Beeville, Texas around 11:30 AM CST. This town had a downtown bypass that is well marked but I don't like to take it. The bypass is too much out of the way and not very good. I just went through town and had no problem.
Had two lane roads until I got to Victoria, Texas. The bypass around Victoria is great. Took it and got on the four lane highway. Followed the four lane to Stafford, Texas where I stopped at a convenience store with truck parking before I got to Houston. The time was about 2:45 PM CST and so I had time to "goof" around. There were two drivers at the convenience store that I talked to for awhile. Spent the rest of day in Stafford and went to bed with my engine running before the sun went down. ..
May 12, 2010
May 12, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Laredo, Texas)
Was in Laredo also day with little to do. I didn't work on any projects that I had as I just lazzed around. I went to eat after I checked out of my motel room. After the restaurant, I went to the mall and walked around. I wasn't impressed but who said I had to be. Went to the terminal, talked with the other drivers and watched me get closer to number 1 on the trucker's ready board. When the terminal closed Saturday night, I was number 8 on the board. Went out to my tractor, turned on my engine(for the air conditioning) and TV and went to sleep...
SIDE NOTE:
When learning to drive, I was told to never stop my unit on railroad tracts EVEN with the engine running. One time in Chicago(Illinois) I had just finished a delivery and was sitting waiting for a load. I was sitting in the parking lot that had a view of a multi-track railway crossing when a smaller semitruck-marked as a truck school-stopped on the tracks. I don't know why it stopped or how the engine stalled but it did. The driver couldn't get it started and finally used the starter motor to pull the unit off the tracks. They got off the tracts before a train came along. I would imagine that the tractor had a gasoline engine that had "flooded" as they got it going shortly....
Was in Laredo also day with little to do. I didn't work on any projects that I had as I just lazzed around. I went to eat after I checked out of my motel room. After the restaurant, I went to the mall and walked around. I wasn't impressed but who said I had to be. Went to the terminal, talked with the other drivers and watched me get closer to number 1 on the trucker's ready board. When the terminal closed Saturday night, I was number 8 on the board. Went out to my tractor, turned on my engine(for the air conditioning) and TV and went to sleep...
SIDE NOTE:
When learning to drive, I was told to never stop my unit on railroad tracts EVEN with the engine running. One time in Chicago(Illinois) I had just finished a delivery and was sitting waiting for a load. I was sitting in the parking lot that had a view of a multi-track railway crossing when a smaller semitruck-marked as a truck school-stopped on the tracks. I don't know why it stopped or how the engine stalled but it did. The driver couldn't get it started and finally used the starter motor to pull the unit off the tracks. They got off the tracts before a train came along. I would imagine that the tractor had a gasoline engine that had "flooded" as they got it going shortly....
May 11, 2010
May 11, 1990, 2020
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday- Laredo, Texas)
I woke up and found that I was in the 200s on the trucker's ready board. That meant that I would be here for a couple days. All I did was drop my trailer in the yard as instructed to do by dispatch and hand the paperwork over.
Got a motel room and the motel's parking lot looked like a parking lot for our tractors as there were so many of them there. I walked over to Wal-Mart and said hello to Laura, a gal I met awhile ago. She was busy working so I just shopped...Didn't get anything.
Went over to the Chinese Restaurant I like and it was OK today. My day has only been OK today and nothing exciting. Went back to the motel room and then out to the pool. No one at the pool so I went back to my room...Stayed in my room and watched TV the rest of this exciting day...
Trucking Frustrations: I had just dropped a meat load and my trailer needed washed out as it had a good amount of cow blood on the floors. I called dispatch and was told to go to Lititz, Pennsylvania and pick up a load to New Braunfels, Texas. I hadn't been that far down I-35 in quite awhile and was excited about going. Going to Lititz, the only place to get my trailer cleaned out was down in Lancaster(Pennsylvania) through a bunch of highway construction. I got the trailer washed out and to the pickup, through small streets made for horse pulled buggies, before 11 AM EST. I reported in and dropped my clean trailer. This pickup didn't want us to keep asking how the load is doing, or when it will be ready, and had it posted so. I waited for the load with excitement. The gal that took over the shipping window for second shift was pretty nice so I asked her about my load. She looked for it and couldn't find it in the ready pile. She checked the "gone" papers and found that it left around 2 PM EST. I couldn't believe it...The load I really wanted was gone!!! I was waiting for a load that wasn't , and wouldn't be, there. I called dispatch and was told to wait until the next day. The next day came and I was sent to York, Pennsylvania for a heavy load to the Kansas City area.......
I woke up and found that I was in the 200s on the trucker's ready board. That meant that I would be here for a couple days. All I did was drop my trailer in the yard as instructed to do by dispatch and hand the paperwork over.
Got a motel room and the motel's parking lot looked like a parking lot for our tractors as there were so many of them there. I walked over to Wal-Mart and said hello to Laura, a gal I met awhile ago. She was busy working so I just shopped...Didn't get anything.
Went over to the Chinese Restaurant I like and it was OK today. My day has only been OK today and nothing exciting. Went back to the motel room and then out to the pool. No one at the pool so I went back to my room...Stayed in my room and watched TV the rest of this exciting day...
Trucking Frustrations: I had just dropped a meat load and my trailer needed washed out as it had a good amount of cow blood on the floors. I called dispatch and was told to go to Lititz, Pennsylvania and pick up a load to New Braunfels, Texas. I hadn't been that far down I-35 in quite awhile and was excited about going. Going to Lititz, the only place to get my trailer cleaned out was down in Lancaster(Pennsylvania) through a bunch of highway construction. I got the trailer washed out and to the pickup, through small streets made for horse pulled buggies, before 11 AM EST. I reported in and dropped my clean trailer. This pickup didn't want us to keep asking how the load is doing, or when it will be ready, and had it posted so. I waited for the load with excitement. The gal that took over the shipping window for second shift was pretty nice so I asked her about my load. She looked for it and couldn't find it in the ready pile. She checked the "gone" papers and found that it left around 2 PM EST. I couldn't believe it...The load I really wanted was gone!!! I was waiting for a load that wasn't , and wouldn't be, there. I called dispatch and was told to wait until the next day. The next day came and I was sent to York, Pennsylvania for a heavy load to the Kansas City area.......
May 10, 2010
May 10, 1990, 2010
FIRST FIRST YEARS:(Thursday- Anna, Texas)
I woke up at 3:55 AM CST as I looked at my bunk clock. Could not go back to sleep so I got up. Did my paperwork, vehicle inspection and a walk around the parking lot. Was heading south on Hwy 75 by 5 am CST.
By 6 AM CST I had found the receiving company, checked in and was backed up to the docks. They were slow getting me unloaded and so I didn't get unloaded until 10:15 AM CST. I called our Red Oak(Dallas, Texas area) dispatch and was told to go to our terminal.
I went to the terminal and talked with the other drivers(only 2) that were there and the dispatcher(no dispatch "window" at this terminal). At 2 PM CST a load came in that needed to go to Laredo(Texas) and neither the drivers-both ahead of me on the trucker's ready board-wanted it. I took it and was happy about it. I enjoyed talking with the guys at Red Oak alot but I am out here to go places...I mean "earn money".
I was on my way south on I-35E by 3 PM and heading for "going home" traffic problems. Waco(Texas) was the first sign of traffic but it wasn't too bad. Temple(Texas) had the most traffic for the days travels but it only required me to slow down a little. By the time I reached Austin, I just took the upper level of the "through town" interstate(I-35) and went right through the city with no problem.
Got to the San Antonio(Texas) truckstop that is our fuel stop("Just a Truckstop") and fueled(142 gallons). Got some munchies and a diet soda(soft drink in Canada) and headed for Laredo. Was in Laredo after the long stretch of I-35 around 10 PM CST. Just backed my truck into a parking space and went to sleep....
I woke up at 3:55 AM CST as I looked at my bunk clock. Could not go back to sleep so I got up. Did my paperwork, vehicle inspection and a walk around the parking lot. Was heading south on Hwy 75 by 5 am CST.
By 6 AM CST I had found the receiving company, checked in and was backed up to the docks. They were slow getting me unloaded and so I didn't get unloaded until 10:15 AM CST. I called our Red Oak(Dallas, Texas area) dispatch and was told to go to our terminal.
I went to the terminal and talked with the other drivers(only 2) that were there and the dispatcher(no dispatch "window" at this terminal). At 2 PM CST a load came in that needed to go to Laredo(Texas) and neither the drivers-both ahead of me on the trucker's ready board-wanted it. I took it and was happy about it. I enjoyed talking with the guys at Red Oak alot but I am out here to go places...I mean "earn money".
I was on my way south on I-35E by 3 PM and heading for "going home" traffic problems. Waco(Texas) was the first sign of traffic but it wasn't too bad. Temple(Texas) had the most traffic for the days travels but it only required me to slow down a little. By the time I reached Austin, I just took the upper level of the "through town" interstate(I-35) and went right through the city with no problem.
Got to the San Antonio(Texas) truckstop that is our fuel stop("Just a Truckstop") and fueled(142 gallons). Got some munchies and a diet soda(soft drink in Canada) and headed for Laredo. Was in Laredo after the long stretch of I-35 around 10 PM CST. Just backed my truck into a parking space and went to sleep....
May 9, 2010
May 9, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Things running slow today. Went to Sand Springs, Oklahoma and picked up my load of glass jars to Dallas, Texas. Left there at 10 AM CST and went to Tulsa on Hwy 412. At I-244, I took it to Hwy 75 where I went south. Followed it through some of the dry looking and "hilly" parts of Oklahoma. I wouldn't want to live anywhere through here...Of course, I enjoy traveling and really don't want to "live" anywhere...
Hwy 75 hooked up with Hwy 69 southbound in Oklahoma and that's when I started talking with another driver from a different company than mine. We talked on the CB radio about this and that and things were going pretty good. There was a restaurant in Denison, Texas that I liked(not there anymore) and the other driver said he'd stop with me. We got out of our trucks and boy was he huge....He actually made me look small. We went in and both ordered steaks. He did nothing but complain about everything. Truckers, as a whole, do alot of complaining but this fellow out did most of them. I wasn't too happy with our conversations anymore and when we got back on the road I was able to "loose" him because of the traffic we had to go through.
I got to the truckstop in Anna, Texas about 3 PM CST and since I had no appointment and there was no hurry for the load, I stopped there. The restaurant wasn't bad and they had a movie room I was able to hang out at....Stayed here for the night...
Things running slow today. Went to Sand Springs, Oklahoma and picked up my load of glass jars to Dallas, Texas. Left there at 10 AM CST and went to Tulsa on Hwy 412. At I-244, I took it to Hwy 75 where I went south. Followed it through some of the dry looking and "hilly" parts of Oklahoma. I wouldn't want to live anywhere through here...Of course, I enjoy traveling and really don't want to "live" anywhere...
Hwy 75 hooked up with Hwy 69 southbound in Oklahoma and that's when I started talking with another driver from a different company than mine. We talked on the CB radio about this and that and things were going pretty good. There was a restaurant in Denison, Texas that I liked(not there anymore) and the other driver said he'd stop with me. We got out of our trucks and boy was he huge....He actually made me look small. We went in and both ordered steaks. He did nothing but complain about everything. Truckers, as a whole, do alot of complaining but this fellow out did most of them. I wasn't too happy with our conversations anymore and when we got back on the road I was able to "loose" him because of the traffic we had to go through.
I got to the truckstop in Anna, Texas about 3 PM CST and since I had no appointment and there was no hurry for the load, I stopped there. The restaurant wasn't bad and they had a movie room I was able to hang out at....Stayed here for the night...
May 8, 2010
May 8, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday- traveling)
As my day started, I was closing in on Mt Vernon, Missouri as I headed for Joplin, Missouri on I-44. I had on a load a radio speakers going to the Oklahoma City assembly plant. I got to our Joplin terminal and was sitting at the fuel islands at 1:30 AM CST; took on 118 gallons of fuel.
My old friend Sundance(his handle-nickname) was in the trucker lounge as I walked in. He was just passing through as I was. He was on his was to Flagstaff, Arizona and going through Oklahoma City. I was out of hours but I decided to run to Oklahoma City with him.
Sundance and I left by 2:15 AM CST and headed west(southwest) on I-44. We got off the trucker CB radio channel of 19 and went to channel 27. We talked all the way to Oklahoma City where we split up. Time went sooo fast while we were talking that it seemed like we were not on the Oklahoma turnpike very long.
I was at the assembly plant by 5:45 AM CST and out of there by a little after 6 AM CST. I took my empty trailer to the "Just a Truckstop" truckstop and called dispatch. Told them I had delivered and that I was taking the day off as my 70 hour logbook rule was within 1 1/2 hours of being out of time. Dispatch said OK and I went into the restaurant and had breakfast. After breakfast, went to bed and slept to 5 PM CST.
When I woke up, I went into the truckstop, made a check call and found out that I had a load for tomorrow assigned to me. I was to pick up in Sand Springs(Tulsa area), Oklahoma and get a load to Dallas, Texas. I had the time to get to the Tulsa truckstop I was thinking of and so I went back to I-44 and went northeast on it.
Had a bad evening after getting to Tulsa as this truckstop didn't have really anything to do for drivers and I was not at all tired. I just wrote, watched TV and napped off and on....
It seems like I have been doing to same thing day after day lately...I have but that's trucking. Will shortly be going west to Phoenix and east New York... It's is interesting how even a non-dedicated driver(no "regular" route) will get into a routing rut....
As my day started, I was closing in on Mt Vernon, Missouri as I headed for Joplin, Missouri on I-44. I had on a load a radio speakers going to the Oklahoma City assembly plant. I got to our Joplin terminal and was sitting at the fuel islands at 1:30 AM CST; took on 118 gallons of fuel.
My old friend Sundance(his handle-nickname) was in the trucker lounge as I walked in. He was just passing through as I was. He was on his was to Flagstaff, Arizona and going through Oklahoma City. I was out of hours but I decided to run to Oklahoma City with him.
Sundance and I left by 2:15 AM CST and headed west(southwest) on I-44. We got off the trucker CB radio channel of 19 and went to channel 27. We talked all the way to Oklahoma City where we split up. Time went sooo fast while we were talking that it seemed like we were not on the Oklahoma turnpike very long.
I was at the assembly plant by 5:45 AM CST and out of there by a little after 6 AM CST. I took my empty trailer to the "Just a Truckstop" truckstop and called dispatch. Told them I had delivered and that I was taking the day off as my 70 hour logbook rule was within 1 1/2 hours of being out of time. Dispatch said OK and I went into the restaurant and had breakfast. After breakfast, went to bed and slept to 5 PM CST.
When I woke up, I went into the truckstop, made a check call and found out that I had a load for tomorrow assigned to me. I was to pick up in Sand Springs(Tulsa area), Oklahoma and get a load to Dallas, Texas. I had the time to get to the Tulsa truckstop I was thinking of and so I went back to I-44 and went northeast on it.
Had a bad evening after getting to Tulsa as this truckstop didn't have really anything to do for drivers and I was not at all tired. I just wrote, watched TV and napped off and on....
It seems like I have been doing to same thing day after day lately...I have but that's trucking. Will shortly be going west to Phoenix and east New York... It's is interesting how even a non-dedicated driver(no "regular" route) will get into a routing rut....
May 7, 2010
May 7, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday- Plainfield, Illinois)
As my day started, I was in the truckstop movie room just talking to the other drivers. I wasn't feeling tired at all and didn't really know what I was going to do. About 12:30 AM CST the last driver I was talking to went to his truck to bed(I guess he did) and I got me a soda(soft drink in Canada) and went to my tractor. I updated my logbook. I am the type that has to at least find the receiver before I can sleep so I headed up I-55 toward Chicago. I got off at Cicero Avenue and went south passed Midway Airport. Got to the receiver and found they had a guard that told me that I could open my doors and park at the docks and wait to be unloaded. GREAT!!! I did that and laid down, turned my TV on and "napped" until I felt the trailer being entered.
I was unloaded by 8:30 AM CST and called dispatch looking for my next load...I was told to make sure my trailer was clean and then pick up a load of auto speakers going to the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma auto assembly plant. I had a broom in my side box so I swept the trailer out and headed for my pickup off of I-55. Didn't take long and I found the pickup company. I was told that my appointment wasn't until 11 AM CST and to check back then. I sat on the street with several other trucks until 11 AM CST when I was given the dock to back up to.
I was loaded and on my was south on I-55 at 2 PM CST. I was feeling great and got my logbook showing a full10 hours to drive. At 4:15 PM CST I stopped at Funks Grove, Illinois rest area and took a less than 15 minute break. Was back on the road by 4:30 PM CST. Got to St. Louis, Missouri, and over the Mississippi River, at 7:15 PM CST and went right through the downtown area as rush hour was over. Got on I-44 west.
Stopped in Sullivan, Missouri at the truckstop for some munchies and a soda(soda drink in Canada). Wasn't there very long and continued on I-44 west. My day ended went I was between Springfield(Missouri) and Mt. Vernon, Missouri traveling west.
As my day started, I was in the truckstop movie room just talking to the other drivers. I wasn't feeling tired at all and didn't really know what I was going to do. About 12:30 AM CST the last driver I was talking to went to his truck to bed(I guess he did) and I got me a soda(soft drink in Canada) and went to my tractor. I updated my logbook. I am the type that has to at least find the receiver before I can sleep so I headed up I-55 toward Chicago. I got off at Cicero Avenue and went south passed Midway Airport. Got to the receiver and found they had a guard that told me that I could open my doors and park at the docks and wait to be unloaded. GREAT!!! I did that and laid down, turned my TV on and "napped" until I felt the trailer being entered.
I was unloaded by 8:30 AM CST and called dispatch looking for my next load...I was told to make sure my trailer was clean and then pick up a load of auto speakers going to the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma auto assembly plant. I had a broom in my side box so I swept the trailer out and headed for my pickup off of I-55. Didn't take long and I found the pickup company. I was told that my appointment wasn't until 11 AM CST and to check back then. I sat on the street with several other trucks until 11 AM CST when I was given the dock to back up to.
I was loaded and on my was south on I-55 at 2 PM CST. I was feeling great and got my logbook showing a full10 hours to drive. At 4:15 PM CST I stopped at Funks Grove, Illinois rest area and took a less than 15 minute break. Was back on the road by 4:30 PM CST. Got to St. Louis, Missouri, and over the Mississippi River, at 7:15 PM CST and went right through the downtown area as rush hour was over. Got on I-44 west.
Stopped in Sullivan, Missouri at the truckstop for some munchies and a soda(soda drink in Canada). Wasn't there very long and continued on I-44 west. My day ended went I was between Springfield(Missouri) and Mt. Vernon, Missouri traveling west.
May 6, 2010
May 6, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-traveling)
Had just passed Troy, Illinois a few minutes after my day started. Beautiful night for traveling but night traffic pretty heavy through St. Louis. This time of day is the best for me to go through Illinois as I don't pay attention so much to all the flat, treeless farmland.
At 1:30 AM CST, I pulled into McLean, Illinois where I decided to fuel first. I took on 70 gallons of fuel and then decided to keep moving north as I felt great, I had driving time and the night is so beautiful. I got my logbook caught up and then continued up I-55 after getting some munchies and a soda(soft drink in Canada). Left McLean just after 2 AM CST and drove into the truckstop at Plainfield, Illinois before 4 AM CST. I bedded down here for a good nap, or sleep, with my engine running so I could have the air conditioner running.
I slept until 1 PM CST and didn't have my alarm on. I woke and went into the truckstop to have lunch and what would be my last meal for the day.
I wasn't far from the receiver so I decided to stay here until tomorrow morning. There is no appointment time for unloading the load so I stayed at the truckstop and watched movies with the other drivers until around midnight....
Had just passed Troy, Illinois a few minutes after my day started. Beautiful night for traveling but night traffic pretty heavy through St. Louis. This time of day is the best for me to go through Illinois as I don't pay attention so much to all the flat, treeless farmland.
At 1:30 AM CST, I pulled into McLean, Illinois where I decided to fuel first. I took on 70 gallons of fuel and then decided to keep moving north as I felt great, I had driving time and the night is so beautiful. I got my logbook caught up and then continued up I-55 after getting some munchies and a soda(soft drink in Canada). Left McLean just after 2 AM CST and drove into the truckstop at Plainfield, Illinois before 4 AM CST. I bedded down here for a good nap, or sleep, with my engine running so I could have the air conditioner running.
I slept until 1 PM CST and didn't have my alarm on. I woke and went into the truckstop to have lunch and what would be my last meal for the day.
I wasn't far from the receiver so I decided to stay here until tomorrow morning. There is no appointment time for unloading the load so I stayed at the truckstop and watched movies with the other drivers until around midnight....
May 5, 2010
May 5, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday- Joplin, Missouri)
Woke up this Saturday morning and found that I would be here for the day most likely. Since this is the headquarters for our company and the first Saturday of the month, we had a company drivers meeting. I went to it and it was informative and fun.
So our tractors won't be running all over the city, the company payed for us to take taxis where we needed to go. A couple of us took a taxi to eat at the buffet restaurant. We took our time and stuffed our faces. We had a great waitress and spent about 1 1/2 hour there so we left a good 50% tip. Took taxi back to the terminal yard. I went to my tractor and took a nap.
About 4 PM CST I went in and talked to dispatch. I asked if I could get one of the loads they were going to give out tomorrow so I could get going now. He said OK and gave me a load to Chicago...the same load I dropped in the load last Thursday. That's great. I fueled(78 gallons) and hooked up to the trailer. I did my logbook and vehicle inspection and was off(5:45 PM CST) east on I-44 after talking some more with a couple drivers.
A beautiful evening for travel, especially with the sun going down behind me. About Springfield, Missouri another driver from our company pulled out onto I-44 going east also. We decided to run together. "Sweet Child", the other driver's handle(CB radio nickname), was going to Ohio. We would run to East St. Louis, Illinois together where she would take I-70 east and I would take I-55 north. The darkness of the night really didn't become obvious until we got close to St. Louis, Missouri and stopped at the rest area by Stanton, Missouri. Took a short break and we were on the road again. We went right through the downtown area of St. Louis and than over the Mississippi River into Illinois. I was heading to McLean, Illinois to shut down there for my 8 hour+ break as my day ended...
Woke up this Saturday morning and found that I would be here for the day most likely. Since this is the headquarters for our company and the first Saturday of the month, we had a company drivers meeting. I went to it and it was informative and fun.
So our tractors won't be running all over the city, the company payed for us to take taxis where we needed to go. A couple of us took a taxi to eat at the buffet restaurant. We took our time and stuffed our faces. We had a great waitress and spent about 1 1/2 hour there so we left a good 50% tip. Took taxi back to the terminal yard. I went to my tractor and took a nap.
About 4 PM CST I went in and talked to dispatch. I asked if I could get one of the loads they were going to give out tomorrow so I could get going now. He said OK and gave me a load to Chicago...the same load I dropped in the load last Thursday. That's great. I fueled(78 gallons) and hooked up to the trailer. I did my logbook and vehicle inspection and was off(5:45 PM CST) east on I-44 after talking some more with a couple drivers.
A beautiful evening for travel, especially with the sun going down behind me. About Springfield, Missouri another driver from our company pulled out onto I-44 going east also. We decided to run together. "Sweet Child", the other driver's handle(CB radio nickname), was going to Ohio. We would run to East St. Louis, Illinois together where she would take I-70 east and I would take I-55 north. The darkness of the night really didn't become obvious until we got close to St. Louis, Missouri and stopped at the rest area by Stanton, Missouri. Took a short break and we were on the road again. We went right through the downtown area of St. Louis and than over the Mississippi River into Illinois. I was heading to McLean, Illinois to shut down there for my 8 hour+ break as my day ended...
May 4, 2010
May 4, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday- Joplin, Missouri)
As the day started, I was talking with other drivers in the terminal truckers' lounge. Shortly after the day started, a driver came in and went to the dispatch window. He needed to drop his load and go home for something. Dispatch told him no as he was under that load and it needed to get to Oklahoma City. I went to the dispatch window and offered to take it for him; dispatch gave it to me. I just had to get it down there and drop it in the company terminal yard.
I was on my way shortly after fueling(132 gallons). I headed down I-44 toward Oklahoma City, getting there a little after 4 AM CST. I dropped my load in the company yard and called in. I was told to pick up a load in Stillwater, Oklahoma that I would drop at our terminal in Joplin, Missouri.
I laid down in my bunk with my air conditioning going for about 6 hours and slept; I was tired. I got up at 10:15 AM CST and was on my way to Stillwater by 10:30 AM CST. I was at the shipper by noon and the loader was just leaving for lunch. I backed up to the dock and waited for 12:30 PM CST when she got back to load me. She loaded me with rolls of steel cord to be used in steel belted tires. The rolls stood about 2 feet off the floor and were about 2 feet square. She lined the rolls down the middle of my trailer and I had to block them in with nails. I didn't like nailing them but it was part of the job here.
I was on my way to Joplin, Missouri by 2:30 PM CST. Followed Hwy 412 east to Tulsa where I caught I-44 to Joplin. When I left Stillwater, the highway was lined with Highway Patrolmen as President Bush was going to address the graduating class at the University in Stillwater.
Got to Joplin and dropped my load and took it easy that evening. Rested, wrote and watched my TV until I fell asleep...
As the day started, I was talking with other drivers in the terminal truckers' lounge. Shortly after the day started, a driver came in and went to the dispatch window. He needed to drop his load and go home for something. Dispatch told him no as he was under that load and it needed to get to Oklahoma City. I went to the dispatch window and offered to take it for him; dispatch gave it to me. I just had to get it down there and drop it in the company terminal yard.
I was on my way shortly after fueling(132 gallons). I headed down I-44 toward Oklahoma City, getting there a little after 4 AM CST. I dropped my load in the company yard and called in. I was told to pick up a load in Stillwater, Oklahoma that I would drop at our terminal in Joplin, Missouri.
I laid down in my bunk with my air conditioning going for about 6 hours and slept; I was tired. I got up at 10:15 AM CST and was on my way to Stillwater by 10:30 AM CST. I was at the shipper by noon and the loader was just leaving for lunch. I backed up to the dock and waited for 12:30 PM CST when she got back to load me. She loaded me with rolls of steel cord to be used in steel belted tires. The rolls stood about 2 feet off the floor and were about 2 feet square. She lined the rolls down the middle of my trailer and I had to block them in with nails. I didn't like nailing them but it was part of the job here.
I was on my way to Joplin, Missouri by 2:30 PM CST. Followed Hwy 412 east to Tulsa where I caught I-44 to Joplin. When I left Stillwater, the highway was lined with Highway Patrolmen as President Bush was going to address the graduating class at the University in Stillwater.
Got to Joplin and dropped my load and took it easy that evening. Rested, wrote and watched my TV until I fell asleep...
May 3, 2010
May 3, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Got up at 6 AM CST and went in and had breakfast at "Just a Truckstop" in OK City. Called in and got the old "call back in an hour". Went to the movie room and they had nothing going on. Went to the game room and watched a couple drivers loose some money. Went to the store section and looked around. Called dispatch again and they had something for me.
I got ready to go and left for Southard, Oklahoma. The directions to the shipper were short and looking at the town on the map I could understand why. I went west on I-40 to Hwy 270 (exit 115) where I headed north. When I got to the very small town of Watonga, Oklahoma I decided to take the scenic route up Road 51A to Southard. Boy, what a bad road, especially for a semi truck.
Found the shipper very easily in Southard. Checked in with shipping and was told to back up to dock 2. I did and was loaded by 12:45 PM CST.
Took Hwy 51 east to I-35 north. When I got to Hwy 64, I went east again to the "Cimarron" Turnpike(Hwy 412) and took it to I-44. I-44 was taken to Joplin,Missouri where , at our home terminal, I was told to drop the load I had to Chicago in the yard. As midnight approached, I was talking to other drivers in the terminal truckers' lounge...
Got up at 6 AM CST and went in and had breakfast at "Just a Truckstop" in OK City. Called in and got the old "call back in an hour". Went to the movie room and they had nothing going on. Went to the game room and watched a couple drivers loose some money. Went to the store section and looked around. Called dispatch again and they had something for me.
I got ready to go and left for Southard, Oklahoma. The directions to the shipper were short and looking at the town on the map I could understand why. I went west on I-40 to Hwy 270 (exit 115) where I headed north. When I got to the very small town of Watonga, Oklahoma I decided to take the scenic route up Road 51A to Southard. Boy, what a bad road, especially for a semi truck.
Found the shipper very easily in Southard. Checked in with shipping and was told to back up to dock 2. I did and was loaded by 12:45 PM CST.
Took Hwy 51 east to I-35 north. When I got to Hwy 64, I went east again to the "Cimarron" Turnpike(Hwy 412) and took it to I-44. I-44 was taken to Joplin,Missouri where , at our home terminal, I was told to drop the load I had to Chicago in the yard. As midnight approached, I was talking to other drivers in the terminal truckers' lounge...
May 2, 2010
May 2, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday- traveling)
Passed New Albany, Mississippi as my new day started. Was at the fuel island at our Memphis terminal by 1 AM CST. Fueled(142 gallons). Slept at the terminal and was up and on my way at 9 AM CST.
Followed I-40 west into Arkansas and on past Little Rock. KEEPING THE LOAD MOVING. Stopped at the rest area west of Russellville, Arkansas for a less than 15 minute break. Made a check call and dispatch told me that they needed the load I had by 7 PM. I told dispatch that I could get it to them around 5 PM CST. I left and kept pushing.
I drove into the auto plant at Oklahoma City at 4:30 PM CST. The guard called someone when I got there and I was met in the drop yard by a yard truck(special tractors used to just move trailers around). The yard truck took my trailer and I got an empty one.
I went to the "Just a Truckstop" in Oklahoma City and got me some dinner and spent the night there...in my tractor...
Passed New Albany, Mississippi as my new day started. Was at the fuel island at our Memphis terminal by 1 AM CST. Fueled(142 gallons). Slept at the terminal and was up and on my way at 9 AM CST.
Followed I-40 west into Arkansas and on past Little Rock. KEEPING THE LOAD MOVING. Stopped at the rest area west of Russellville, Arkansas for a less than 15 minute break. Made a check call and dispatch told me that they needed the load I had by 7 PM. I told dispatch that I could get it to them around 5 PM CST. I left and kept pushing.
I drove into the auto plant at Oklahoma City at 4:30 PM CST. The guard called someone when I got there and I was met in the drop yard by a yard truck(special tractors used to just move trailers around). The yard truck took my trailer and I got an empty one.
I went to the "Just a Truckstop" in Oklahoma City and got me some dinner and spent the night there...in my tractor...
May 1, 2010
May 1, 1990, 2010
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Mobile, Alabama)
Called dispatch at 8:15 AM CST and was told to call back in an hour...standard response.
I ate at the Waffle House I was parked behind. Afterward, I called dispatch and was told to deadhead(go empty) to Montgomery, Alabama and then call in again. It was 9:30 AM CST when I left Mobile and shot up I-65 getting to Montgomery at noon. Called in and dispatch told me to go to Albany, Georgia and pick up a hot load to Oklahoma City.
Left Montgomery at 12:30 PM CST and headed southeast on Hwy 82. Hwy 82 took me to Albany, Georgia through alot of farm land and small towns with strange and funny names...to me they were!
Got to Albany and the shipper at 4:30 PM EST. They loaded me with 5 crates of alternators and I was off after calling in. This was a hot load so I was told to keep it moving. By 5:15 PM EST I was off and running. I don't mind the back roads-especially these back roads- but prefer the interstate highways when I have HOT loads.
Headed back to Montgomery, Alabama on Hwy 82 where I took I-65 to Birmingham. At Birmingham I took Hwy 78 past Tupelo, Mississippi and onto Memphis, Tennessee. I was way over the 10 hour rule(violation) but continued toward Memphis. Past New Albany, Mississippi as my day ended...
Called dispatch at 8:15 AM CST and was told to call back in an hour...standard response.
I ate at the Waffle House I was parked behind. Afterward, I called dispatch and was told to deadhead(go empty) to Montgomery, Alabama and then call in again. It was 9:30 AM CST when I left Mobile and shot up I-65 getting to Montgomery at noon. Called in and dispatch told me to go to Albany, Georgia and pick up a hot load to Oklahoma City.
Left Montgomery at 12:30 PM CST and headed southeast on Hwy 82. Hwy 82 took me to Albany, Georgia through alot of farm land and small towns with strange and funny names...to me they were!
Got to Albany and the shipper at 4:30 PM EST. They loaded me with 5 crates of alternators and I was off after calling in. This was a hot load so I was told to keep it moving. By 5:15 PM EST I was off and running. I don't mind the back roads-especially these back roads- but prefer the interstate highways when I have HOT loads.
Headed back to Montgomery, Alabama on Hwy 82 where I took I-65 to Birmingham. At Birmingham I took Hwy 78 past Tupelo, Mississippi and onto Memphis, Tennessee. I was way over the 10 hour rule(violation) but continued toward Memphis. Past New Albany, Mississippi as my day ended...
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