Enjoying North America while earning a living...: September 6, 1990, 2010

About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...

I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net

September 6, 2010

September 6, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Greenville, South Carolina)
Started day backed up to the loading door at the tire company. I was sleeping when my day started and the night crew started loading my trailer. I guess the evening(2nd shift) shift didn't want to start loading my trailer. I just slept until someone knocked on my tractor's side at 4 AM EST. I sealed the trailer, did a vehicle inspection and called Joplin, Missouri dispatch. I was told to get going and take the load to the Taylor(Detroit, Michigan) terminal. Taylor needed tractors to move freight and I was told if I get it there soon, I could just drop my trailer in the terminal yard and take another load.

I left Greenville, South Carolina at 4:30 AM EST and headed up I-85 to I-26 northwest. Climbed into the mountains and got to Ashland(North Carolina) where I took I-40 west. I had little problem climbing into the mountains as, for some reason, I felt I had an empty trailer; the load weight of tires was 24,547 lbs. Followed I-40 west to I-640 on the east side of Knoxville, Tennessee where I took it to the north and west to I-75 northbound.

This stretch of I-75 is one of my favorite strips of road to travel on. Going north, the road seems to me like a roller coaster with a long downhill, mild grade into Kentucky. Once again I enjoyed my ride into the land of the Blue Grass.

Following I-75 north, I stopped at our fuel stop in Corbin, Kentucky at 8:30 AM CST hoping to have breakfast. I changed my mind when I got into the restaurant; things looked OK, just changed my mind. I got my logbook caught up after I got some munchies and I headed up I-75, soon passing by London(Kentucky) and Lexington.

When I got to the joining of I-75 and I-71, I heard on the CB radio that the police were watching the stretch of I-75/71 that is prohibited to northbound trucks(steep grade to the Ohio River Bridge). I took I-275 east to I-471 north and then I-71 south to I-75 north again.

Followed I-75 through Toledo, Ohio and into Michigan. Got to Taylor just after 4 PM EST, a little over my ten hour rule. I just wanted to get here!!

Checked with Taylor(Detroit) terminal dispatch and was told to drop my trailer and take one going to Hazelwood(north St. Louis), Missouri. I told dispatch I needed a break and he said that this load didn't have to be there until Monday; no problem. He also said it was a drop and hook onto and empty trailer. I was tired so I went to my tractor, let it run for the Air Conditioning and went to sleep for the rest of the day.