December 31, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Russell, Kansas)
Was checked into the motel and stayed in my room most of the day. I did take a walk for about two hours but was back long before dark. Weather chilly but nothing I couldn't stay in for awhile.

Grabbed two giant sausage pizza and went back to my room for the night. I did nothing special for the new year coming....I even went to sleep before midnight....Just call me "Mr. Excitement".

December 30, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Joplin, Missouri)
Got up when I felt like it and then checked in with dispatch. They had a load of tires that deliver in Aurora, Colorado on the 2nd of January. I decided to take it and leave. I topped off my tanks(76 gallons), did a vehicle inspection, did my paperwork and was gone at 10:30 AM CST.

I left Joplin going west into Kansas, getting on Hwy 400 and Hwy 69 north. Stayed on Hwy 400 all the ways to Wichita. I saw some really beautiful scenery before I got Augusta(Kansas), some that I wish I had time to go passed again...I should with another load.

I got to I-135 and went north to Salina(Kansas) where I took I-70 west to Russell, Kansas. I got to Russel at 6 PM CST and decided to "camp" out here until New Years Day. I got a motel room for two days next to the convenient store behind which I had parked my truck.

I just watched the motel TV tonight and took life easy after getting a pizza from Pizza Hut next door to the motel...

December 29, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Tucumcari, New Mexico)
I was up at 6 AM MST without the use of my alarm clock. I was leaving the big old truckstop at 6:30 and heading east on I-40. The desert slowly changed to grass land as I entered Texas. Amarillo came into site and I stopped there for lunch and fuel(122 gallons). It was 10:45 AM CST when I left for Oklahoma City.

Passed through Oklahoma City after 3 PM CST and headed up I-44(toll road). The roads were a little slick as it was cold. Before getting to Tulsa, Oklahoma I came upon an accident where a SUV crossed the Highway and ran head on into a semi truck. The truck was a little messed up but the SUV was totally destroyed. The two people in the SUV lost their lives.

Traveled through Tulsa and then back onto the Oklahoma Turnpike(tollway). Ended up pulling into Joplin(Missouri) terminal at 7:15 PM CST. I dropped the trailer in the trailer yard and turned the paperwork into the dispatcher. Told that I may get a load tomorrow...

December 28, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Kingman, Arizona)
I got to the "Just a Truckstop" at a couple of minutes before 1 AM MST and decided to get a little bit to eat. I want into the almost vacant restaurant and sat down in the non driver section. The waitress started talking to me as I guess she didn't have much to do. We talked and by her speech, comments and questions I figured she was a nursing student by day. I was correct. I ate and the waitress(Loraine) and I said good bye and I went to my truck. I then took my 8 hour break.

I set my alarm clock to 10 AM MST but didn't need it; I was awake and feeling pretty good at 9 AM MST. I went back into the restaurant and had a big buffet lunch. After eating I filled my tanks(67 gallons) and did my required jobs. I was on my way east a little before 11 AM MST. Followed the desert for awhile and then started into the mountains. Past Flagstaff and then Holbrook and soon past into New Mexico. I stopped at the first New Mexico Rest Area and took a short break. Took off and past Gallup, New Mexico and onto Albuquerque. Climbed into the mountains on the east of Albuquerque onto the upper desert. Thought about stopping at our fuel stop in Santa Rosa(New Mexico) but changed my mind and went to Tucumcari, New Mexico for the night.

It was 9:30 PM MST when I pulled into the truckstop in Tucumcari. I just laid in my truck and went to sleep as I was tired...

December 27, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Ontario, California)
I was up early again today as my home terminal in Missouri is running two hours earlier due to the time differences. I called the dispatch in Joplin, Missouri at 7 AM PST and was told to call back in an hour.

"Call back in an hour" is something I have got use to hearing and doesn't bother me until I heard it more than two or three times a day.

After my 9 AM PST check call, I got a load. I have to go to Long Beach(California) to got the load and I was given the directions to the warehouse. The load is going to a company in Joplin, Missouri so dispatch said I would be bringing to the terminal yard.

I headed for Long Beach and found the shipper-warehouse-where the load was stored. I had to back up to the dock and drop the trailer as that practice was considered a safety measure. I unhooked and moved to the waiting area. I was permitted to watch the loading of the trailer and did. They loaded me with 38,000 lbs of bearings. I left the shipper at 3 PM PST after I rehooked to my trailer. I failed to do my vehicle inspection and it just about cost me "big time".
I left my pigtail(trailer light hook up) unhooked. I went back to our fuel stop and was amazed at the rude drivers who would not let me change lanes when I had turned on my turn signals.... trailer lights were not working!!!! I was thankful the Highway Patrol did not see me. I got to the fuel stop and weighed my unit. I was fine.

I decided to eat at the fuel stop and then leave for Joplin, Missouri. It was a little after 7 PM PST when I headed east a short distance on I-10 to I-15. I-15 was taken up Cajon Pass, past the closed California weigh scale, onto the desert floor and onto Bartow, California. At Bartow I took I-40 east through the desert with an almost full beautiful moon. Crossed into Arizona and stopped at "Just a Truckstop" in Kingman at a few minutes before midnight PST...

December 26, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Ontario, California)
I was up early to deliver my load. I wouldn't to go far as I just delivered in Rancho Cucamonga, California. I went up and delivered and was back at the truckstop at 10 AM PST. I spent the rest of the day at the truckstop with other drivers from my company. The other drivers were the KID, Jesse James and Pondering Man. We went to a Chinese restaurant for dinner and then went back to the truckstop and watched a Star Trek movie. I then went to bed...

December 25, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Quartzsite, Arizona)
Christmas morning and we(see Dec 21st) where up and ready to go by 5:30 AM MST. We crossed into California at Blythe and than continued west as the sun rose at our backs. The roads were great and the traffic minimal so we just kept moving around.

We pulled into our fuel stop in Ontario, California at 8 AM PST and fueled(117 gallons). We then found a great place to park near the truckstop doors. Sundance and I just took it easy until Christmas dinner was served. We paid a little under 9 dollars for the meal and then found that the truckstop across the street gave dinner free to all truck drivers....That's life.

After dinner we went to the movie room and watched movies-I slept through them. About 5 PM PST, Sundance and I went the to game area and started playing games. We were playing a "toy" grabbing game and we were very successful. We had a small football and we saw a young couple with two children playing around them. The kids looked like a little boy and girl. We played the grabbing game again and got a doll. We then presented the football to the boy and the doll to the younger "girl"....The younger one was a boy also. The parents thanked us and said they would take care of the problem.....

We went to our trucks early and I went to sleep. We were going to different destinations so we said bye until we meet again...

December 24, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-traveling in Texas)
Shortly after the day started, Sundance(see Dec 21st) and I passed Van Horn Texas and continue to the east end of El Paso, Texas. We got to El Paso around 1 AM MST and we took our long break at the El Paso terminal.

We both settled down for our break and were up at 9 AM MST and getting ready to head out. We both fueled(I took 126 gallons) and headed for New Mexico at 9:45 AM MST. Traveled through New Mexico in what seemed like a very short time and entered Arizona. Stopped at the rest area right over the Arizona border for a short break and then onward...

We stopped at Eloy,Arizona at a very nice truckstop. Sundance showed me the police scanner he had bought and I bought one. It was now 5 PM MST and we decided to go onto the truckstop in Quartzsite, Arizona. We got there at 8:15 PM MST and decided to take our 8 hour break here. We had dinner and then agreed to meet at 5 AM tomorrow...

December 23, 1990, 2003

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Laredo, Texas)
Had spent the night with the Mortens and left their home when we all went to church.
I usually would go to the Morten's after church but this time, Sundance(see Dec 21st) and I left for California at 2:15 PM CST. We got hooked up to our trailers and did the vehicle inspections. Both of us had enough fuel to get us to the El Paso Terminal.

We headed up I-35 and shortly after the border check-not far from Laredo-We took Hwy 83 north to Carrizo Springs(Texas) where we continued on Hwy 277 northwest. We stopped for a little break at the Eagle Pass truckstop(really small) and then continued on Hwy 277 to Del Rio(Texas).

The time was now 6 PM CST and so we stopped along the main street in front the the "chicken" place and had dinner. I really enjoyed the "Hispanic" atmosphere of the area.

Out of Del Rio, we took Hwy 90 over and around the Amistad Lake and onto Sanderson. It was now dark and the beauty of the area was hidden by darkness. At Sanderson(Texas) we took Hwy 285 to Fort Stockton, Texas. We stopped at the first rest area on I-10 west bound after leaving Fort Stockton for a short break. onward!

We were closing in on Van Horn, Texas as the day ended at midnight...

December 22, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Laredo, Texas)
Stayed the day with the Mortens and did not do anything but play with my computer and visit...

December 21, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Laredo, Texas)
I was at the Morten household until about 8:30 AM CST when I went back to the Laredo terminal. At the terminal, I met up with "Sundance", a friend and driver I had run with just a few weeks ago. I got him interested in driving for this company when I stopped at the truck school I went to.

Sundance and I talked awhile and then went and ate. Back at the terminal, after lunch, we both were asked if we wanted to go home for Christmas on the bus that would be rented for us. We both declined and took a load to California for the 26th.

We had plenty of time so we decided to get a motel room(cheaper for him if I went in with him) and I would stay with the Mortens until Sunday afternoon. I talked with Sundance in the room for awhile and then I left for the Mortens. Spent the evening with the Mortens...

December 20, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Laredo, Texas)
Stayed at the terminal half the day and then went to the Mortens for the night. Just waiting as my TRB number is still high; too high to get out today.

December 19, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Italy, Texas)
I was up and headed down I-35E by 3AM CST. I-35E soon becomes just I-35 after joining I-35W.
Kept my pace up and pulled into the "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio, Texas at 7 AM CST for fuel(117 gallons) and breakfast. I hung around the truckstop until a little after 9 AM and then headed down I-35 getting to our Laredo terminal a little before noon.

I checked in with dispatch and was told to drop my trailer in the yard and turn in my paperwork; I did and them took a nap. Hung around the terminal the rest of the day.

December 18, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Wheatley, Arkansas)
Woke at around 7 AM CST without the use of the alarm clock. I laid there for awhile as I am in no hurry. After I got up, I went into the convenience store and brought me four hot dogs and a soda(soft drink in Canada). I was headed toward Little Rock by 9:30 AM CST. I caught I-440 around the southeast corner of Little Rock and ended up heading southeast on I-30. I stopped for a short break at the rest area/welcome center in Texarkansas, Texas where I walked around for awhile. Continued on to our terminal in Lancaster, Texas and stopped for a break at 4:30 PM CST.
I talked with the drivers at the terminal until after 6 PM CST so I could miss the 'going home" traffic. The traffic was decent when I headed south on I-35E. I was feeling tired so I stopped at the convenient store with truck parking at the Italy, Texas exit at 6:45 PM CST; I laid in my truck and went to sleep.

December 17, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Monroe, Ohio)
I was up at 5 AM EST and reviewing my directions to the North Cincinnati pick up point. I moved out down I-75 and found the shipper south of the North College Hill area. All I had to do was swap my empty trailer for a full one. I was taking 44,000 lbs of Salicylic acid powder(aspirin ingredient) to Laredo, Texas.

I checked the load as there was no seal on the trailer. I found a small area of the sides of the trailer had holes. The weather was rainy and I feared leaking moisture would damage the load. I climbed over the huge bags to the small holes and put duct tape over them. The tape should hold.

I was headed down I-75 and crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky. I was now on I-75 & I-71 and followed I-71 toward Louisville. Went through Louisville and took I-65 south toward Nashville, Tennessee. I stopped at the truckstop in Shepherdsville, Kentucky and looked around for about a half hour. Back on I-65 getting to Nashville where I took I-40 west. Boring ride to the Memphis, Tennessee terminal. I stopped at the terminal at 5 PM CST and fueled(178 gallons).

I talked with a few drivers at the terminal for awhile and then was back on I-55 north to I-40 west in Arkansas. Followed I-40 to a favorite convenient store with truck parking in Wheatley Arkansas where I shut down for the night...

December 16, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Monroe, Ohio)
Woke up at the motel Budweiser and I were staying at. He was awake watching TV when I woke.

Budweiser needed to be heading out and so he was gone by 11 AM EST. I stayed in the room until check out time(1 PM EST) and then moved to my truck. I just did paperwork, watched TV, typed on my computer and ate munchies until I fell asleep for the night.

December 15, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Wapakoneta, Ohio)
Woke up this morning west of Wapakoneta at the rest area. Called dispatch and I had a load to pick up in North Cincinnati(Ohio) Monday Morning. No early pickups on this load. This load will end up crossing the border in Laredo, Texas.

I got the assignment and decided to go to the Stoney Ridge Truckstop in Monroe, Ohio for the weekend. I got to the truckstop and parked next to another truck from my company. The driver of the other truck had the handle "Budweiser". Well, Budweiser and I had breakfast and got a motel room(cheaper if we share a room) for the night. I worked on one of my projects after we got the room. I worked on my projects until I was tired enough to want to go to sleep. Budweiser just watched TV and I think he fell asleep watching it.

December 14, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Spencerville, Ohio)
I was up at 6:30 AM EST and waiting for the company to open. Finally someone got there and told me to back up to the dock. They unloaded me and I was ready to go at 9 AM EST. I called dispatch throughout the day and had nothing given to me to do.

This town is-or was-very small and didn't have a town restaurant. The only place I found as I walked around was a pizza making place that was only open for pizza in the late afternoon. I went to the grocery story and stocked up on some things but wasn't much.

At around 5 PM EST I called dispatch and asked if there was anything for me to do coming up and was told no. I decided to go back to the truckstop in Wapakoneta(Ohio). I headed out of town down Hwy 66 and then east on Hwy 33. Shortly after getting on Hwy 33 I came to a rest area which I stopped at.

The rest area was very quiet except for for a woman talking on the phone inside the rest area building. She sound quite anxious and I, after I identified myself, ask if I could help her out. She was in the middle of a four hour trip and had just noticed that she had left her license and money home. She was almost out of gas and didn't know what to do. This didn't appear to be a scam so I gave her $20.00 and my address so she could mail it back to me(I never received it back). She thanked me and then left in her car.

I decided to spend the night at the rest area and did...

December 13, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Nashville, Tennessee)
Woke up with no help from an alarm clock and ate my remaining hamburgers from the White Castle yesterday. Called dispatch and was given a load of glass from the glass plant going to Spencerville, Ohio.....back toward Toledo, Ohio.

Picked up my glass load and went to the Nashville truckstop(our fuel stop), filled my tanks(84 gallons) and had the lunch buffet. I talked with the other drivers for awhile and then left at 12:30 PM CST. North to Louisville where I got on I-71 northeast. Followed I-71 to I-275, south of Cincinnati(Ohio) where I had to go east on I-275; semi weren't allowed to cross the Ohio River bridge going north. Not long on I-275 east until I get to I-471 which I take north over the Ohio River. I get to I-71 again and take it south to I-75 which I take north.

I followed I-75 up to Wapakoneta(Ohio) and caught Hwy 33 west to Hwy 66. Took Hwy 66 north to Spencerville and got there at 10 PM EST. This town was so small that I easily found the receiver and parked by the receiving docks.

Tried to watch TV tonight but my TV wouldn't pick up any stations. Just listened to the radio and went to sleep...

December 12, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Taylor, Michigan)
Slept real well last night. My fuel tanks were running almost dry so I filled them with 205 gallons. I checked with dispatch and found that I had a load of empty racks to Nashville's glass plant.

I left with my trailer at 10 AM EST and headed down I-75. No worry when I had to be weighed by the Michigan state scales. I then followed I-75 into Ohio and past Toledo.

I stopped at the Waffle House I really liked in Lima(Ohio) for lunch. They had a deal going; all you could eat for $4.99. I had three bacon cheese burgers with fries and a soda(soft drink in Canada).

I continued down I-75 past Cincinnati into Kentucky. When I went into Kentucky, I was on I-75 & I-71. Shortly after crossing into Kentucky I followed I-71 to Louisville(Kentucky) where I picked up I-65 south in downtown area. I stopped at the White Castle in Shepherdsville(Kentucky) for a half hour break and hamburger getting time. I bought 18 White Castle burgers to take with me.

I continued down I-65 past the Corvette Plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky into Tennessee. Got to the Nashville glass plant at 7:30 PM CST. They unloaded me in the back of the plant and I decided to stay at the glass plant for the night as I had called dispatch and there no no load for me. Went to bed and watched my TV...

December 11, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Toronto, Ontario)
I and No Name(driver I have been parked next to since yesterday) got up and went to breakfast -after calling dispatch-at a small restaurant around the corner from where we were parked. Dispatch had nothing for us to do.

We went back to our trucks and I found a picture of my dispatcher. I decided to throw snowballs at it and have No Name take a picture of me.


We both got loads to pickup in Sarnia, Ontario at our 3 PM EST check call. I was picking up for Kingsport, Tennessee and he was picking up Kansas City, Kansas. We left the Toronto area shortly after 3:15 PM EST and headed up Hwy 404 to Hwy 401 southwest. Upon getting to London, Ontario, we took Hwy 402 to Sarnia where we easily found the shipper by 7 PM EST. We had to drop our trailers and pickup the loaded ones. We where loaded and headed into the US by 7:30 PM EST. We both got through the US customs with no problems at Port Huron, Michigan and headed toward toward Detroit.

We got to the terminal at 8:30 PM EST and I checked with dispatch to see if I could drop my load; I was told to drop it.....I did. Went on the TRB and went to bed...

December 10, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Hamburg, New York)
I was up real early and crossing the border at 6 AM EST. I had to go to the customs broker and they didn't open until 7 AM EST. I had 49 different items on the truck and I had to go back and forth between customs and the customs broker several times and got cleared for Canada by 1 PM EST. Boy, what a frustrating day

After I got through Canadian customs I headed toward Toronto(Ontario) on the QEW(Queen Elizabeth Way) highway. Took the QEW right through Toronto to the 404 Hwy. I found the receiver not far from the downtown area. I was unloaded when another truck from my company drove in. I called dispatch while he(his handle was "No Name") was being unloaded. Dispatch told me there wouldn't be any loads until tomorrow; the same went for No Name.

We got the OK to stay in the receivers yard for the night. I was cold and light snow was predicted for tomorrow.

No Name and I walked downtown and ate at the worst Chinese restaurant I had been to. We both ordered meals that normally came with rice through this place the rice had to ordered for extra. The food was terrible tasting like waffles and maple syrup. I wrote a long complaint on the back of the bill.

Went back to our trucks and turned in for the night. It was windy and cold...

December 9, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Hamburg, New York)
This morning I checked into the motel at the truckstop I was staying at. The motel restaurant was laid around a bowling alley; eat and watch the pins drop. I just spent the day in my room typing and watching TV.

December 8, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Harrisonburg, Virginia)
I was up and heading up I-81 by 4 AM EST. There were several ways I could go but because I didn't really know the back roads on the east so I stay on the interstates mainly. I drove up into Maryland and got onto I-70 west. When I-70 went north, I took I-68 west into West Virginia where I got onto I-79 north.

Getting to Pennsylvania, I continued up I-79 past Washington(Pennsylvania). On the north side of Washington, I stopped at McDonald's for a break at 9 AM and hung around for about an hour. By 10 AM EST I was heading north on I-79 again to Erie(Pennsylvania). I took I-90 into New York and got off at Hamburg(Exit 57) at 3:15 PM EST. Went to the truckstop and had a big king sized cheese burger and onion rings. Thought about staying there for the night. Thought some more and them decided to stay....

December 7, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Conover, North Carolina)
I was awake before 4:30 AM EST and so I got up and walked around for several blocks direction from my truck. The weather was cool but comfortable so the walk was nice. Got back to the truck and got my paperwork all caught up to the very minute. At 7 AM the manager of the warehouse showed up. I introduced myself and he told me to back up to the dock with my doors open.

I backed up and then went into the building and offered to help unload for no reward. He said I could help but that he could do it himself faster. I watched him and he knew exactly what he was doing and how to do it. The trailer was empty in about an hour. He signed the paperwork and I went out and took the placards off the trailer.

I called dispatch and was told to go to Salem, Virginia and pick up a load for Toronto, Ontario. I left for Salem at 9:45 AM EST and headed east on I-40 to I-77 which I took north. I stopped at "Just a Truckstop" in Fort Chiswell, Virginia (I-77 & I-81) for lunch and was there only an hour. I followed I-81 to Salem and found the shipper I was to load at.

I was backed to the loading docks and they had a number of things to load. I didn't get out of there before 4 PM EST. I got back on I-81 and headed up the Shenandoah Valley to a truckstop in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Stayed there the night watching my TV and resting and sleeping...

December 6, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Pomona, Tennessee)
Woke up after day break and found this place worse than what I saw last night when I parked. I didn't even look around but left shortly after waking up(8:45 AM CST).

I headed east on I-40, right through Nashville and onto Knoxville. At Knoxville, I stopped at the "Just A Truckstop" for lunch and tire check(I have a haz-mat load) at 1:30 PM EST. I sat in the trucker section of the restaurant, ate lunch and talked "truck" with the other drivers. I was back on the road by 2:45 PM EST heading for North Carolina. As I traveled into North Carolina, I traveled through one of the most beautiful valleys in the country.

I stopped at Candler, North Carolina for fuel(93 gallons) and another tire check. I was there for about a half hour and then started eastward again. I went through Asheville(North Carolina), down the steep grade of Black Mountain and onto Conover.

The receiver was hard to find as the directions seemed pretty difficult to follow. The small warehouse I was going to was on Hwy 70, off of I-40 a couple miles. Finally, at 7:15 PM EST, I found the warehouse and parked my truck by what looked like the receiving doors. I was not hungry so I just laid down, watched my TV and went to sleep.

December 5, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday- Tulsa, Oklahoma)
I was at the shipper's place at 7 AM CST and they backed me up to the dock ready to load. 8 AM CST came and no loading. 9 AM CST came and no loading. I got out of my truck and just asked what the problem was; they weren't gone filling the drums I was carrying. It was toward 11 AM CST that I was ready to leave. I had a hazard materials load know as haz-mat and had to place placards(big identification stickers) on all four sides of my trailer. This load would also require tire checks(required by law) every 2 hours.

I left Tulsa around 11:15 PM CST heading southeast on the Muskogee Turnpike. When I got to I-40 I took it east into Arkansas. Over the border, in Arkansas, I pulled into the closed weigh station and did a quick check of my tires, as required. Everything good so I continued east on I-40. East of Little Rock, Arkansas, I pulled off again and checked my tires. I stopped again at "Just a Truckstop" in West Memphis(Arkansas) where I checked my tires and had dinner. I took I-55 into Tennessee to our terminal where I fueled(117 gallons); hit the road again. I drove to Pomona, Tennessee where I bedded down for the night(11PM CST). A real bad place but I was tired....

November 4, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)
Woke up early and sat in my drivers' seat and did my paperwork. Got everything catch up and read for awhile until Sundance(driver I have been running with) got up. Made our check calls and nothing going for us.
---frustration---

We just "hung" around and at lunch, had the buffet. Towards 3 PM CST, Dispatch had something for us. I was to go to Tulsa and pick up a load for Conover, North Carolina and Sundance was to pick up in Oklahoma City for Davenport Iowa. Sundance wanted to know if I wanted to swap loads and I said no. Both loads load tomorrow.

I was headed for Tulsa and spend the night at the small truckstop off of I-44 on the southwest side of town.

November 3, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Joplin, Missouri)
I crawled out of my bunk at 6 AM and saw Sundance(drive I am running with) sitting in his drivers' seat already. We walked into dispatch and checked in. We then went to our trucks, did our vehicle inspections, our paperwork and then went west on I-44 into Oklahoma. Took the turnpike all the way to I-40 inside Oklahoma City. I-40, we took west to the west end of town and found the delivery point about 10:15 AM CST. We were empty around noon. We flipped a coin to see who would get to be first on the TRB for Oklahoma City and I won. We called in and were told there was no loads for us today. We went to the large truckstop off of I-40 and tucked it in for the night---At 1 PM CST????

We goofed around the rest of the day and I found "dinosaur" slippers for my daughter for Christmas. The slippers looked like dinosaurs and growled when she walked in them.

Didn't do anything exciting...

December 2, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Henderson, Kentucky)
Running with Sundance(Driver I met yesterday) and we shared a room last night. We were up and headed for Lewisport, Kentucky by 7 AM CST and got there around 8 AM CST. We found that our appointments were for 10 AM CST and that we would have to wait. No problem as they had us back into enclosed docks next to each other. It must have been a union shop as we had to wait to 10 AM CST and no one was in a hurry to load us.

We were loaded with large rolls of aluminum going to a can making company on the west side of Oklahoma City. Seemed like the load would weigh alot but it didn't. We took off for Oklahoma City by way of Joplin, Missouri around 11:30 AM CST. We left taking Hwy 60 west to Hwy 41 north. Into Indiana and the city of Evansville(I-164 was not finished). I hate Hwy 41 through Evansville with all it's miles of stop lights...Up to I-64 and went west into Illinois, stopping at one of my favorite rest areas as we crossed the border. We were at the rest area about 1/2 hour as we walked around a little. Back to driving west on I-64 and continuing into St Louis, Missouri where we took I-44 west(southwest). We stopped at the rest area near Sullivan, Missouri for a short break and then onward. We pulled into our terminal yard in Joplin at 9:15 PM CST. We fueled(me---162 gallons), parked our trucks and checked in with dispatch. We then went to our trucks and went to bed, agreeing to meet tomorrow at 6 AM......

December 1, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Ridgway, Illinois)
Woke up with daylight just making it's appearance and found another driver from my company sitting next to me. He was sitting in his drivers' seat so I got out to talk with him. He saw me and got out of his truck. I said high and he said high back and then commented that he knew me. It appears that I had stopped in to see my old truck school and he was a student there. He remembers me talking to him and me encouraging him to sign up with our company. His handle was "Sundance" and he became a close friend for several years.

Sundance was unloaded close to 8:30 AM CST and called dispatch. He was given the same load as I had to pick up for tomorrow: Lewisport, Kentucky. I used his dispatcher to make my check call. We took off for Lewisport about 9:30 AM CST. We talked on channel 24 on the CB radio all the way

We traveled down Hwy 1 to Hwy 13 and went east. We crossed the Ohio River into Kentucky where Hwy 13 became Hwy 56. Then it became Hwy 60 which we took to Henderson (Kentucky) Since we didn't pick up until tomorrow, we got a room at an older motel with truck parking. The motel clerk was an older gentleman wearing older style clothing. I took the bed by the window and threw some stuff on it. We walked across the street to a restaurant and had a large meal. We just talked and watched TV into the night.