March 2, 1990, 2010

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-traveling)
Running with “Pocket Watches”(works for same company as me) and “Yellow Bird”(Canadian driver returning to Canada). We were on I-55 north getting close to I-80 as our new day was starting. My driving hours were running out and so were Pocket Watches. I don't know what Yellow Birds hours looked like and didn't ask. The three of us really wanted to continue so we did(log book violation). I ran out of hours around Lake Station, Indiana. We all followed I-94 east when I-80 separated from it. As we crossed the border from Indiana into Michigan, we stopped at the rest area for a short break and got back on the road. Yellow Bird told us that he had an extra 110 gallon fuel tank that he runs empty into the US and before he goes back into Canada, he has to fill up all his tanks. This he does because of the price and taxation of fuel in Canada. Pocket Watches and I separated from Yellow Bird when we told I-275(western loop around Detroit, Michigan) south and he stayed on I-94 to get to Sarnia, Ontario. We told I-275 south to get to exit 15 where we went east to the terminal in Taylor, Michigan. Got there at 6:15 AM EST. Dropped my trailer and was checking in with dispatch by 6:30 AM EST. I got on the trucker ready board as they had several drivers waiting for loads and dispatch told me I wouldn't get out until later tonight if at all. I went out to bed in the truck and went to sleep with no problem. Woke up at 3 AM EST by my alarm clock. Checked with dispatch and found my number was #8 from the top of the trucker ready board. I had a load by 5:30 PM EST going to Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a load of glass jars. I hooked up and weighed my whole truck as the paperwork shows a load weight of 39,560 lbs. I was legal with the weight so I fueled(142 gallons) and did my vehicle inspection. I had another female driver-Gemini-that was going to the same place as I was and she asked to run with me...no problem. Gemini and I took off at 5:30 PM EST and headed down I-75 into Ohio. At Toledo, Ohio we took I-475 west and then south to Hwy 24 southwest toward Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Gemini chit chatted all the way to Ft. Wayne(no I-469 loop in 1990) and stopped at a restaurant for dinner with a big parking lot at 9 PM EST. They were just locking their doors for the night so I decided to go on; Gemini was feeling tired so she wanted to take her 8 hour break. I left her at the restaurant and took off for I-69 which I took south. I was going fine until I have to stop on the interstate for an accident(over turned bus) a couple miles ahead of me. I was stopped near the Gas City, Indiana exit and sat there through the mid-night hour....