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...
I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.
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.
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
Blog Dictionaries...
The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...
December 30, 2010
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...
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...
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...
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...
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