December 31, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Laredo, Texas)
I was getting ready to leave with a load to Lima, Ohio) shortly after my day started.  I left at 12:30 AM CST and headed toward our Lancaster(Dallas) terminal up I-35.  I stopped at our fuelstop on the east side of San Antonio for fuel.  I figured, after I somewhat figured my miles since my last fueling, that I had enough to reach our lancaster terminal.

I pulled into our Lancaster Terminal at 8 AM CST and fueled first(171 gallons).  I hung around to terminal until a little after 10 AM CST and then left, heading east on I-30.  I stopped at the truckstop in Winfield, Texas for some sleep.

I got up about 8:30 PM CST and continued northeast on I-30.  As the end of my day--and year--arrived, I was about 30 miles southwest of Little Rock, Arkansas.....

December 30, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Laredo, Texas)
I had to deliver my load to the broker this morning.  I had to dock on the blind side off the street; it went well. 

After I was unloaded, I took my trailer to the terminal yard and dropped it.  I then went to the tractor dealer for servicing.  After the standard service my tractor had to have a wheel seal changed.  I got done by 1:30 PM CST. 

I went to Arlene's and she took us and her boys to lunch...After lunch, I needed to go back to the terminal and try and get a load.

I seemed to be a long way from going out so I went out to my tractor and went to sleep.  At 10:30 PM CST the dispatcher came out and woke me up to tell me he had a load to Lima, Ohio for me.  I got my paperwork and then hooked to my trailer.  As my day ended, I was readying to go....

December 29, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-traveling toward Laredo, Texas)

December 28, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Mobile, Alabama)

December 27, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Eloree, South Carolina)

December 26, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Eloree, South Carolina)

December 25, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Spartansburg, South Carolina)

December 24, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Memphis, Tennessee)
I went into dispatch when they opened for the day and checked in.  Dispatch gave me a load to Eloree, South Carolina.  I hung around the terminal for awhile and then left for eastern Tennessee after hooking up to the trailer and fueling(115 gallons).  Left out at 8:30 AM CST on I-40

I stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" in Knoxville for lunch and break.  Afterwards, it was on to North Carolina and Asheville where I took I-26 into South Carolina.  I stopped at our fuelstop in Spartansburg, South Carolina, getting there at 8:15 PM EST and spent the night...Christmas Eve...just went to bed !!!!

December 23, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Shepherdsville, Kentucky)
I woke up at 11 AM EST and went into the truckstop for awhile.  Didn't eat there as I just didn't like their restaurant.  I left down I-65 at 11:45 AM EST toward Nashville, Tennessee.  Grabbed I-40 west to Memphis.  Checked in with dispatch at our Memphis terminal and was told to drop the trailer and take it easy the rest of the day.  No loads out today.  Sat in the terminal until it closed...

December 22, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Taylor, Michigan)
Sat around the terminal until 2:30 PM EST when the dispatcher gave me a load to Memphis, Tennessee.  The load was in the yard so I was heading south on I-75 toward Toledo, Ohio by 3 PM EST.  Went down throught Ohio into Kentucky.  In Kentucky, I took I-71 toward Louisville. 

At the first Kentucky weigh station I got pulled in for an official inspection.  I was nervous and left the trailer brakes on; the officer must have been new as he checked those brakes and gave me an OK inspection. 

I drove to Louisville and took I-65 south to Shepherdsville(Kentucky) where I went to sleep for the night.... 

December 21, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Taylor, Michigan)
No Loads and not much to do today.  Went to the Sveden House Buffet restaurant for dinner.  "Jesse James" came along and we talked trucking while we ate....

December 20, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Williamsburg, Iowa)
Was up and rolling east on I-80 by 2:30 AM CST. Full moon out tonight. Took I-94 up into Michigan until just after Benton Harbor(Michigan), where I took I-196 north.  At Grand Rapids I took I-96 east to Hwy 66.  Went north into Ionia and found the plant on the east side of town.  I got there at 10:30 AM EST and they docked me.  I had to wait to be unloaded as their company was having a Christmas Party.  Unloading didn't take long as all I had was empty racks.  They had me unloaded by 1 PM EST.  I called dispatch and was told to call back in an hour.  I went to the truckstop/restaurant at Hwy 66 & I-96. I met "Wanderer"(a trainer with the company) and his student.  They where eatting so I ordered something also.  Before I got my food, they got deadheaded to the Taylor(Detroit) terminal and left.  I called dispatch after I finished eating and also got deadheaded to Taylor.  Freezing rain was falling and so I drove very carefully. 


Got to the yard in Taylor and there were tractors and trailers all over the place; driver's going home for Christmas.  I found a place to pack and then it was time to just take it easy for the rest of the day as no loads...

December 19, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Hannibal, Missouri). 
I was awake at 2:30 AM CST and seemed wide awake.  I was gone by 2:45 AM CST heading west on Hwy 36 to I-35 south to Kansas City.   I got to our terminal by 6 AM CST and was told to drop my trailer in the rtrailer yard; I did.  I went to bed after dropping my trailer and got up at 11 AM CST. 

I checked with dispatch and I had a load to Ionia, Michigan.  I fueled(118 gallons), hooked up, got truck washed and headed north on I-35 heading toward Iowa by 12:45 PM CST.   I got to I-80 and headed west, stopping at the little truckstop/restaurant south of I-80 at the Williamsburg, Iowa exit.  It was 5:30 PM CST so I had the 1 lb steak dinner and then watched a movie in their movie room.  Went to bed for the night....

December 18, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling though Ohio)
Traveling north--between Cincinnati & Dayton--on I-75, getting to Taylor, Michigan at 4 AM EST.  I took my paperwork into the Taylor(Detroit) Terminal dispatch for readying for Canada while I sleep.  Dispatch told me to drop the load and take a HOT load to Oklahoma City(see my conversation with"Soda Pop" and "Dream Chaser" in yesterday's blog).  I couldn't take it as I was too tired and was out of time.  I was told to still drop my trailer and check with dispatch went I get up. 

At 10 AM EST I got up and went into dispatch.  They put me on the TRB and 15 minutes later I had a load to Kansas City, Missouri.  The trailer was sitting in the yard and so I hooked up to it, did my vehicle inspection, fueled(92 gallons) and got my paperwork caught up.  I was heading west on I-94 by 11:15 AM EST.   I just kept moving and took I-80 west when I-94 & I-80 split.  I went to I-55 and went south, stopping at the Funk's Grove rest area.  After a short break I went to Springfield, Illinois and took Hwy 36(I-72 not established yet) west into Missouri. 

I stopped for the night at the little truckstop in Hannibal, Missouri across the street from Kentucky Fried Chicken...getting there at 8:30 PM CST. 

December 17, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Franklin, Tennessee)
Awoke to no load and so I decided to write some letters.  Shortly after that I decided to drive to our fuel stop in Nashville, Tennessee as that was where I was suppose to be.  I got there and still didn't have a load.  About 2:30 PM CST I got a load that I needed to pick up at the Ford Glass Factory.  I wasn't excited about where I was going--Wichita, Kansas--but was happy I was going somewhere.  I went to the plant and dropped my empty trailer.  As I was getting ready to hook up, "Soda Pop"--a trainer/driver--and his student--"Dream Chaser"--pulled up to the trailer next to me.  When they found that I was going the Wichita, they wanted to trade loads.  They were going to Canada.  They felt Wichita gave them a better chance of getting home to Oklahoma City for Christmas time.  I said I thought that going to Canada would but they still wanted to trade....I said OK and we traded loads. 

I got loaded and headed for Taylor, Michigan, my terminal where I stop at before going over into Canda.  I headed up I-65 and stopped in Shepherdsaville, Kentucky for a big bag of White Castle hamburgers.  On up to Louisville where I caught I-71 to I-75.

As my day closed, I was about 4 1/2 hours from the Taylor(Detroit) terminal and traveling through Ohio. 

December 16, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Birmingham, Alabama)
Just as the sun was coming up, a construction site fellow woke me up and told me where to put my truck for unloading.  I wasn't the first to be unloaded so I waited awhile.  After I was unloaded, I went to the big Birminham truckstop and found it a real "dump"!!! 

I waited around it--the "dump"--until all hopes of getting out of this area were gone for the day.  THEN, with a check call at 4:30 PM CST I got sent empty to Nashville Tennessee.  I left up I-65 into Tennessee and stopped at a truckstop in Franklin(Tennessee) for the night. 

December 15, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-St. Genevieve, Missouri)
I woke at 5:30 AM CST, for what reason I didn't know.  I drove down I-55 to I-155 and took it into Tennessee.  At Dyersburg(Tennessee) I grabbed Hwy 412 and took it to Jackson where I got on Hwy 45.  I took Hwy 45 to Corinth, Mississippi and there got on Hwy 72 and went east to the southside of Florence, Alabama.  Then took Hwy 157 to I-65 and then south.  I didn't know anything but an address to where I was going so I bought a Birmingham, Alabama map.  Found the street I needed and got there after dark.  I couldn't find the address so at the end of the street, I stopped at a convenience store and asked it's loxation.  I got an "I don't know where it is".  Since I was at the end of the street, I went back and found a construction site on the south side of the srtreet.  I went to the back of the site and found a couple more of our trucks so I just parked fopr the night....

December 14, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-KansasCity, Missouri)
Was in the terminal early this morning and the best load I could get was one I had to pickup in Bridgeton, Missouri and take to Birmingham, Alabama for Monday morning. 

I left for Bridgeton(St Louis area), stopping in Fulton to check on my mail--none--....

Got to Hussman Refrigeration and pickuped up trailer of store refrigerator units.  After I got my units I left down I-270 to I-55 stopping at St Geneveve, Missouri for the night....got a motel room...

December 13, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-traveling Kansas)
I followed I-35 into Kansas City, Missouri and ended up at the Kansas City terminal at 3 AM CST.  I napped and then delivered my load to sears around 8 AM CST.  After unloading, I returned to the terminal and remained there the rest of the day....no load...

December 12, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Lordsburg, New Mexico)
Woke and drove to Las Cruses(New Mexico).  Stopped at a convenience store and got a soda(soft drink in Canada) and a simple sandwich for breakfast. 

Once I got to Las Cruses, I took Hwy 70 to Alamogordo(New Mexico),  I then took Hwy 54 to Santa Rosa, New Mexico and fueled(191 gallons).  I continued northeast on Hwy 54 through Texas and Oklahoma and went into Kansas.

I continued east on Hwy 54 and reach Wichita.  I jumped on I-35 toward Kansas City.  My day ended after I pass the exits for El Dorado(Kansas).....I am over 3 hours of my 10 hour time limit.  I will keep going as I feel well...

December 11, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Casa Grande, Arizona)
I was up and headed out for my 5 deliveries in the Phoenix area at 5 AM MST.  I was at my first drop at 6:30 AM MST and had to wait until 7:30 AM MST to get the tires off.

Every thing went well until the fourth stop.  I was four tires short and had to call it into dispatch.  At the fifth stop, I found the missing tires from the fourth stop.  The fourth stop sent a truck over and got the tires..

After I was done unloading, I called dispatch and was given a load to the Sears Warehouse in Kansas City, Missouri.  I went to Tucson and got the load of door openers and headed east on I-10.  I got to Lordsburg, New Mexico and decided to take my long break there; I logged me into Las Cruses, New Mexico. 

December 10, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Casa Grande, Arizona)
I spent the day in the motel room and did walk across the highway where I ate lunch at the truckstop.  Went back to the motel and stayed there through the night...

December 9, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Texas Canyon rest area, Arizona)
I was up and moving toward Phoenix at 6 AM MST and got to "Just a Truckstop" at 8:45 AM MST. There I ate breakfast and spent time in the movie room.  In the afternoon, I went to the motel across the highway and registered for tonight and tomorrow night as I don't start deliveries until Wednesday....

December 8, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Van Horn, Texas)
I was up and moving toward El Paso at 8 AM CST.  I arrived at our EL Paso terminal at 9 AM MST.  I fueled(105 gallon) and then talked with the other drivers starting around the closed terminal.  I found that some of the other drivers were planning a lunch bar-b-que(many of us carried small bar-b-ques) in the terminal parking lot; I decided to stay for it. 

I had some stuff to bar-b-que and joined the fun.  We ate, sat around and talked and about 4 PM MST when I decided to continue toward Phoenix.  I continued west on I-10, through New Mexico and into Arizona.  I stopped for the night at the Texas Canyon rest area east of Benson, Arizona at 8:15 PM MST). 

December 7, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Lancaster, Texas)
I was up and in the Lancaster(Dallas) terminal when it opened.  About 10 AM CST, dispatch had called me to the dispatch window.  Randy, the dispatcher, had only one decent load and I took it; a tire load to the Phoenix, Arizona area for a Wednesday delivery date.

I sat in the terminal until it closed at noon.  At noon I hooked up my assigned trailer, fueled my tanks(76 gallons), did my paperwork and then headed west on I-20.  Stopped at the "Just a Truckstop." for a late lunch. 

At 9:30 PM CST I pulled into a truck parking lot of a convenience store in Van Horn(Texas).  I stayed there for the night as I was tired and not in any hurry.... 

December 6, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Winfield, Texas)
I woke up at 3 AM CST, did my vehicle inspection and was heading toward Dallas by 3:30 AM CST.  I got to Carrollton(Texas) and the Ford parts warehouse at 5:45 AM CST.  The warehouse personnel were there and unloaded me. 

I called the Lancaster(Dallas) terminal and was told to go to the terminal and wait for another load.  I did go out to lunch and then spent the rest of the day at the terminal...No load today...

December 5, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Dickson, Tennessee)
I woke and was on my was west on I-40 by 7:15 AM CST, getting to our Memphis terminal at 10:15 AM CST.  I fueled(116 gallons), checked in with dispatch and left. 

I stopped at "Just a Truckstop" in West Memphis, Arkansas for lunch and about an hour break. It was about 12:15 PM CST when I was back on I-40 going west. 

Got to Little Rock(Arkansas) and took I-30 southwest into Texas.  At 5:45 PM CST I pulled into the truckstop at Winfield, Texas.  I had nothing to gain by going on tonight.  I went into the restaurant and called my girl friend in Portland, Oregon. I ordered a cheeseburger and fries but wasn't really hungry. Went to bed to wait for tomorrow....  

December 4, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Taylor, Michigan)
I woke at 4:30 AM EST and got on the TRB at that time as the number 5 driver.  I went out and fueled(94 gallons) and then just took it easy until 9 AM EST, when I got a load.  I was hooked up and on my way by 10 AM EST. 

I went down I-75 into Kentucky and took I-71 to Louisville.  Took I-65 in Louisville and stopped at the White Castle in Shepherdsville(Kentucky) at 5 PM EST. 

I ate and hung around until 6 PM EST and waited for the traffic to lighten.  I took off for Nashville, Tennessee where I took I-40 west, stopping in Dickson, Tennessee for my sleep break....

December 3, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Guelph, Ontario)
I was awake when the employees wanted to load me.  I was loaded by 9:30 AM EST and heading for Windsor, Ontario to cross the border by 9:45 AM EST.

I crossed into the US around 1:30 PM and had a problem with US customs; getting the problems all solved by 3:30 PM EST(Remember, I didn't get paid for anything I did for the load that wasn't driving.). 

I got to our Taylor(Detroit) terminal and had to turn the load over to another driver; this I knew was going to happen..  I turned over my paperwork to dispatch and did not go on the TRB.  I went to shop and eat, returning to go to bed. 
 

December 2, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Seville, Ohio)
I was up at 4 AM EST and moving up I-71 to I-271.  Got to I-90 and continued northeast, getting to the Red Wing company, my destination, and checking in by 7:30 AM EST. I was scheduled to unload tomorrow and I was ready to wait, but they said they would unload me as some as I got backed to the docks.  After unloading I went to the Perkins Restaurant and found two other unloaded trucks from my company waiting for loads; one was a team.  We had breakfast and then the other two trucks got loads out of Canada.  They took off and left me waiting. 

I finally got a load, it too was out of Canada.  I got the load at 4:30 PM EST and headed for the Peace Bridge near Buffalo, New York.  I kept my speed up and got to my pick up point at Guelph, Ontario by 8 PM EST.  I had great direction and they took me right there.  I just backed up to a dock and went to bed watching my TV....

December 1, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Pocahontas, Illinois)
I was up and heading east on I-70 by 8:15 AM CST.  My plans were to stop at our fuel stop in Effingham, Illinois but the weather on the local radio was calling for freezing rain and snow.  I try and not get stuck in bad weather so I kept moving east. I wasn't worried about the I-71 northbound Ohio weigh station so I followed I-70 to I-71 and then went northeast. 

I stopped at our fuel stop in Seville, Ohio and fueled(133 gallons).  I checked the weather and rain was the only thing in the forecast.  I decided to stay the night and do my laundry. I got to Seville at 6:15 PM EST.  I was asleep when my deay ended at midnight...

November 30, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Found the Sears warehouse as my day started.  Parked outside the warehouse, set my alarm clock for 4:45 AM CST and laid down for a nap.  I had been here before and knew they get started early.

Sure enough, they were there to start unloading 5 AM CST and had me back up to the docks.  I was unloaded by 7 AM CST and went to the truckstop on the northeast corner of Tulsa. 

After a short nap, I called  dispatch and found I had a load to Fredonia, New York waiting for me at Kerr Glass(Sand Springs, Oklahoma).  I picked up the load and drove up I-44 to Joplin, Missouri and made my mandantory stop for a truck inspection.  Fueled(83 gallons).

I left Joplin and stopped in Marshfield(Missouri), exit 100, and enjoyed dinner at one of the best bar-b-que restaurant I know of.  Continued up I-44, through St. Louis and into Illinois.  I stopped at our drop yard in Pocahontas(Illinois) to see if we had any drivers to run with; found none.  Decided to lay down for my nights rest as it was close to midnight...

November 29, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Memphis, Tennessee)
Took a load of Sears stuff going to Tulsa, Oklahoma that loads at 3 PM CST.  Went to Shoney's for lunch and then back tto the terminal for fuel.

I was at Sears being loaded by 2:30 PM CST and done and ready to leave by 4:30 PM CST.  I stopped at "Just a Truckstop" for a fast bite to eat and then onto Tulsa.  When I got to Little Rock, Arkansas I hit rain and wind.  I remembered feeling I was going to blow over at exit 81 west bound on I-40. I stopped for a short break at the rest area and then headed west again. 

I got to the Muskogee Turnpike and took it to Tulsa where I found my delivery point at Midnight...

November 28, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Memphis, Tennessee)
Day started with me being unloaded at FedEx.  They were done unloading me at 1:15 AM CST.  I called dispatch and was told to go to our Memphis terminal, which I did.  Went to sleep and when I got up around 10 AM CST I found that I was going to be here until tomorrow...Stayed at the terminal except when I went to eat...

November 27,1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling Texas)
As my day started, I had just passed through Freer, Texas(home of the Rattlesnake festival)and continued my long trip-short trip compared to with my every day life--toward Houson.  I got pretty good sleep yesterday--off and on--and I had excellent directions to the receiver of my load.  I found my destination on the northside of Houston at 5:15 AM CST.  I also found two other drivers from my company that got there before me; we all waited on the street until the company opened. 

The other two drivers got unloaded and called dispatch for new loads.  Both got loads out of Houston they claimed to not really want.  I got unloaded and called, getting a load of  Federal Express Airfreight to Memphis, Tennessee. 

I had deliveried not far from the Fed Ex loading location.  I got to Fed Ex and they had me dock for loading.  I was out of there by 12:30 PM CST, heading north on Hwy 59, heading for Memphis. 
I connected with I-30 east and then to I-40 east to Memphis.  They wanted me there at 12:30 AM CST tomorrow but I was there being unloaded as my day ended at midnight...

November 26, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Laredo, Texas)
(see yesterday)When Sundance and I were both awake, I took his to UPS and he mailed several boxes to his home.  We then went to eat and then I took him to the company terminal.  Sundance was a likeable guy and soon found a ride north toward home.

I called Arlena and she wanted to know if I wanted to go to a late lunch; I didn't. I decided to take a nap and while napping, was woken up with a load.

The load I was given was to Houston.  I was not all excited by the load but "kept the faith" that some good was waiting for me in Houston.....I got my trailer & did my vehicle inspection; I headed toward Houston at 11 PM CST.....

November 25, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Laredo, Texas)
I was sharing a motel room with Sundance.  We both woke up around 8 AM CST.  Sundance called his parents and learned that the Missouri Department of Revenue has revoked his Drivers' license for 2 months because of too many traffic violations(three ticket in 18 months).  He called our companies main office and found him immediately terminated. 

With the termination, the company gave him a choice of riding to his home terminal by bus or company truck; he took the company truck option. He couldn't drive his tractor back to the terminal; the terminal sent a couple drivers to get it.  My friend Pam came by the motel room and helped Sundance and I unload his tractor.  After the unloading and the other drivers getting his tractor, I took Sundance and Pam to eat at my favorite(at that time) Chinese Restaurant. 

Pam left for her home and I helped Sundance pack and get ready to mail alot of his stuff to his home(company paid for most the mailing).   I finally went to sleep while he continued to pack....

November 24,1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Laredo, Texas)
Woke in the motel room to use the bathroom.  Found a cockroach on the soap bar.

Went to church and spent the rest of the day with the Mortens and their family and friends.  Got back to my motel room around midnight.

November 23, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Laredo, Texas)
Was in Laredo all day.  Met my friend Sundance and we got a motel room as both would be here at least until tomorrow.  After we got a room, I went over to Arlena's place and spent the rest of the day with her and her kids...

November 22, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Fort Stockton, Texas)
I started my day by getting to the truckstop in Fort Stockton while I was driving to Laredo with two other drivers from our company.

We didn't stay at the truckstop long and by 12:30 AM CST we were headed southeast on Hwy 285. It was close to 2 AM CST when we got to Sanderson, Texas and I decided to stop for some sleep.  The other two drivers continued on toward Laredo.  I found a parking spot by a closed down convienence store having a phone on a post and parked there.  I slept well and undistributed waking up at 10 AM CST.  I called into dispatch and reported my position(a da requirement).  Continued down Hwy 90, passed the museum for Judge Roy Bean, the Hanging Judge and onto Del Rio(Texas).

In Del Rio, I stopped and bought a bucket of chicken at "KFC"s and then headed for Eagle Pass(Texas) down Hwy 277...while eating my chicken. Time was 12:45 PM CST went I left Del Rio.

At Carriizo Springs(Texas)--a "pretty" little town--I took Hwy 83 to I-35 and then ended up in Laredo.  It was 4:15 PM CST when I got to our Laredo terminal and I checked with dispatch.  They told me to just turn my paperwork over to them and drop my trailer in the yard...that I did. 

November 21, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-entering Arizona)
Happily driving east and entering Arizona as my day started.  I was really enjoying the full moon and it's effects on what I saw in the desert.  Just a great night.  "Flew" through the Phoenix, Arizona area and stopped for the rest of the night at our fuel stop in Casa Grande, Arizona(4:30 AM MST).

I left the fuel stop at 1 PM MST and headed for El Paso, Texas.  Went past Benson, Arizonia before the long drive up into the mountains, past the rest area of Texas Canyon(Arizona) and into the flat interstate highway(10) of New Mexico.  Got to our El Paso terminal at 7 PM MST where I fueled(138 gallons).  I met up with two other drivers going to Laredo, Texas and we decided to run together.  We headed east on I-10 and got to the Fort Stockton truckstop as our day ended at midnight CST....

November 20, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Ontario, California)

I was stuck at the truckstop most of the day waiting for a load.  I did have a huge breakfast from the truckstop's buffet.

I finally got a load that I needed to pick up in the downtown area of Los Angeles.  I fueled--since this was a fuelstop--and headed for the pickup.  Got to the pickup at 2:30 PM PST and they started to load me from the street.  Several guys were involved and the loading went quite rapidly.  I was loaded and ready to go by 4:30 PM PST.  There was a place just down the street from them were I could weigh my truck as the paperwork--for the load--was showing 41, 398 lbs.  I got the truck weighed and I was legal all the way around.  This weighing station guy was very nice and let me have a soda(soft drink in Canada) and a bunch of suckers when I left....he said it was just what he did....

After getting the truck weighed, I left for Laredo, Texas(the destination of this load) north on I-710 to east on I-10.  As I drove east into the desest during the night hours, I had a big beautiful full moon to look at.  My day ended as I was getting very close to Blythe, California and the Arizona border... 

November 19, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Barstow, California)
I got up early this morning, about 5:00 AM PST and headed for my delivery point in Rancho Cucamonga, California.  I checked in with the receiver and they had me back up to the dock immediately whereupon they unloaded my trailer.  It didn't take long to unload and I was done by 10:00 AM PST.  I called dispatch and let them know I was empty but they did not have another load for me at that time.

I drove over to our fuel stop in Ontario, California, where I stayed for the night as there was no load for me this day...

November 18, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Parowan Utah)
I woke up about 4:00 AM MST and headed out for Mesquite, Nevada, getting there about 5 AM PST.  I stopped at the truck parking spot for the Peppermill Casino.  I had a good parking spot, it was early, I was still tired so I went back to bed.

My stepfather woke me up around 7:30 AM PST by knocking on my door.  We went over to his home as sought his wife, my stepmother, and their dogs.  After a nice visit he took me back to my truck and I ate at the casino buffet.  The buffet was a really good; by a especially liked the thick pork chops and had several.

I must admit that I don't gamble much but I did gamble with a few nickels.  I actually walked out of the casino $2.00 richer, even after eating, then when I walked in.

I got in by truck and headed for Las Vegas, Nevada.  I just drove through the city and headed for California.  I drove to our fuel stop in Barstow, California and stopped for the night...

November 17, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Rawlins, Wyoming)
O'clock this morning with no snow on the ground but the very cold and windy.  I went into the truck stop and had breakfast; then started at west on interstate 80 toward Salt Lake City.  Once I got to interstate 84 in Utah I took it to the great Salt Lake Valley.  Just as I was exiting in the mountains I got on highway 89 going south.  I stopped in Bountiful, Utah and visited my relatives for an hour.  There was a storm coming south that I wanted it beat.  I followed interstate 15 south and the storm finally caught me when I got to Beaver, Utah.  When the storm caught me it was all rain and no snow or ice.

I continued south on interstate 15 and stopped at the truckstop in Parowan, Utah for the night.  I called my relatives in Mesquite, Nevada and told them I would stop and see them tomorrow.  Went to bed for the night. . .

November 16,1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Peru, Illinois)
Nothing out of the ordinary today; I woke up and went west on I-80. Drove through Iowa and into Nebraska where I stopped at our fill stop in Elm Creek.  I fueled(143 gallons) and then continued west, fighting icy percipatation and wind, on I-80.  I continued to Rawlins, Wyoming and I shut down for the night at the Rip Griffith's truckstop...

November 15, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Hamilton, Ontario)
Last night when I got to the shipper I backed my trailer up to the dock with my doors open.  This morning I was woken up by the trailer shaking, they were loading me.  I saw two other company trucks parked on the street which it come in during the night.  I checked on my a load and found it was diet food going to Ontario, California.  They finished loading me and I was on my way toward Windsor/Detroit by way of highway 403 and then highway 401.

American customs wanted to look at my load.  I backed up to the dock, open my doors, and the agent looked at one box and then told me I was OK to go.  It turns out that the third truck loaded that day had a loaded of food rejected by customs and had to return to the shipper.

I got across the border and to our terminal Taylor, Michigan around 10:30 AM EST.  I fueled(98 gallons), parked my truck and walked into the terminal.  Told everyone the load I had and everybody wanted it.  I did not trade it.  It was due Tuesday.

I followed interstate 94 to interstate 80 at continued to Peru, Illinois where I stopped for my long break; spent the night here...

November 14, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Oshawa, Ontario)
I was up around six but had to wait till 7:00 AM EST to get unloaded.  I was unloaded in about 15 minutes as a fork truck went into the trailer and just grabbed the stuff.  I pulled away from the dock and took my time before calling dispatch at 8:30 AM EST.  They had nothing for me to do and told me to call back in an hour.

It was about 1:00 PM EST and when I was told I had a load to pick up tomorrow morning.  I was to go to Hamilton, Ontario and pick up a load going to Southern California.  I got to Hamilton and found the customer after dark.  I backed up to the dock and decided to walk around and see if I could find a phone to call dispatch.  After a short walk I found a doughnut shop that was open and had a phone.  I called dispatch and let them know I was at my pick up destination.  I then bought some doughnuts which were put into a little box.  I put the box under my arm and then a left for my truck.

As I was walking back to my truck I followed a man who was walking in front of me.  I followed him as he turned the corner and walked toward my truck.  After a minute or two, the man turned to me and insisted on knowing what I was carrying under my arm.  For some reason he thought I was following him to cause him bodily damage.  He was rather irritated but I assured him I ment him no harm.  I show them my doughnuts and pointed to my truck; he then went on his way and I went to my truck, ate some of my doughnuts, turned on my television and went to sleep.

November 13, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling in Michigan)
I was on interstate 94 as my day started.  I got to Taylor, Michigan where I fueled and took my long break.  I was in no hurry as I would make it in time I am sure.

I left for Oshawa, Ontario just before 6:00 PM EST.  No problem with Canadian customs and I was on my way up the highway 401.  Got to Oshawa at 11:15 PM EST and called it a night.  I just went to bed.

November 12, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Columbia, Missouri)
I was awake before everybody showed it up at Tupperware this morning.  I say everyone because several people unloaded my trailer.  There was a whole group of people unloading.  With everyone unloading, I was finished by 10:30 AM CST.  I called dispatch and found I had a load from Sedalia, Missouri going to Oshawa, Ontario.

I picked up a load of wheel rims and headed for Taylor, Michigan.  I went back up to do I-70 by way of highway 65.  I took interstate 70 to interstate 270 over the north part of St. Louis.  Once in Illinois, I took interstate 55 to the truck stop in Mclean where I stopped for my favorite meal there, a chef's salad.  I also fueled as it would be close to running empty by the time I got to Taylor, Michigan.

I continue driving into the next day even though it was a violation of my time rule; today ended while I was driving.

November 11, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Veterans' Day-Kingdom City, Missouri)
Being that it was a holiday, I had the day off.  My kids were busy so I spent the day at the truckstop or in my tractor.

After dark I decided to drive to Columbia and park at the Tupperware dealer warehouse for the night.  I got backed into the dock before a light freezing rain started.  I just watched my TV, wrote, and updated my logbook...

November 10, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5YEARS:(Sunday-Fruitland, Missouri)
Woke up this Sunday morning and left the motel room and continued my drive up interstate 55.  I now had a load of Tupperware going to Columbia, Missouri that is due Tuesday.  As I reached the Saint Lawrence ago on interstate 270 northbound on the west side of the city.  Continue the to highways 40 and 61 where I went westbound.  One reaching interstate 70, I went to Kingdom City, Missouri, getting there around 2 PM CST.  I stopped at "Just a Truckstop", parked the truck and called my kids.  They were busy so I could not see them.  I spent the rest of the day in my truck or in the truckstop...

November 9, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Jackson, Tennessee)
I was awakened at 8:00 AM CST by the unloading crew and told a which dock to back up to.  They had me unloaded by 10:00 AM CST.  I  called dispatch to let them know why was empty and they had a load for me to pick up about three blocks from where I was.

I picked up the load event started delivering and St. Louis Monday.  It had three drops on it with the second one in Peoria, Illinois.

I went up highway 412 to Dyersburg, Tennessee and got on interstate 155 and took it into Missouri and interstate 55 northbound.  While running north I found I was running in front of another company truck going to Columbia, Missouri with a Tupperware load that delivered on Monday also.  We talked for a while and then as I do share a motel room for the night since both of us had a lot of time to spare.  While talking that night in a motel we decide this change loads with each other.  We called dispatch and got loads changed and then just basically took it easy that evening, fallen asleep when we wanted to.

November 8, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Calumet City, Illinois)
I slept most yesterday so I didn't have too good of a night's sleep.  I was up and down all night but I started calling in around 8:00 AM CST and got the standard response to call back in an hour.  It was at 10:00 AM CST that I got a load of corn syrup from western Chicago area going to Tennessee.

Got my load picked up and looked at my routing.  After looking at the routing I determined it was going to be a bad day.  I got started and went down interstate 57.  I consider interstate 57 one of the most boring interstates in the United States.  The ride down I-57 did not surprise me as it was once again boring.  It was a most boring day as I took interstate 57 to interstate 55 in Missouri.  I went south on interstate 55 true interstate 155 going to Dyersburg, Tennessee. At Dyersburg I caught highway 412 to Jackson, Tennessee. I found the plant I needed to deliver at tomorrow morning and it was about 9:00 PM CST.  Oh yes, I stopped in Effingham, Illinois for fuel(118 gallos).  I have a 9:00 AM CST appointment time tomorrow so I parked outside on the street. turned on my TV, and went to sleep for the night...

November 7, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-traveling in Illinois)
As my day started I was heading east on interstate 80 getting close to Iowa City.  I passed the quad cities and entered into Illinois continuing on interstate 80.  I got to interstate 55 and went north and found the shopping center that I was to deliver at.  I parked in the parking lot and waited to about 7:30 AM CST.  I was instructed on where to back the truck so they could unload me.  After unloading I called dispatch and told them I was taking the day off to sleep since I drove all night.  I drove over to the truckstop in Calumet City(south side of Chicago) to park for the day and went to bed. I woke up after dark and visited the truckstop until midnight.

November 6, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday -Kansas City, Missouri)
I was around the terminal all day waiting for aload outside it was raining, snowing and freezing rain.  The whole day look to really bad for truck driving but I was warm inside talking with other drivers that we're stuck waiting for a load.

At 5:00 PM CST,  I and three other drivers were bobtailed to St Joseph, Missouri to pick up trailers in our drop yard.  We all three complained to dispatch about bobtailing with bad roads and he told us that if we did not want the loads that he would get them to someone else.  We all took the loads that I complained a little bit more and he's called us "fair weather truckers".  What made me upset was that the last few days I handled roads that were extremely bad with conditions that made me anything than a "fair weather trucker".  Now all three of us went together on the highways so we could make sure we all got there safely.  We got our loads and mine was going to Chicago.

I was going to Chicago by myself so I went east on highway 36 and then north on interstate 35.  Once I got the weight of the trailer on the back of my tractor the bad roads were not very difficult to handle.  Once I got on interstate 35 the roads weren't too bad and I was able to keep my speed up.  I got to interstate 80 and went east toward Chicago.  My calendar day ended as I was closing in on Iowa City, Iowa...

November 5, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-traveling in Wisconsin)
Shortly after my day started, I went into Illinois on interstate 90.  This section of the interstate roads are all toll roads all the way to Chicago.  I got to the Ford plant in South Chicago and bedded down for the night as they won't let me drop the trailer till tomorrow.

In the morning I dropped a trailer and called dispatch.  They had no load for me so I went to a truckstop not too far away.  When I got to the truckstop I called dispatch again and they had a load for me.  I was to go back to the Ford plant and pick up a load to Kansas City, Missouri.  When I got to the Ford plant, I found another driver being loaded with my load.  We talked in called dispatch and I got the load to Kansas City

I got the load and headed down I-57 to I-80 where I went west to interstate 55.  I'd take interstate 55 south, stopping at the rest area at Funk's Grove(I like putting that in my log book) for a short break.  I went on to highway 36(now interstate 72) and went west.  I followed highway 36 all the way to interstate 35 and then down to our terminal in Kansas City, Missouri.  I got to drop my trailer in our yard and I went to bed in my bumk....

November 4, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Bloomington,, Minnesota)
Woke up in 5:00 AM CST and founded 12 trucks parked behind me.  Checked with the guard and they were getting ready to open the gates.  I checked in and was told to drop my trailer in the yard, then pick up an empty trailer.  I parked my truck with the trailer backed into a slot but when I went to unhook the trailer and a fifth wheel would not release the trailer.  I found that the underneath of the fifth wheel was packed solid with the ice.  It actually took me one and 1/2 hours of pounding the ice to get the fifth wheel working right.  With last night's frustration and this frustration I was ready to quit truck driving, but I didn't.

I called dispatch when I was empty and they gave me a load of empty racks going to Chicago, Illinois.  Hope I had to go to the Ford assembly plant in St. Paul to get my load.  I dropped my empty trailer when I got there and found a trailer I was to take.  I have to it and was ready to go when another driver and his wife pulled in.  I knew the driver and his handle was RW; his wife's handle was Sissy.  I told them I would wait for them but ended up helping get their trailer out of a whole.  The trailer was in a whole where the water had frozen around the rubber of the tires.  I help them get it out; it took awhile and there was no damage to the tires.

When we left the Ford assembly plant, we got on I-94 and headed into Wisconsin.  We followed I-94 two the "Just a Truckstop" in Portage, Wisconsin where I didn't fuel and we ate.  I bought a nice fifth wheel puller from another driver while at the truckstop.  After we ate we headed south on interstate 90.  Our day ended as we were getting close to the Illinois border...

November 3, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Bloomington, Minnesota)
Sunday and I just slepted in.  Played when my computer all day and watch television there was nothing else to do.  After dark, I left the motel room got in my truck and I went back to Best Buy stores warehouse.  While pulling into their driveway my back wheel got caught in a snow drift.  I went back and forth for some time trying to get it out: finally I got it out but it was a violent action that caused to leave a rut.  I was sure I destroyed a few televisions but I had to get out.  I talked to the guard at the gate and he said they would open in the morning.  I was the first park in line so I just bumked in for the night...

November 2, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Bloomington, Minnesota)
I woke up before the sun was suppose to come up.  It was still when the outside with snow flurries and a lot of clouds.  I and the other truck drivers waiting to get into the Best Buy store warehouse found out that the warehouse was not opening till Monday.  Also, we had a huge snowdrift behind the fourth truck so we could not get to the street.  The warehouse had a snowplow come and dig out the snow drift.  We trucks all backed to the road and took off.  I was going back to our fuel stop as I needed fuel.  I got stuck on the road in the ice and snow and I could not move at all.  I did not have any extra sand or anything that would help get me out.  I tried all my liquids and stuff. Finally, a little pickup truck came by with sand in the bed and a shovel.  A man shoveled some some sand under my tires and I was in business again.  I got to our fuel stop and fueled(98 gallons).  Some trucks were having trouble getting started rolling from the fuel pumps as the ground was so icy. There was a tow truck charging trucks to pull them away from the fuel island...  I got rolling OK when I get fueled...

Being that I would be there till Monday I got a room at the motel for Saturday and Sunday nights.  Since there was no one to clean their rooms due to the weather they gave me their rooms at half cost.  I just stayed in my room that night.  There was no place to go. . .

November 1, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday -traveling in Missouri)
And I was traveling up interstate 55 and pulled into our fuel stop at 1:30 AM CST.  I put 188 gallons in my tanks to fill them up.  I then drove to Hannibal, Missouri where I bedded down for the night.

I woke up around 10:00 AM CST and was on my way shortly up highway 61.  As I got close to Iowa eye to highway 394 into Iowa or a small toll bridge.  I took highway 394 into Iowa to highway 218 going north.  It had been raining all yesterday and last night and it was continuing to rain.  By that time I got to Waterloo, Iowa the rain was changing to freezing rain.  I was warned that interstate 35 had downed power lines and that it would be wise to stay on highway 218 until I got to interstate 90.  Boy the road sure got slick.  I remember coming over a mound and there was a stalled car miles in front of me. I couldn't put my brakes on as I would slide off the road...so I had to really slow down and I was worried that I wouldn't slow down fast enough to avoid an accident.  Things worked out OK.

I went up to interstate 90 where I went west to interstate 35.  Followed interstate 35 north to exit 81 where I was planning to fuel.  A couple cars had spun out on the ramp blocking it and I could not get off the interstate.  Since I had a trailer that I was to be dropped in the customer's yard I decided to go to the customer and fuel later.

I had to be careful as the roads were really slick.  I got to the customer and the guards had the gates closed.  Because of the blizzard, the warehouse had shut down.  I was the third truck in line that had to wait untill tomorrow.  The winds outside were blowing quite hard but the snow seemed to be coming down lightly.  I was low on fuel but had to wait till tomorrow to get rid of my trailer.  My bunk heater was not working but my cab heater blew warm air back quite well.  I just watched mike television and went to sleep that's all I could do.. .  The adventure was starting...

October 31, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday -Forrest Ciy, Arkansas)
I slept in today and rolled around in the bed as I had nothing else to do.  I updated my log book, did a vehicle inspection and walked over to a restaurant and had lunch.  I tried to get loaded early but they would not load me.  They actually did load me a little early as my appointment was for 8:00 PM and they loaded to me at 5:00 PM.  I got to watch them loaded and it was all big televisions.  They were going to the Best Buy store warehouse in Bloomington, Minnesota.  The loaders had problems with the last few boxes so they had to put them in sideways; they got them in and I was glad I did't have to unload them.

I was finally loaded around 8:30 PM CST and got out of there around 8:45 PM CST. I drove east on interstate 40 to West Memphis, Arkansas where I picked up interstate 55 north.  I followed in interstate 55 north into Missouri as my day was ending---little did I know the adventure that was waiting for me!!!

October 30, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling in Texas)
I stopped for a 3 hour napping Kendleton, Texas.  After the 3 hour nap I continued on highway 59 until I got to interstate 10 in side Houston.  I took interstate 10 east into Louisiana and got two Lake Charles around 9:00 AM CST.  I got off the interstate and follow the directions I had.  Boy what a time.  The roads were far too small for the semi trucks.  Finally found the customer and was unloaded quite rapidly.

After I was unloaded I called dispatch and was given aload to pick up in Forrest City, Arkansas.  I handed out on the small little roads back to the interstate.  I got on interstate 10 going east to highway 165.  I continue to Alexandria, Louisiana where I tooky break at a Wal-Mart store.  I walked around the store and went to the pharmacy to get some aspirin or something.  I needed to clean the trailer and so I didn't here.  I continued up highway 165 through Monroe, Louisiana where the smell of refineries was really heavy in the air.  I stayed on 165 to Arkansas and up to highway 1 which I followed to Forrest city.   I got there after dark and my appointment wasn't until 8:00 the next day to get loaded.  I just parked outside the customer's gate, turned it on my television, watched it and went to sleep...  I did not know the adventure that was waiting for me! ! !

October 29,1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Laredo, Texas)
I was not in any hurry today so I got up to 10:00 AM CST.  I hung around the terminal and worked with my computer.  I need off the "Roach coach"(lunch wagon) that came and twice.  I finally got a load at 8:30 PM CST.

I got everything done and finally got out and headed towards Lake Charles, Louisiana by 8:10 PM CST.  My exciting day ended east of a Freer, Texas(home of the rattlesnake festival) while driving toward Beeville, Texas...

October 28, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Laredo, Texas)
I got up at 9:00 AM CST and was not in a hurry to do anything.  Just take it easy and talk to the other drivers until lunchtime.  I and two other drivers went to my favorite Chinese restaurant and had lunch.  After lunch we went back to the terminal for a continuation of this exciting day.  While at the terminal I talked to the drivers about a game I had called "Pigs".  A couple of them wanted to try it so I got the pigs out....  Before I knew what I had several people claim pigs and we were having fun.  Around 4:00 PM CST the dispatcher called me to his window.  I had a phone call fall Arlena asking if I was coming over as we had decided yesterday that we would meet for dinner....  I had forgotten because of the pig game.  I ended the peak game and we met for dinner at 5:00 PM CST.  After we ate how anorder of her house and talk with her and her kids tell about 10:00 PM CST.  I then went back to the terminal and called it a night and went to sleep...

October 27, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS (Sunday-Kendleton, Texas)
--daylight savings time ended this morning--I got out that 2:00 AM CST and headed for Laredo.  Even though it was dark outside I could see the fog real well.  The ride was quite pleasant through the night and I got into Laredo at 7:00 AM CST.

I got to drop my load in the yard and that I did.  I stayed around the terminal for a while and talked to some of the other drivers. I left and went to church and was there when it started at 9:00 AM CST.  After church I went to the Morten's home for dinner.  Stephen had to go pick someone up at the Airport and I went with him.  A person never showed up and so we went back home.  After we got home I win over two Arlene's house and talk to them until they started watching the movie Robocop 2.

I went back to the terminal and watched television in my truck and went to sleep; time unknown...

October 26, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Mobile, Alabama)
Stranger morning, I woke up and for some reason couldn't remember were I was.  It took a while to figure everything out.  I was parked behind at the waffle house so I went in and had breakfast; A couple double cheeseburgers, an order of onion rings and two glasses of water.

I continued west on interstate 10 through Mississippi into Louisiana.  I got on interstate 12th and stopped in Hammond, Louisiana for fuel(172 gallons).  At our fuel stop in Hammond, Louisiana I took a short break and checked out the movie theater and found nothing that I wanted to watch.  I continued west on interstate 12.  In Baton Rouge, Louisiana I picked up interstate 10 again and went west over the miles and miles and miles of bridges over the marshes of Louisiana.  Got into Texas and drove through downtown Houston which was a mistake because of heavy construction.  Got on highway 59 and headed for Laredo, Texas.  Stopped for the night in a truckstop I liked in Kendleton.  I turned on my TV and started to watch the sixth game of the World Series but fell asleep long before it was over...

October 25,1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-McAdenville, North Carolina)
I woke up around 6:00 AM EST and found the employees have the doors open to the docks and I when inquired which one I wish to back up to.  I got backed up to the assigned dock but found that they had to load another truck first as it was a company truck that needed to get out.  I just any some letters I was writing and paid a couple bills and waited to be loaded.

After loading after loading I called it dispatch and told them I was leaving.  I went east on highway 74 and then south on interstate 85.  Got into South Carolina and stopped at our fuel stop in Spartanburg.  I went into the restaurants and found another driver there and I knew. We had ran together last year in New York state.  We ate and talked for about an hour and then I was on my way porch and Mobile, Alabama again. Got into Georgia and continue to Atlanta where I had to take the 285 bypass over the top of the Atlanta.  Continued on interstate 85 into Alabama and to Montgomery.  At Montgomery, I took up interstate 65 south until I got to the north part of Mobile, where I stopped at the waffle house for some sleep in the parking lot behind them.  Went to sleep for the night...

October 24, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Enfield, North Carolina)
I downloaded in the early morning and called dispatch when I was unloaded.  They loads for me and told me to call back in an hour. I found a th fast food chicken place to call in at with a laundromat close by.  Figuring I would not get a load soon I did my laundry.  A laundrimat was not the greatest and I even had to go buy my own toilet paper to use the bathroom; the first of two places that I had to buy toilet paper in the first five years of driving a semi.

Just after my laundry started I got a dispatch.  Good thing it was for a load tomorrow.  I finished my laundry and took off south on interstate 95.  I got two highway to 64 and went west towards Raleigh.  At Raleigh, I tooky interstate 440 south to interstate 40 where I went west.  Interstate 40 met up with interstate 85 and I stayed on interstate 85 past Charlotte, North Carolina.  I got two Kings Mt and take highway 74 to Mc Adenville(near King' Mt.). I guess parked at the customer's for the night and went to bed.

October 23, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Pomona, Tennessee)
I got my rest and was moving east on I-40.  I passed Nashville, Tennessee and continued east on I-40 where I found a DOT inspection at exit 307.  They waved me through so I didn't have to stop.  I get a lot of construction on this highway this day; the type they close off 20 miles of highway to work on one 100 foot area.

I stayed on interstate 40 eastbound and passed Knoxville and went into North Carolina.  This area is one of the more beautiful areas of the country.  Past Asheville, North Carolina and continued to the downgrade on I-40 called Black's Mountain.  I had to take it easy down Black's Mountain as I had a heavy load and no Jake brake.  I got down with no trouble and continued east went past Hickory, Winston-Salem and Greensboro.  When I got to Raleigh, I had to take interstate 440 to highway 64 eastbound.  Highway 64 was slow going but I had to take it.  I got to interstate 95 and went north to highway 481 which I take to Enfield. 

I ran way over my driving time today but I was not tired and wanted to get to destination.  I did stop in Graham, North Carolina and got fuel(112 gallons).  I parked the truck at the customer's building, turn my TV on and went to sleep...

October 22, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday -Tulsa, Oklahoma)
My day started with me just pulling up to the guard shack of the Ford glass plant.  The guard came and woke me up at 6:30 AM CST and told me where I needed to go.  I had trouble finding the place but found.  They unloaded me and found one bag broken open.  The broken bag put iron oxide all over the trailer floor.  I tried to sweep it out but in all wouldn't come off the floor.  I decided to live with it as most of it came up.

After unloaded I called dispatch and they said I had no load yet.  I left the plant and found a fast food restaurant to park at while I waited for a load.  I finally got a load at 1:00 PM CST.  I had to go back to the Ford glass plant picked up a load to Enfield, North Carolina.

I picked up aload, took the Muskogee turnpike down to I-40 east.  Traveled into Arkansas, passed Little Rock and then over the Mississippi River into Memphis, Tennessee.  I got to our terminal in Memphis at 10:30 PM CST.  I fueled(84 gallons) and was on my way again.  I drove to Pomona, Tennessee where I stopped for the night.

October 21, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Quincy, Illinois)
I was up early, about 4:00 AM CST, wondering when I would get unloaded.  The employees of the Pepsi Bottling company showed up for work at 5:00 AM CST.  I was unloaded by 5:30 AM CST.  I called dispatch before 6 AM CST and they assigned me aload a two picked up at 2:00 PM CST.  I was there by noon and loaded by 1 PM CST.

The load was powdered iron oxide going to the Ford glass plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I left westward on highway 24 and then county road H to Center, Missouri.  At Center I took highway 19 south where I picked up highway 54 and took it to Kingdom City, Missouri where I had dinner.

After dinner I continued south on highway 54 to highway 65.  When south on highway 65 to Springfield, Missouri where I got on interstate 44 SW.  I got to Joplin, Missouri 8:30 PM CST.  I did what I had to do at the terminal(fueled with 123 gallons) and then was off toward a Tulsa.  I got to Tulsa as my day was ending at midnight.

October 20, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Kingdom City, Missouri)
I was a pretty early this morning and my daughter came by and picked me up for church.  It was 9:00 AM CST when church started and it was nice to see a lot of my old friends.  After church I talked with a friend of mine that was a city policeman.  We talked about the use of radar guns and how he handled a truck drivers with commercial driver's licenses.  He said he left people with commercial driver's licenses up to the highway patrol. Anyway, we have nice talk in and my daughter took me back to my truck in Kingdom City.

Soon after getting to my truck, I took off for Quincy, Illinois where I was to deliver tomorrow.  I stayed on Hwy 54 and it joined Hwy 19 just south of Ladonia, Missouri.  When highway 54 and highway 19 split up, I stayed on highway 19 to Center, Missouri and took county road H north to highway 24.  I went east on highway 24, over the Mississippi River ending up in Quincy, Illinois.

It was now getting to be dusk and so I parked at the Pepsi bottling plant.  I went to bed and once again watched my television and went to sleep after getting caught up on my paperwork.

October 19, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-traveling in Oklahoma)
Made my pickup of a load of glass bottles going to Pepsi Bottling in Quincy, Illinois. After doing a "drop & hook" I started moving the load toward Joplin, Missouri--my first stopping place--while going northeast on I-44.

I got to our terminal, fueled(72 gallons) and hang around the terminal and did my long break/sleep before leaving out for Fulton, Missouri at 2 PM CST.  I took I-44 NE to Lebanon, Missouri and then went north on highway 5 to highway 54.  I then took highway 54 to Fulton where I stopped at the Wal-Mart parking lot and called my children.  I told them I was in town and would take them to dinner if they had not eaten yet.  They said they had eatten so I said I would take them to Columbia where we would visit the mall.

After a short but fun evening with my children, they took me back to my truck.  I drove up to Kingdom City and parked for the night at the truck stop; watched my television and went to sleep...

October 18, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-traveling in Missouri)
Got to Joplin, Missouri terminal and took my long break.  I was able to drop my load to Muskoogee, Oklahoma and pickup a load due in Oklahoma City tonight.  Got load to the GM assembly plant and got another load to pickup in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.  My day ended with me heading to Sapulpa(next to Tulsa)...

October 17, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Plainfield, Illinois)
The guard woke me up and told me to back up to dock 22.  I hired a lumper to unload me and I went back to sleep.  Woke up around noon and unloading still going on.  I worked on my paperwork and then went and helped the lumper finish unloading at 1 PM CST.  Got done, called dispatch and had NO load.  I went to the Plainfield truckstop and called dispatch again.  They had a load of glass for me to pick up in Plainfield going to Muskogee, Oklahoma. 

I picked up the Kerr jars and headed south on I-55 3 PM CST  Stopped for a break at Funk's Grove rest area(Love putting the name on my logbook).  Got to Springfield(Illinois) and took I-72 west.  While talking to a truck behind me on the CB radio, I had a deer run in front of me.  The deer cleared my truck but turned around and ran back into it.  I didn't see it hit me but the driver behind me saw it dead on the road.  I called a local resident on the CB radio and told them of the fresh "kill" with hopes that the deer won't go to waste. 

When I got to Hwy 54 at Pittsfield(illinois), I took it on to Fulton(Missouri) where I checked my post office box. Had nothing so I kept going down Hwy 54 to Hwy 65.   My day ran out while I was traveling...

October 16, 1991,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Cambridge, Ontario)
Was awake by 5 AM EST and heading toward the border at Windsor, Ontario at 5:15 AM EST.  I crossed into the US and went through customs with no problems.  Got to the Taylor(Detroit) terminal at 10:15 AM EST and fueled(176 gallons).  Checked with dispatch before going to eat lunch and going shopping.  I bought some Glucose testing paper as I needed to check my symptoms of diabetes(tiredness, thirst and frequent urination).

I checked the glucose in my urine and came up negative---felt good.

Left the terminal at 1 PM EST and headed west on I-94. When I-94 joined up with I-90, I continued on I-80 to I-55 north.  Stopped at the truckstop in Plainfield and I asked if they knew where my delivery place is; they did.  I went to the place and the guard let me inside the gate and then I went to sleep....

Before going to sleep, I tested my urine for glucose again.  I got a small POSITIVE....

October 15,1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Quebec City, Quebec)
Was woken up at 6:30 AM EST by the fellow unloading me.  He spoken good English and he told me to open my doors and back back into the door I was at.  I just had on a load of refrigerators which didn't take long to unload.  While unloading, I talked to a JB Hunt driver(in 2011, the largest truck company) that was unloading next to me.  This driver strickly drove Canada, though he was an American citizen.  He also had a bunch of great "JB Hunt" jokes. 

I was emtpy be 8:30 AM EST and called dispatch to inform them.  Dispatch gave me a load of tires to pick up in Joliette, Quebec and to be delivered to Plainfield, Illinois.  I left Quebec City and headed toward Joliette on Hwy 40.  Loved looking at the River as I traveled along the river.  I got to Hwy 31 by Joliette and took it to the tire company.

I picked up my trailer(Drop & Hook) and was off toward the United States at  12:30 PM EST.  Took Hwy 31 back to Hwy 40 southbound.   Hwy 40 hooked into Hwy 20 which changed to Hwy 401 in Ontario.  I went on to a huge truckstop in Cambridge, Ontario where I fueled(60 gallons), ate  and took my long sleep break at 8:30 PM EST.....

October 14, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Kingston, Ontario)
Left the rest area on Hwy 201 near Kingston(Ontario) after getting me some Canadian donuts(see May 15, 1991).   Time of leaving was 10 AM EST.  Got to the truckstop in Lancaster, Ontario at 12:30 PM EST where I found another driver from my company.  we eat together and found that the majority of drivers here were waiting for the word that the Quebec Scales had closed.

At 2 PM CST, the word came out that the Quebec scales had closed and there was a mass exodus toward Quebec.  I got into the "convoy" into Quebec.  Hwy 401 turned into Hwy 20 in Quebec and I followed it throught Montreal and across the St. Lawence River.  I decided to take the southeast highway to Quebec City. I really enjoyed the ride upthere.  When the St Lawence River came into view, the rows of homes seemed to become interesting...The houses were basically except for the multi-colored differences in them...Fantastic!!!  Got to the city from the south and saw massive amount of industry.  Industry all around!!! Crossed the St. Lawence River again and found the warehouse I was to deliver to with little problem.

I was in the heart of the North American "French" speecking area.  I found the warehouse and they had a guard walking around.  We had a hard time talking to each other and he finally got me to back in to a dock in the area that I was to unload at tomorrow.  I got him to point to where a convenience store was and I walked to it.

I walked into the store and asked where to bathrooms was and the young man looked puzzled for a moment and then pointed to the mens' room.  I did what I had intended and reentered the shopping area and found the young clerk talking with another yound guy.  They both quit talking when they noted me and I said, "You can keep talking about your girlfriends.  I don't understand French". They kept looking at me and I walked up to the clerk and paid for the sandwich I had with a Canadian $20 bill.  The two boys still were quiet and not talking, acting like they didn't understand English.  I felt like laying down the $10 bill I had and saying something like, "First one that can talk to me in English gets the $10."  I didn't as I felt I would loose the $10.....

Went back to my truck and bedded down for the night.  Turned on my TV and found everything in Frech.  Just left TV on and went to sleep...    

October 13, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Taylor, Michigan)
I shept in today as I am not due in Quebec City until Tuesday.  I talked with the drivers in the terminal lounge whiile I washed my laundry.  Around 1 PM EST I and two other drivers went to the Swedish buffet for lunch. I left for Quebec City at 3 PM EST after fueling(174 gallons), logbook updating and vehichle inspection. 

I took I-75 north to the Ambassidor Bridge, crossing it into Canada and going through Canadian Customs.   Traveled Hwy 401 past London and Toronto to the rest area outside Kingston, Ontario.  Got there at 11 PM EST and decided to bunk down for the night....
 

October 12, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Williamsburg, Iowa)
I woke by my alarm clock at 6:30 AM CST and headed east on I-80.  Kept going to the "Just a Truckstop" in Lake Station, Indiana for fuel(50 gallons--going to fill up in Taylor, Michigan) and lunch. 

Left the truckstop just before 1 PM CST.  Took I-94 into Michigan and omto the Taylor(Detroit) Taylor Terminal.  Decided to stay at the Termial for the night.  Went to the Swendish Buffet with three other drivers and just enjoyed the evening.  After  eating, I went to the store and got alot of munchies for Canada.  Went to bed as I want to leave early tomorrow morning...

October 11, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Funk's Grove, Illinois)
Woke at 7 PM CST as that was when I had set my alarm clock.  Got moving north on I-55--Then I-294 north--and got to the delivery point in Bensenville, Illinois at 10 AM CST.  I was backed up to a door and unloaded.  After unloading, another one of our drivers was getting gone being unloaded.  His handle was "Mongoose". We found that both of us were to go to Newton, Iowa and pick up refrigerators; mine going to Quebec City, Quebec and his to Laredo, Texas.We left for Iowa at 12:30 PM CST.

We ran together and took I-294 south to I-88 west.  We took I-80 west around the quad-cities, past Iowa City and onto the pickup in Newton, Iowa.  Mongoose and I had fun talking the whole way on the CB radio.    Got to the shipper at 5:30 PM CST and loaded by 6:45 PM CST.  Took off east on I-80.  Stopped at the restaurant & truckstop that I like at Williamsburg(Iowa).  Got the steak dinner and then went to bed...

October 10, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Tulsa, Oklahoma)
I woke up at 7 AM CST and needed to call dispatch.  Heck with it!!! I rolled over and went back to sleep.  I finally called in just before 9 AM CST to find they had a load assigned to me.  I was to go to Kerr Glass in Sand Springs, Oklahoma(sits just west of Tulsa) amd pick up a load going to Cincinnati, Ohio.  There was usually a pickup appointment at Kerr Glass but this time I was just to go get it without an appointment.

I took Hwy 412 west to Sand Springs where I was instructed to back up to dock 6 for loading.  I walked to the loading docks and watched them load me. Before I got my load's paperwork, I went to my tractor to get my pen.  As I walked back to the shipping department, I bumped up against a Heartland trailer with a good sized burr(a piece of mental hanging away from original design) on one of it's rivets; leaving a huge bleeding cut on my left arm(can still see scare today)/  It was deep and I called dispatch.  I told dispatch that I was heading into Joplin and would stop at the terminal, which I did.

When I contacted dispatch, I turned in my paperwork and reported my injury.  I told them I needed stitches and I was seen by many persons before someone said that I was to take a taxi to the hospital.  They--the company--really didnt know what to do.  The Taxi came and took me to the hospital where the doctor put in two deep stitches and three shallow ones.  He told me to come back in a week to get them out and I told him that I didn't have a clue where I would be in a week and that I could remove them as I was a nursing student that had studied doing that sort of thing.  Stitches normally aren't hard to remove...
(Note: The hospital which I went to was heavily damaged--was rebuilt--by the huge tornado in May of 2011).

Got back to the terminal to find that my Cincinnati load was gone.  The local dispatcher asked if I would take a load to Chicago that had to get moving and I said. I was hooked up and fueled(38 gallons) just before 3 PM CST and heading northeast On I-44.

I stopped for dinner at Marshfield and filled up on some of the best bar-b-que around the midwest.  After dinner it was back on the road.  When I got to St. Louis, I took I-55  north toward Chicago and over the Mississippi River.  I followed I-55 up to the rest area at Funk's Grove, Illinois(like that name in my logbook) and called it a night.  Went to sleep... 

October 9, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Tulsa, Olkahoma)
I was up and walking around when the Walgreens employees wanted to unload me..While they unloaded, I walked around the ruck, watched them unload and visited the hamburger joint next door.  They were done unloading me at 11 AM CST.  I called dispatch and found there was nothing for me to pick up today. 

I drove to the 76 Truckstop off I-44 on the northeast corner of Tulsa. (Note: This truckstop was totally blown away by a tornado a number of years after this date).  I Had dinner with two other company drivers and then sat ond talked with the waitress(Linda) and filled out a number of "comment" forms(all good comments) for her.  Went to bed and watched my TV...

October 8, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Mt. Vernon, Illinois)
Got up after being woke up by the fellow that loaded me.  I backed up to a particular dock door and found that that door was for certain stores. 

Just about everything was on computerized conveyors. Most things, I was told, were mechanically taken off the selves and placed on conveyors.  The computers would than get the item to the correct conveyor to the correct truck.  While the employee loaded the truck, I HAD to count the items going into the trailer.  It was about 1 PM CST that I got loaded and called dispatch that I was ready to go. 

1:15 PM CSTI was heading for my destination, Tulsa, Oklahoma on I-64 West bound.  When I got to St. Louis and crossed the Mississippi River, I took I-44 to the southwest.  I got to our main terminal in Joplin, Missouri, fueled(116 gallons) and checked in with dispatch.  I hoped that I could drop this load for whatever reason but couldn't. 

Went on to the Walgreens store in Tulsa and got there at 8:30 PM CST.  I checked with the manager as the store was still open.  Had to wait until tomorrow and they told me just to sleep on their lot for the night....

October 7, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Indianapolis, Indiana)
Wake up by my alarm clock at 7 AM EST.  Called dispatch as I was emptied last night.  They gave me a load to pick up tomorrow in Mount Vernon, Illinois. 

I went out to my truck and , since I was not in the way of anything, I went back to sleep for another two hours.  Basically, I went to our fuel stop in Effingham, Illinois again and had dinner.  Went down I-57 and got to the Walgreens Warehouse(my pickup tomorrow) and spent the night within the stockcade...

October 6, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Kingdom City, Missouri)
My daughter--lived in Fulton, Missouri--picked me up for church this morning after I called that I was in town. After church services, there was a carryin dinner which I helped them eat. After we ate at the Church, my kids and Ben--my oldest boys friend--took me back to the truck.

Headed east on I-70 a little after 2 PM CST until I got to I-270 around St. Louis.  Took I-270 east over the top of St. Louis into Illinois.  Got to I-70 again and took it east again to Effingham, Illinois.  Since our fuel stop into Effingham filled our tank(I don't have to log it), I had them fill me up(56 gallons).  I figured that we had some drivers in the restaurant and I was right; there were two drivers eating together.  I sat down with them and we had a nice chit chat.  I was soon heading east again.

I went on to Indianapolis and found the customer at 10:15 PM EST.  I was surprised to find that the warehouse had a night crew and they said they would unload we.  I backed up to the dock and they unloaded me and I was away from the dock by 11:45 PM EST.  The unloading crew said I coulkd sleep on their lot if I wanted to; I did...

October 4, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Rock Springs, Wyoming)
Temperature when I got up was 36 degrees F and my heater wasn't working right.  I opened the hood and found the problem and fixed it.  Was on my way east on I-80 at 7:30 AM MST.

At 9:30 AM MST I stopped at the Rip Griffin's Truckstop, where I shopped around and waited for the lunch buffet to start.  Around noon, I was on the road again, this time with light snow and slightly slick roads to Cheyenne(Wyoming).  I continued into Nebraska where I stopped to make a call to dispatch.  I found that my "driver" girl friend had been terminated and that Sundance(my friend Rick's Handle) was heading for North Carolina.  I drove on to Lowell, Nebraska where I called it a night...

October 5, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Lowell, Nebraska))
Couldn't sleep very well and finally got up at 4:45 AM CST and was moving east on I-80 by 5 AM CST. I stopped at fuel stop at Grand Island, Nebraska and only took on 50 gallons of fuel as I was headed for our Kansas City terminal and could fill up there.  When I got to Lincoln, Nebraska, I took Hwy 2 into Iowa and hopped on I-29 going south.  Got to our Kansas City terminal and fueled(166 gallons).  I hung around the terminal until 7:30 PM CST, when I took off for Kingdom City, Missouri east on I-70.  Got to the truckstop in Kingdom City and called it a night.  Fell asleep while watching my TV....

October 3, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Ogden, Utah)
I got up and spent some of the morning playing video games which I rarely do.  I found that I had spent over $7s on a car racing game!!! I was happy to finally get a load to pick up in Firth, Idaho at just before noon.  I had filled my fuel tanks(124 gallons) earlier so I was ready to go.  Left up I-15 into Idaho where I passed by Pocatello and Blackfoot(Idaho), get to the pickup at 3 PM MST. 

The boxed potato company was waiting for me with my load going to Indianapolis, Indiana.  They had me loaded by 3:45 PM MST and I was rolling south on I-15 by 4 PM MST.  Stopped at the Fort Hall Indian reservation and got a "Buffalo in a Can" (small stuffed buffalo in a can) for Pam Morten's son in Laredo Texas.  I almost bought--wish I had--a "cowpie"belt buckle.

After passing Pocatello going south, I decided to take Hwy 30 east.  I enjoyed the ride through this part of Idaho and Wyoming.  I had to stop at the Wyoming Port of Entry outside Kemmerer, which was standard for all points of entry for their state. I got to I-80 and took it east to Rock Springs(Wyoming), Where I shut down for the night...

October 2, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Roy, Utah)
I was awake and at the unloading door before any of the store employees got there.  The manager, assistant manager and a couple emoployees got there and we all went to McDonalds for breakfast.  Came back and got the trailer totally unloaded by 9:30 AM MST.  There trailer floor was covered with a white powder so I sweep it out three times before I got the tire company's hose and washed it out...What a mess.  I washed down the north end of their lot also as the wet powder that I washed out of the trailer was covering it. 

After I was done at the tire store, I went to our fuel stop in Ogden(Utah) and because of no loads, I spent the night. 

October 1, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Provo, Utah)
Woke up at 5:30 AM MST and was heading north on I-15 by 6 AM MST.  I got to their Sandy, Utah store at 6:45 AM MST and had a pretty easy time with backing into the drop off door.  I got back to the door ans waited a short time for the crew to show up.  I got unloaded and then went to their Van Winkle, Kearns, Salt Lake City and Bountiful stores.  after today's deliveries, I went and parked next to the K-Mart store and I was behind a convenience store.

My Mother didn't live far from where I was parked so I called her and took her to dinner at the Sizzler Restaurant.  After a couple hours with visiting my Mom, I drove to the tire store in Roy, Utah and parked next to their building for the night.

September 30, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Provo, Utah)

Day started with me waking at the motel I had for three nights. This day was to be a "nothing" day as I eas to start deliveries tomorrow. I decided to drive to the first stop for tomorrow--in Orem(Utah)--today and see if they will take their tired. It wasn't far from my motel so I went over there and they said they would take them. I opened the doors to the trailer and a few tires fall out. The rest of the first row of tires were too close to the rare of the trailer to get out by climbing into it. The two guys helping me to unload got something from the shop and pulled most the first row of tires out. We got their tires off and I was back to my motel room by 10:30 AM MST waiting for tomorrow to get here.

I went to the buffet restaurant, across the street of the motel, for lunch and filed up for the rest of the day. Just spent the rest of the day and evening typing, writing and watching TV....

September 29, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Provo, Utah)
Stayed in motel today and waited for delivery Tuesday....

September 28, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Cortez, Colorado)
I decided to leave Cortez at 4:30 AM MST as I could get past the Utah state scale before it opened. I went past it when it was closed and got to Monticello, Utah at 5:45 AM MST.  Right after turning on Hwy 191 northbound, I parked on the side and went into the convenience store and got me some morning munchies and a soda(soft drink in Canada).  I continued north past the Moab(Utah) and on past Green River(Utah) . Followed Hwy 6 out of Green River through one of the upper deserts of Utah to Price & Helper(Utah). 

Got to Provo, Utah just before noon MST.  Checked into the motel I usually stayed at in Provo for three nights.  Took It easy the rest of the day...
                                           

September 27, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Amarillo, Texas)
Got up at 8 AM CST at "Just a Truckstop" and had breakfast.  Left for Utah at 9:15 AM CST west on I-40.  Stopped in Santa Rosa for fuel(103 gallons) for then onward.  Got to Albuquerque and took I-25 north a short distance to Hwy 550.  Took Hwy 550 up through Navajo country and then stopped at a convenient store in Bloomfield, New Mexico.  Was there for about 1/2 hour and then west on Hwy 64 to Shiprock and Hwy 666.  Took Hwy 666 north to Cortez and stopped at the truckstop behind the Colorado weigh station at 7 PM MST. Decided to stay there for the night and get an early start tomorrow.

September 26, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Lancaster, Texas)
I was in the terminal building at 7:30 AM CST and reported to the terminal manager that the bobsled was in the yard.  We all went out to look at it.  After looking at it, I noticed that my keys were missing.  I looked for them for over an hour, only to find them behind my comb and wallet in my back pocket.

I sat around the terminal until it was my turn for a load.  Dispatch saved the Salt Lake City tire load for me and I took it. 

I left for Utah at 5 PM CST taking I-20 west to Hwy 287 northeast.  Hit the traffic through Fort Worth and took a break at the small truckstop at Vernon, Texas.  Got to the "Just a Truckstop" in Amarillo, Texas minutes before midnight and shut down for the night...

September 25, 1991 ,2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling in Texas)
Started my day traveling south on I-35, getting to San Antonio and the JC Penny's center at 4:30 AM CST.  I dropped the trailer and called night dispatch; I was to get a return load from JC Penny's to our Lancaster terminal.  I got ahold of Peggy and she wouldn't let me have the return load, siting the planners had put something on the computer.  I wasn't happy but who said I had to be.  I just got..."Call back in the morning for a load".

I called the terminal manager at Lancaster as he was the one that said I would get the return load.  He said that he would straighten things up and told me to call him later.  I grabbed am empty trailer and went over the the "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio.  At 2:30 PM CST I got a load to pick up tomorrow.  I had that load taken away from me and a load given to me that will take me to Lancaster.

The load I got....Pick up the US Olympic Bobsled and take it to Lancaster, Texas for a relay.  I went over to where I was told and three fellows put the bobshed in the trailer and secured it.  I talked with the guys and found that two of them were the ones that did the Olympics with that bobsled.

I left for Lancaster at 5 PM CST heading for Lancaster.  Got to the I-35E and I-35W split and took the I-35E wing.  Shortly after taking the I-35E, I came to the Italy, Texas exit and took a break at the convenience store and small truckstop.  Continued up to our Lancaster terminal and fueled(83 gallons) before shutting down for the night....

September 24, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Dallas, Texas)
I was up and waiting to be unloaded when the employees showed up for work.  I was told which dock to back up to and did.  I walked to the back of the trail, on the dock, and was notified that I had to unload the trailer.  OH BOY!!!!  Unloading it wasn't hard but the load consisted of freshly painted 55 gallon drums.  The got the trailed unloaded by 9:10 AM CST but had markings of the paint on me as some of it was not completely dry. 

Called local dispatch and was told to go to the Lancaster(Dallas) terminal where I would get another load.  I got to the terminal and dispatch, knowing I liked the loads of tires to Salt Lake City, told me that they had a load there.  The problem was that the load didn't deliver until next Tuesday.  The asked if I would do the Dallas to San Antonio nightly run once or twice and then I could have the Salt Lake load.  I agreed. 

The load came in at 10:30 PM CST and I was off by 10:45 PM CST. I figured that I would have enough fuel to go down to San Antonio and back to Lancaster, so I will wait to fuel.  Don't remember where I was exactly when midnight hit but I was on I-35 going south.

September 23, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Lee's Summit, Missouri)
I was woken up by the construction workers that would be needing these refrigeration units i was carrying. The foreman of the project said that they wouldn't need them for a few days and so they wouldn't be unloading them. I call the local dispatch in Kansas City and they told me to just bring them to the Kansas City terminal yard and drop them---I did.

At the yard, the Kansas City dispatch gave me a light load(less than 5,000 lbs)going to Dallas. I left the Kansas City terminal around 11 AM CST after fueling(98 gallons) and headed down I-35 to Oklahoma City for dinner at 5 PM CST. After dinner(6:30 PM CST). I headed down I-35 again and got to Dallass and the customers at 10:30 PM CST. They were all closed up so I just parked the truck and went to sleep...

September 22, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Kingdom City, Missouri)
My daughter came and got me for church. While at church, a few of my friends were telling me of a truck that had overtured and spilt its load of frozen orange juice. They told me how they went and helped clean it up and because the cargo was no longer consided "good", they got to keep all the orange juice they could carry....

Spent the day with the kids until around 6 PM CST when I left the truckstop and headed for Lee's Summit, Mssouri, and the customer.

Got to Lee's Summit around 8:30 PM CST and found the customer; they were having me drop the refrgerator units of at the store construction site...makes sense to me...

Went to bed and to sleep while my TV was playing...

September 21, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Bridgeton, Missouri)
I had pulled into the shipper's yard just before my day started. The job here was very simple; drop my empty trailer in their empty trailer lot and pick up my assigned trailer. Got my assigned trailer and checked the paperwork to make sure it was going to Lee's Summit for Monday. It was the correct trailer so I picked it up and did a vehicle inspection. Up dated my logbook and was on I-70 westbound by 12:45 AM CST.

Drove to the truckstop at the Truxford exit(exit 188) and settled in for the night. I slept until 9:30 AM CST and then just laid there for awhile. Didn't eat breakfast before taking off for Kingdom City, Missouri. Got to Kingdom City around noon and then called my kids(they lived in Fulton, Missouri--a few miles south of me). My daughter and youngest son came up and we had lunch together. My oldest son was wrapped up in some activity all day. Hung out with the kids the rest of the day and then went back to my truck and went to sleep...

September 20, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Woke and checked in with dispatch...got the "call back in an hour". I got that until 3:30 PM CST when dispatch said to deadhead to Bridgeton, Missouri and pick up a load of refrigerator units for Maryland. I got started heading northeast on I-44 into Missouri, stopping at our terminal. I fuels(34 gallons) and checked in with dispatch. I had met "Bar-B-Que"(his handle) before taking with dispatch and found that he had a load to pick up where I did. The only difference was that his load was going to Lee's Summit, Missouri; my was going to Maryland. He asked to trade loads and I said OK. Dispatch reassigned our loads and then we were off to Bridgeton, up I-44, at 7 PM CST.

We took I-270(westside of St. Louis) north to Bridgeton and were at the customer's as the day ended at midnight...

September 19, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Troy, Illinois)
Left the truckstop in Troy at 3:30 AM CST and headed for Missouri on I-70. Crossed the Missouri River and got on I-44 and headed for Joplin(Missouri). After a short break on I-44, I got to our terminal in Joplin at 9 AM CST.

I had some business to take care of so I took care of it. I was to be in Tulsa, Oklahoma at 1 PM CST so I was out of the terminal by 11 AM CST after doing my business and fueling(134 gallons). Entered Oklahoma and shot down I-44 to Tulsa where I was at the customer at 1 PM CST. They unloaded me and I was off for the truckstop off I-44 on the northeast corner of Tulsa.

I played around as there was no load for me. I went to the restaurant and nothing was happening. Talked with the waitress and cashier for 4 hours. Cathy & Glenda were real fun. Cathy was the waitress and asked me to fill out an evaluation of her.. I filled out 9 of them and all were great....Went out to bed at 7 PM...

September 18, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Taylor, Michigan)
My sleeping was thrown off these last couple of days co I went out to sleep just after my new day started I was up, after some poor sleep, by 6 AM EST. I checked in with the local dispatch and they changed my assignment. They had a load of glass in the yard that had to get going so.....I got it, fueled(153 gallons) and was heading south on I-75 by 6:30 AM EST. I thought shortly after stating that I didn't want to go the way I was going. I got to I-275(south of Detroit) and went north on it to I-94. At I-94 I went west and stopped at "Just a Truckstop" in Lake Station, Indiana for lunch. Left Lake Station at 11:30 AM CST west on I-80 to I-55. Went south on I-55 and stopped at Funk's Grove rest area for a short break--I like writing "Funk's Grove" in my logbook--Went on to the truckstop in Troy, Illinios where I shut down for the night at 5:30 PM CST...

September 17, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-traveling Ohio)
Had just crossed the Indiana/Ohio border and heading east on I-70 as my day started at midnight. About 30 minutes into Ohio, My driving time went from legal to illegal; I had run out of legal driving time. I wanted to keep going as I was feeling fine.

I kept going east on I-70 and called on the CB radio to drivers that had been going west. I wanted to find out if anyone knew of the Ohio scale house on northbound I-71 being open or closed. The word was that it was open and weighing. I decided to go around it as I didn't need to take a chance on having my logbook checked at the scales. I decided to, at exit 79, take Hwy 42 north through Plain City(Ohio) and onto Delaware(Ohio). I then took Hwy 37 east to I-71 where I was then north of the scale house.

I took I-71 north to I-271 and went north on it. Ended up in Maple Heights(Cleveland suburbs). Pulled up outside the customers gate at 5 AM EST and since I had been there before I knew that they opened at 5:30 AM EST. I was number 3 in line and I just stayed up and at the wheel until they told me what dock to back into.

The had me back up to dock 5 and I was unloaded by 7:30 AM EST. I told dispatch that I was tired and that I wanted to sleep. I found a K-Mart parking lot and went to sleep not far from their loading docks--so they might think I had business there. I woke at 3 PM EST and called dispatch. I was given a load to pick up in Dearborn, Michigan tomorrow. Soooo, I left Maple Heights on I-480 westbound. It took me to I-80(toll road) and I continued to I-280, south of Toledo, Ohio. I stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" at I-280 and I-80 for dinner at 5:15 PM EST. I wasn't in any hurry so I ate and checked out their movies that were playing; nothing looked exciting to me...I left up I-280 to I-75 and took that north into Michigan and then to our Taylor(Detroit) terminal. I stopped at the terminal and went inside to talk and watch their TV...I was doing that when my day ended...