FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Cortez, Colorado)
Had my alarm set for 3:43 AM MST as I wanted to make sure I got past the Utah port of entry before they open up. I was heading north on Hwy 666--now Hwy 491--by 4 AM MST. Right before 5:15 AM MST I pulled onto Hwy 191 and parked the truck. I went into a convenience store that I usually stop at when going through Monticello, Utah; bought munchies again...
I was there about a half hour and then I left going up Hwy 191. Between Monticello and Moab(Utah) is some of the most amazing country in my opinion.
I got to Green River(Utah) where I stopped at the convenience store with alot of truck parking. What I like about this place is the 3 hot dogs/$1.00 they always have but getting there at 7:30 AM MST they don't have the hot dogs out yet. I didn't want to wait for the hot dogs so I got me a chocolate milk and headed up Hwy 6 toward Provo where I would send tonight. I traveled the upper desert to Price(Utah) and then went over the mountains to the Utah Valley where I stopped in Provo at the Motel 6 which I usaually stay... I was there before 11 AM MST and checked into a room. My day was over and I just took it easy the rest of the day..
About Me
- The Protraveller...
- Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.
August 31, 2011
August 30, 2011
August 30, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Amarillo, Texas)
Didn't set my alarm to get up this morning so I got up after rolling around in my tractor's sleeper bed(my bed). I looked at the time; it was 7:17 AM CST. I got up and went into the "Just a Truckstop" restaurant and had the "barfet". While I ate, I thought about fueling here or in Santa Rosa, New Mexico; the decision was made to do the refueling in Santa Rosa as that would put me closer to Salt Lake City fueling. I took my time and checked out the movie room after eatting. The movie playing didn't look good so I left for Santa Rosa.
I pulled out of the truckstop at 9:15 AM CST and traveled west on I-40. It seemed like the first thing I passed were the miles of stinky(really stinky) cattle yard; didn't go good with my very full stomach from breakfast. Entered New Mexico and the Mountain Time Zone. I had to stop at the New Mexico "port of entry" to show them my permit book; I had no problems. Went on to our Santa Rosa fuel stop and got there at 11:15 AM MST. I fueled(105 gallons) and was on my way to Albuquerque, New Mexico within a half hour of stopping in Santa Rosa...
Went down the long downgrade into Albuquerque and through it on I-40. Got to I-25 and went a short distrance(22 miles???) to Hwy 550. Followed Hwy 550 northwest into Navajo territory and over the continental divide. Stopped along the highway in San Ysidro(New Mwxico) to take a break from driving and got me a raspberry malt(large) to enjoy while driving. Through Navajo country I traveled to Bloomfield(New Mexico) where I stop at the convenience store at Hwy 550& Hwy 64. Getting to this break at 5:30 PM MST in went into the store and got munchies to eat. I guess I am up here more than i know as the gal at the check out registrar remebered me from being there before...oh well.
I left Bloomfield west on Hwy 64 and headed for Shiprock (New Mexico) where I caught Hwy 666--now Hwy 491--north to Cortez, Colorado. Had to stop at the Colorado port of entry but it was never a problem. Stopped for the night at the truckstop behind the port of entry. This truckstop was the only one that I knew of that sold buffalo burgers....
Didn't set my alarm to get up this morning so I got up after rolling around in my tractor's sleeper bed(my bed). I looked at the time; it was 7:17 AM CST. I got up and went into the "Just a Truckstop" restaurant and had the "barfet". While I ate, I thought about fueling here or in Santa Rosa, New Mexico; the decision was made to do the refueling in Santa Rosa as that would put me closer to Salt Lake City fueling. I took my time and checked out the movie room after eatting. The movie playing didn't look good so I left for Santa Rosa.
I pulled out of the truckstop at 9:15 AM CST and traveled west on I-40. It seemed like the first thing I passed were the miles of stinky(really stinky) cattle yard; didn't go good with my very full stomach from breakfast. Entered New Mexico and the Mountain Time Zone. I had to stop at the New Mexico "port of entry" to show them my permit book; I had no problems. Went on to our Santa Rosa fuel stop and got there at 11:15 AM MST. I fueled(105 gallons) and was on my way to Albuquerque, New Mexico within a half hour of stopping in Santa Rosa...
Went down the long downgrade into Albuquerque and through it on I-40. Got to I-25 and went a short distrance(22 miles???) to Hwy 550. Followed Hwy 550 northwest into Navajo territory and over the continental divide. Stopped along the highway in San Ysidro(New Mwxico) to take a break from driving and got me a raspberry malt(large) to enjoy while driving. Through Navajo country I traveled to Bloomfield(New Mexico) where I stop at the convenience store at Hwy 550& Hwy 64. Getting to this break at 5:30 PM MST in went into the store and got munchies to eat. I guess I am up here more than i know as the gal at the check out registrar remebered me from being there before...oh well.
I left Bloomfield west on Hwy 64 and headed for Shiprock (New Mexico) where I caught Hwy 666--now Hwy 491--north to Cortez, Colorado. Had to stop at the Colorado port of entry but it was never a problem. Stopped for the night at the truckstop behind the port of entry. This truckstop was the only one that I knew of that sold buffalo burgers....
August 29, 2011
August 29, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Fort Worth, Texas)
Called dispatch in Lancaster(Texas) and was told to just go to the Lancaster terminal. I got to the terminal and dropped my empty trailer and reported to dispatch after I fueled(116 gallons).
Lancaster dispatch knew I liked to go to Salt Lake City & Seattle, so when I checked in with them, they handed me a "3 drop" load of tires to Salt Lake City, Bountiful and Roy(Utah). What was nice about this load was it didn't deliver until Wednesday and my Dad and Step-Mom were visiting my Sister's family in Bountiful. I had plenty of time to get there and plenty of time to visit relatives.
I was on my way west on I-20 by 11 AM CST. I followed the same old route I always did, I -20 to Hwy 287. I took 287 through Fort Worth and followed Hwy 287 to Amarillo(home on the Big Texan Restaurant--watch the "eatin'" video). I got to the "Just a Truckstop" around 6 PM CST after taking a short break in Vernon(Texas). I stayed at this truckstop tonight to eat and watch movies in their movie room...
Special Note: I always wanted to try the 72 oz steak super meal at the Big Texan but never did.
Called dispatch in Lancaster(Texas) and was told to just go to the Lancaster terminal. I got to the terminal and dropped my empty trailer and reported to dispatch after I fueled(116 gallons).
Lancaster dispatch knew I liked to go to Salt Lake City & Seattle, so when I checked in with them, they handed me a "3 drop" load of tires to Salt Lake City, Bountiful and Roy(Utah). What was nice about this load was it didn't deliver until Wednesday and my Dad and Step-Mom were visiting my Sister's family in Bountiful. I had plenty of time to get there and plenty of time to visit relatives.
I was on my way west on I-20 by 11 AM CST. I followed the same old route I always did, I -20 to Hwy 287. I took 287 through Fort Worth and followed Hwy 287 to Amarillo(home on the Big Texan Restaurant--watch the "eatin'" video). I got to the "Just a Truckstop" around 6 PM CST after taking a short break in Vernon(Texas). I stayed at this truckstop tonight to eat and watch movies in their movie room...
Special Note: I always wanted to try the 72 oz steak super meal at the Big Texan but never did.
August 28, 2011
August 28, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Laredo, Texas)
I was once again in Laredo with a decision to make; go to the Morten's home or not. Since my number on the TRB was pretty low I decided to stay around the terminal yard. Went out to eat breakfast with two other drivers and when I returned I found I was no 11 on the TRB.
It was 2 PM CST when I got called to the dispatch window. I had a choice of two loads: Houston or Fort Worth. I took the Fort Worth as I seem to get better loads out of that area. The load was going to Mattel Toy warehouse; a place I had been many times. I took the load paperwork and then finished talking to the drivers I had been talking to.
I found the trailer in the yard and had the maintenence man put three lights on the trailer as they were missing--not uncommon of our trailers that come from over the border. Hooked up, did my paperwork and then the vehicle inspection. I was on my way north on I-35 by 2:45 PM CST. It was a warm afternoon in the Texas desert but I had my air conditioning going.
I got to "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio(Texas) just before 5:30 PM CST and decided to have dinner. I hurried dinner along and decided not to fill my tanks at this fuel stop of ours. I would fuel at our Dallas area terminal in Lanscaster. I was once again heading north on I-35 by 6:30 PM CST. As I traveled through Austin, Texas, I decided to take the lower level of the bi-level interstate, something I rarely did.
When I got to were I-35 split into "E" & "W", I took I-35W to Fort Worth. This Mattel warehouse is right between Dallas & Ft. Worth so I could have taken either way. I got to I-20 and went east to Hwy 360. Hwy 360, I took north to the warehouse. I got to the guard gate at just before 11:30 PM CST. I had a "Drop & Hook" load so I dropped my trailer, gave the paperwork to the guard and got another trailer that was empty. I called Joplin dispatch as the Lancaster office was closed and was told to just call Lancaster in the morning....
I was once again in Laredo with a decision to make; go to the Morten's home or not. Since my number on the TRB was pretty low I decided to stay around the terminal yard. Went out to eat breakfast with two other drivers and when I returned I found I was no 11 on the TRB.
It was 2 PM CST when I got called to the dispatch window. I had a choice of two loads: Houston or Fort Worth. I took the Fort Worth as I seem to get better loads out of that area. The load was going to Mattel Toy warehouse; a place I had been many times. I took the load paperwork and then finished talking to the drivers I had been talking to.
I found the trailer in the yard and had the maintenence man put three lights on the trailer as they were missing--not uncommon of our trailers that come from over the border. Hooked up, did my paperwork and then the vehicle inspection. I was on my way north on I-35 by 2:45 PM CST. It was a warm afternoon in the Texas desert but I had my air conditioning going.
I got to "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio(Texas) just before 5:30 PM CST and decided to have dinner. I hurried dinner along and decided not to fill my tanks at this fuel stop of ours. I would fuel at our Dallas area terminal in Lanscaster. I was once again heading north on I-35 by 6:30 PM CST. As I traveled through Austin, Texas, I decided to take the lower level of the bi-level interstate, something I rarely did.
When I got to were I-35 split into "E" & "W", I took I-35W to Fort Worth. This Mattel warehouse is right between Dallas & Ft. Worth so I could have taken either way. I got to I-20 and went east to Hwy 360. Hwy 360, I took north to the warehouse. I got to the guard gate at just before 11:30 PM CST. I had a "Drop & Hook" load so I dropped my trailer, gave the paperwork to the guard and got another trailer that was empty. I called Joplin dispatch as the Lancaster office was closed and was told to just call Lancaster in the morning....
August 27, 2011
August 27, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Stringtown, Oklahoma)
7 AM CST and another day of trucking is in front of me. Headed south on Hwy 69 and after Hwy 75 joined Hwy 69, I followed Hwy 75 down into Texas and onto Dallas. Hopped on I-35E southbound and ended up in Lancaster(Texas) at our Dallas area terminal at 10 AM CST.
I thought about fueling with company fuel but I will fuel in San Antonio(don't like to fuel in Laredo). By waiting until I get to San Antonio, I can save 15 minutes of "On Duty" time as I would fill in San Antonio if I had filled at our terminal or not.
I stayed around the terminal talking with the other drivers for abour a half hour. A couple of the drivers wanted my load but I didn't trade them. I was heading south on I-35E around 11 AM CST. I-35E joined I-35W and became just I-35. Got to the "Just A Truckstop" in San Antonio at 3:30 PM. I hung after fueling(104 gallons) and had dinner. It was close to 5 PM CST when I decided to get moving toward Laredo.
It was close to 8 PM CST when I pulled into our Laredo Terminal. I checked with dispatch and was told to drop my load in the yard and hand my paperwork in. I did as instructed and just took the evening off before going to sleep in my bunk...
7 AM CST and another day of trucking is in front of me. Headed south on Hwy 69 and after Hwy 75 joined Hwy 69, I followed Hwy 75 down into Texas and onto Dallas. Hopped on I-35E southbound and ended up in Lancaster(Texas) at our Dallas area terminal at 10 AM CST.
I thought about fueling with company fuel but I will fuel in San Antonio(don't like to fuel in Laredo). By waiting until I get to San Antonio, I can save 15 minutes of "On Duty" time as I would fill in San Antonio if I had filled at our terminal or not.
I stayed around the terminal talking with the other drivers for abour a half hour. A couple of the drivers wanted my load but I didn't trade them. I was heading south on I-35E around 11 AM CST. I-35E joined I-35W and became just I-35. Got to the "Just A Truckstop" in San Antonio at 3:30 PM. I hung after fueling(104 gallons) and had dinner. It was close to 5 PM CST when I decided to get moving toward Laredo.
It was close to 8 PM CST when I pulled into our Laredo Terminal. I checked with dispatch and was told to drop my load in the yard and hand my paperwork in. I did as instructed and just took the evening off before going to sleep in my bunk...
August 26, 2011
August 26, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5YEARS:(Monday-Sedalia, Missouri)
I was up and ready to go At 5 AM CST and got all my paperwork caught up. About 6:30 AM CST the employees started showing up. I soon checked with the dock fellows and they said to open the doors and back into the dock. I was unloaded by 9:30 AM CST and noticed the trailer was extremely dirty inside. I swept the dirt out once and found that it needed a second sweeping...Steep it out again. After I cleaned it out, I called dispatch and got my next load.
I had to go about 2 miles to a manufacturing plant that makes vehicle wheel rims. I got there and got a trailer load of rims going to Laredo, Texas. I had a trailer that was one from a company we had bought out. Dispatch told me to bring the load into the Joplin yard and they would move the load to a company trailer and then I could have it.
I left the Sedalia company at 12:45 PM CST and headed right down Hwy 65 to I-44. Went southwest on I-44 and got to our Joplin yard at 4:15 PM CST. I checked with the maintenance department and they had a new trailer waiting for me. I backed up next to it and I was reloaded very rapidly. I refueled(106 gallons) and was on my way southwest on I-44 into Oklahoma. Got to Hwy 69 at Big Cabin(Oklahoma) and went south on it. I got down to our fuel stop in Muskogee(Oklahoma) and I thought about calling it a night. After almost a half hour there, I decided to go a little farther. I got to the small truckstop in Stringtown(Oklahoma) at 11 PM CST and there I called it a night...
I was up and ready to go At 5 AM CST and got all my paperwork caught up. About 6:30 AM CST the employees started showing up. I soon checked with the dock fellows and they said to open the doors and back into the dock. I was unloaded by 9:30 AM CST and noticed the trailer was extremely dirty inside. I swept the dirt out once and found that it needed a second sweeping...Steep it out again. After I cleaned it out, I called dispatch and got my next load.
I had to go about 2 miles to a manufacturing plant that makes vehicle wheel rims. I got there and got a trailer load of rims going to Laredo, Texas. I had a trailer that was one from a company we had bought out. Dispatch told me to bring the load into the Joplin yard and they would move the load to a company trailer and then I could have it.
I left the Sedalia company at 12:45 PM CST and headed right down Hwy 65 to I-44. Went southwest on I-44 and got to our Joplin yard at 4:15 PM CST. I checked with the maintenance department and they had a new trailer waiting for me. I backed up next to it and I was reloaded very rapidly. I refueled(106 gallons) and was on my way southwest on I-44 into Oklahoma. Got to Hwy 69 at Big Cabin(Oklahoma) and went south on it. I got down to our fuel stop in Muskogee(Oklahoma) and I thought about calling it a night. After almost a half hour there, I decided to go a little farther. I got to the small truckstop in Stringtown(Oklahoma) at 11 PM CST and there I called it a night...
August 25, 2011
August 25, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Sedalia, Missouri)
Nothing happening today as the company I am to deliver to tomorrow stayed closed. I walked around today and just saw parts of Sedalia. Not an exciting day at all!!!!
Nothing happening today as the company I am to deliver to tomorrow stayed closed. I walked around today and just saw parts of Sedalia. Not an exciting day at all!!!!
August 24, 2011
August 24, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Chicago, Illinois)My son Bill's last day riding with me.
Finished with the business I had with Northeastern Air at Chicago"s O'Hara Airport as our new day started. Midnight and I had an empty trailer and no where to go. I talked with the guy that signed my paperwork and he said I could just park in their parking lot right off one of the airports landing strip and go to sleep for the night. I parked the truck so Bill could watch the planes land and take off all night. He was excited about watching the planes as he was thinking of going to the Air Force Acadamy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I called dispatch and just got the "call back in the morning". I went to sleep and Bill watched the planes.
I had my alarm clock set for 7 AM CST and it went off on time. I got up, found Bill asleep in the passenger seat and called the recorded message about having a load or not. I had a load on it...I called into dispatch and found I needed to go to Peoria, Illinois and pick up a trailer going to Sedalia, Missouri.
Wow!!! Bill needs to go home to get ready for school and I got the perfect load a accomplish it.
Thanks Lord!!!! The end to a perfect vacation. He saw this year: Cleveland, Kansas City, Dallas, Laredo, Nuevo Laredo, Ft. Worth, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Burbank(California), Flagstaff, Oklahoma City, Eagan(Minnesota), St. Louis, Columbus(Ohio), Akron and Chicaco(O'hara Airport).
I went to the truck and did my vehicle inspection and logbook update. I left the airport at 7:30 AM CST with Bill asleep; I moved him back to the sleeper. I encounted heavy traffic for a little less than an hour. I took I-294(the rip off toll road)south to I-55 and took it south. I stopped in Dwight, Illinios at our fuel stop for fuel(141 gallons). I(Bill still asleep) walked around the truckstop for awhile and bought a quart of chocolate milk.
Left heading down I-55 and took Hwy 24 west when I got to it. Followed Hwy 24 through Peoria to the southwest side of Peoria where I found the shipper. Bill woke up as I pulled into the shipper. I checked in with shipping and found they had a trailer waiting for me. I did a "drop & hook" and pickup an old 48 foot trailler(we use 53 foot) from a company we bought out. I called in for dispatch and was told to run with it...Left Peoria at 12:30 PM CST and headed down Hwy 24. It's funny that Illinois is a state I find boring but this area, along Hwy 24--with the river to the left and all the hills--, I find enjoyable. I got through the small town of Rushville and at Mount Sterling, I took Hwy 107 south.
I found Griggsville, Illinois interesting as I went through it. Continued down to Hwy 54 and followed it through Pittsfield(Illinois). Hwy 54 took me down to the Mississippi River and I went--slowly--over the small bridge into Missouri at Louisiana(Missouri). Hwy 54 took me to Kingdom City, Missouri where my oldest daughter met us and took Bill home...
After dropping Bill off, I headed west on I-70 for about a hour to I-65 and went south. I had directions to where I was delivering Monday in Sedalia(Missouri). I found the delivery point and parked by the closed gate, next to the railroad tracks..
Finished with the business I had with Northeastern Air at Chicago"s O'Hara Airport as our new day started. Midnight and I had an empty trailer and no where to go. I talked with the guy that signed my paperwork and he said I could just park in their parking lot right off one of the airports landing strip and go to sleep for the night. I parked the truck so Bill could watch the planes land and take off all night. He was excited about watching the planes as he was thinking of going to the Air Force Acadamy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I called dispatch and just got the "call back in the morning". I went to sleep and Bill watched the planes.
I had my alarm clock set for 7 AM CST and it went off on time. I got up, found Bill asleep in the passenger seat and called the recorded message about having a load or not. I had a load on it...I called into dispatch and found I needed to go to Peoria, Illinois and pick up a trailer going to Sedalia, Missouri.
Wow!!! Bill needs to go home to get ready for school and I got the perfect load a accomplish it.
Thanks Lord!!!! The end to a perfect vacation. He saw this year: Cleveland, Kansas City, Dallas, Laredo, Nuevo Laredo, Ft. Worth, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Spokane, Seattle, Portland, Burbank(California), Flagstaff, Oklahoma City, Eagan(Minnesota), St. Louis, Columbus(Ohio), Akron and Chicaco(O'hara Airport).
I went to the truck and did my vehicle inspection and logbook update. I left the airport at 7:30 AM CST with Bill asleep; I moved him back to the sleeper. I encounted heavy traffic for a little less than an hour. I took I-294(the rip off toll road)south to I-55 and took it south. I stopped in Dwight, Illinios at our fuel stop for fuel(141 gallons). I(Bill still asleep) walked around the truckstop for awhile and bought a quart of chocolate milk.
Left heading down I-55 and took Hwy 24 west when I got to it. Followed Hwy 24 through Peoria to the southwest side of Peoria where I found the shipper. Bill woke up as I pulled into the shipper. I checked in with shipping and found they had a trailer waiting for me. I did a "drop & hook" and pickup an old 48 foot trailler(we use 53 foot) from a company we bought out. I called in for dispatch and was told to run with it...Left Peoria at 12:30 PM CST and headed down Hwy 24. It's funny that Illinois is a state I find boring but this area, along Hwy 24--with the river to the left and all the hills--, I find enjoyable. I got through the small town of Rushville and at Mount Sterling, I took Hwy 107 south.
I found Griggsville, Illinois interesting as I went through it. Continued down to Hwy 54 and followed it through Pittsfield(Illinois). Hwy 54 took me down to the Mississippi River and I went--slowly--over the small bridge into Missouri at Louisiana(Missouri). Hwy 54 took me to Kingdom City, Missouri where my oldest daughter met us and took Bill home...
After dropping Bill off, I headed west on I-70 for about a hour to I-65 and went south. I had directions to where I was delivering Monday in Sedalia(Missouri). I found the delivery point and parked by the closed gate, next to the railroad tracks..
August 23, 2011
August 23, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Traveling in Indiana)My son Bill is riding with me for awhile...
Past through Indianapolis(figured by Central Standard Time)just before our day started. We continued east on I-70 with Muskrat(see yesterday). It was a beauiful night with a full moon to our southeast. We got to our delivery point on the southeast side of Columbus, Ohio at 4 AM EST.
I laid down and it seemed like I was woken up shortly. Muskrat was unloaded first and as he was pulling out of the unloading dock, I was backing in. It only took about 20 minutes to unload each of us. By the time I was unloaded, Muskrat had gotten another load and was gone. I pulled away from the dock and packed down the street at a place that trucks could park. I called in and found that I had not load.
I laid down and Bill--who knew how to check for loads--called in and checked for loads. At 11:30 AM EST Bill informed me that I had a load assigned. I called and was told to go to Akron(Ohio) and pick up a load to Chicago, Illinois.
By noon EST we were heading northeast on I-71. Kept my speed up and took I-76 east when I got to it. Got to my pick up point at 2:30 PM EST in Akron. They were waiting for me when I got there so I backed to the dock. This load was schedules for tomorrow, Saturday, but they asked if I could get it there by midnight to Northeastern Air at O'hara Airport(Chicago). The shipper gave me very detailed directions to the receiver.
I was ready to leave and left at 4:30 PM EST. We went up I-77 to I-80 and then west. Kept speed up and had great traffic to drive in. Ohio turned into Indiana and then into Illinois. As we entered Illinois and I-94 rans with I-80. I followed I-94 up into, and through, Chicago.
Took I-90 to the airport and to Northeastern Air freight terminal. We got there at 10:15 PM CST. They were unloading me as the day ended...
Past through Indianapolis(figured by Central Standard Time)just before our day started. We continued east on I-70 with Muskrat(see yesterday). It was a beauiful night with a full moon to our southeast. We got to our delivery point on the southeast side of Columbus, Ohio at 4 AM EST.
I laid down and it seemed like I was woken up shortly. Muskrat was unloaded first and as he was pulling out of the unloading dock, I was backing in. It only took about 20 minutes to unload each of us. By the time I was unloaded, Muskrat had gotten another load and was gone. I pulled away from the dock and packed down the street at a place that trucks could park. I called in and found that I had not load.
I laid down and Bill--who knew how to check for loads--called in and checked for loads. At 11:30 AM EST Bill informed me that I had a load assigned. I called and was told to go to Akron(Ohio) and pick up a load to Chicago, Illinois.
By noon EST we were heading northeast on I-71. Kept my speed up and took I-76 east when I got to it. Got to my pick up point at 2:30 PM EST in Akron. They were waiting for me when I got there so I backed to the dock. This load was schedules for tomorrow, Saturday, but they asked if I could get it there by midnight to Northeastern Air at O'hara Airport(Chicago). The shipper gave me very detailed directions to the receiver.
I was ready to leave and left at 4:30 PM EST. We went up I-77 to I-80 and then west. Kept speed up and had great traffic to drive in. Ohio turned into Indiana and then into Illinois. As we entered Illinois and I-94 rans with I-80. I followed I-94 up into, and through, Chicago.
Took I-90 to the airport and to Northeastern Air freight terminal. We got there at 10:15 PM CST. They were unloading me as the day ended...
August 22, 2011
August 22, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-St. Charles, Missouri)My son Bill is riding with me for awhile...
Didn't know what time this store opened so I never set my alarm clock. At 6:45 AM CST, there came a knock on the cab. I woke to an employee of the store asking me to pull up so he can open our doors. The dock door was open and three men were waiting to unload me. I backed to the dock after opening the trailer doors and they all started unloading. Bill stayed asleep until around 8 AM CST. This stop was the first of two for this store chain for today. The first stop got their stuff off and we were on our way two the second store by 9:30 AM CST.
We got to the second stop on Limburgh Blvd, St. Louis and they were a little slower at unloading us. As they unloaded, Bill and I walked around the store and looked at all the goodies. We were unloaded and ready to leave at 3 PM CST.
I called dispatch and was given another load. We went over to Bridgeton, Missouri and picked up a load of refrigerator selves going to Columbus, Ohio. While I was picking up the loaded trailer, I met "Muskrat"--his handle--who drives for the same company as me. Muskrat was going to the same place that we were so we decided to run together.
Both trucks headed east at 7 PM CST on I-270 over the border to Illinois where we picked up I-70 east. Muskrat said he was hungry and I felt Bill was too. We stopped at our fuel stop in Effingham, Illinois for a late dinner and fuel(74 gallons). After eating and fueling we were back on I-70 heading toward Columbus, Ohio.
Our day ended right after we get through the downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana...
Didn't know what time this store opened so I never set my alarm clock. At 6:45 AM CST, there came a knock on the cab. I woke to an employee of the store asking me to pull up so he can open our doors. The dock door was open and three men were waiting to unload me. I backed to the dock after opening the trailer doors and they all started unloading. Bill stayed asleep until around 8 AM CST. This stop was the first of two for this store chain for today. The first stop got their stuff off and we were on our way two the second store by 9:30 AM CST.
We got to the second stop on Limburgh Blvd, St. Louis and they were a little slower at unloading us. As they unloaded, Bill and I walked around the store and looked at all the goodies. We were unloaded and ready to leave at 3 PM CST.
I called dispatch and was given another load. We went over to Bridgeton, Missouri and picked up a load of refrigerator selves going to Columbus, Ohio. While I was picking up the loaded trailer, I met "Muskrat"--his handle--who drives for the same company as me. Muskrat was going to the same place that we were so we decided to run together.
Both trucks headed east at 7 PM CST on I-270 over the border to Illinois where we picked up I-70 east. Muskrat said he was hungry and I felt Bill was too. We stopped at our fuel stop in Effingham, Illinois for a late dinner and fuel(74 gallons). After eating and fueling we were back on I-70 heading toward Columbus, Ohio.
Our day ended right after we get through the downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana...
August 21, 2011
August 21, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Mason City, Iowa)My son Bill is riding with me for awhile.
I was awake at 5:45 AM CST and looking at my map. I decided to shoot over to Hwy 218 on Hwy 18. I was lucky as going over to Hwy 218 meant fewer out of route miles over if I had gone south on I-35.
South on Hwy 218 through alot of flat farmland before I went through Cedar Falls and Waterloo(Iowa). Right below Waterloo, along Hwy 20, we stopped at the Goose Creek truck stop and convenient store(now a Casey's store I believe) for a break. It was now 8:30 AM CST and Bill had only been up for about 15 minutes when I parked the truck. We got some munchies and I fueled(107 gallons) because this was a fuel stop of ours and didn't know what the future held. All total, we were there about an hour and left down I-380heading toward the south. Got to I-80 and the superslab we were on changed bak to Hwy 218.
Here south on Hwy 218 was fine except we had to go through a couple towns with stoplights and sign. We survived. Right at the bottom of Iowa's Hwy 218, I took Hwy 394 straight south to Missouri's Hwy 136. The bridge from Iowa to Missouri--over the Des Moines River--on Hwy 61--the one I would have had to take--was illegal for semis due to a bend in it. Hwy 394's bridge was fine for semi's but had a $1.00 toll(saves more than a $1.00 worth of fuel over going to the Hwy 61 bridge). Got to Hwy 136 and turned west for a short distance and then took the Hwy 61 spur south to Hwy 61.
Traveled south on Hwy 61 along the Mississippi River to our left and hills and fireworks stands--legal all year--to our right. Continued down to Hannibal, Missouri where we stopped to get something to eat at KFC . I told Big to "pig" out as we might not eat a regular meal again until tomorrow night. We stuffed ourselves at the buffet and then went back to the truck parked across the street at a small truckstop. I rested for a couple hours and let Bill sit up in the driver's seat and watch my little TV.
We got moving at 4:30 PM CST, south on Hwy 61, on down to I-70. We went east on I-70 to St Charles, Missouri where I found the parking lot and store where we deliver tomorrow. After fighting a little traffic, we got to our location just before 7 PM CST. I checked in with the manager and he said I would have to wait for tomorrow to get unloaded...It was fine with me. I backed the trailer down into the loading dock and parked it for the night. We walked around for awhile and then just watched my TV....
I was awake at 5:45 AM CST and looking at my map. I decided to shoot over to Hwy 218 on Hwy 18. I was lucky as going over to Hwy 218 meant fewer out of route miles over if I had gone south on I-35.
South on Hwy 218 through alot of flat farmland before I went through Cedar Falls and Waterloo(Iowa). Right below Waterloo, along Hwy 20, we stopped at the Goose Creek truck stop and convenient store(now a Casey's store I believe) for a break. It was now 8:30 AM CST and Bill had only been up for about 15 minutes when I parked the truck. We got some munchies and I fueled(107 gallons) because this was a fuel stop of ours and didn't know what the future held. All total, we were there about an hour and left down I-380heading toward the south. Got to I-80 and the superslab we were on changed bak to Hwy 218.
Here south on Hwy 218 was fine except we had to go through a couple towns with stoplights and sign. We survived. Right at the bottom of Iowa's Hwy 218, I took Hwy 394 straight south to Missouri's Hwy 136. The bridge from Iowa to Missouri--over the Des Moines River--on Hwy 61--the one I would have had to take--was illegal for semis due to a bend in it. Hwy 394's bridge was fine for semi's but had a $1.00 toll(saves more than a $1.00 worth of fuel over going to the Hwy 61 bridge). Got to Hwy 136 and turned west for a short distance and then took the Hwy 61 spur south to Hwy 61.
Traveled south on Hwy 61 along the Mississippi River to our left and hills and fireworks stands--legal all year--to our right. Continued down to Hannibal, Missouri where we stopped to get something to eat at KFC . I told Big to "pig" out as we might not eat a regular meal again until tomorrow night. We stuffed ourselves at the buffet and then went back to the truck parked across the street at a small truckstop. I rested for a couple hours and let Bill sit up in the driver's seat and watch my little TV.
We got moving at 4:30 PM CST, south on Hwy 61, on down to I-70. We went east on I-70 to St Charles, Missouri where I found the parking lot and store where we deliver tomorrow. After fighting a little traffic, we got to our location just before 7 PM CST. I checked in with the manager and he said I would have to wait for tomorrow to get unloaded...It was fine with me. I backed the trailer down into the loading dock and parked it for the night. We walked around for awhile and then just watched my TV....
August 20, 2011
August 20, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Kansas City, Missouri)My son Bill is riding with me for awhile...
I was up and ready to go by 6:30 AM CST so I did my vehicle inspection, logbook update and fueling(134 gallons). At 7 AM CST, while Bill slept--yep, he wouldn't wake up--I headed north on the east side of I-435 to I-35, where I went north. I had to go over the Missouri state scale, north of the KAnsas City area, but had no problem. Bill woke up as I crossed into Iowa and we stopped at the first Iowa rest area outside Ocseola(Iowa). Were not there long and we were heading north again.
We stoppped at our fuel stop in Urbandale(Iowa) from brunch at 10:15 AM CST. We took our time as this load wasn't due until tomorrow. This load is a "drop & hook" so we can get to Coca Cola early if we want to....I wanted to.
We left the truck stop after brunch and continued northbound on I-35. Farmland all around us as we entered the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". It was about 1 1/2 hours before we got to the Coca Cola Bottling in Eagan, Minnesota. Time was 3:30 PM CST.
I reported to the receiving department and checked in. All I had to do was a "drop and hook".
I got an empty and called dispatch; I had a load to pick up in Bloomington, Minnesota.
We went to to the electronics warehouse to pick up our load and found out the trailer was loaded and waiting for us. I did another "drop and hook" and we were heading south on I-35W by 5:30 PM CST. Continued south on I-35 over into Iowa and stopped for the night outside of Mason City, Iowa...
I was up and ready to go by 6:30 AM CST so I did my vehicle inspection, logbook update and fueling(134 gallons). At 7 AM CST, while Bill slept--yep, he wouldn't wake up--I headed north on the east side of I-435 to I-35, where I went north. I had to go over the Missouri state scale, north of the KAnsas City area, but had no problem. Bill woke up as I crossed into Iowa and we stopped at the first Iowa rest area outside Ocseola(Iowa). Were not there long and we were heading north again.
We stoppped at our fuel stop in Urbandale(Iowa) from brunch at 10:15 AM CST. We took our time as this load wasn't due until tomorrow. This load is a "drop & hook" so we can get to Coca Cola early if we want to....I wanted to.
We left the truck stop after brunch and continued northbound on I-35. Farmland all around us as we entered the "Land of 10,000 Lakes". It was about 1 1/2 hours before we got to the Coca Cola Bottling in Eagan, Minnesota. Time was 3:30 PM CST.
I reported to the receiving department and checked in. All I had to do was a "drop and hook".
I got an empty and called dispatch; I had a load to pick up in Bloomington, Minnesota.
We went to to the electronics warehouse to pick up our load and found out the trailer was loaded and waiting for us. I did another "drop and hook" and we were heading south on I-35W by 5:30 PM CST. Continued south on I-35 over into Iowa and stopped for the night outside of Mason City, Iowa...
August 19, 2011
August 19, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Oklahoma City, Oklahoma)my son Bill is riding with me...
6 AM CST and I was awake and ready to go. I got up and called the company answering service to see if there was a load for me. No luck. I drove to "Just a Truckstop" the in Oklahoma City and Bill was still asleep. Time was now a little after 7 AM CST as I prepared to go in and the breakfast buffet. I was able--a miracle--to wake Bill up and and get him in for breakfast.
We had the buffet breakfast and after checking for a load, still nothing. We went to the movie room where we were the only two there. I had the movie people play Logan's Run and Live & Let Die. We watched both of them before I was able to get another run...the run came in just before 2 PM CST.
We got to Sapulpa(Oklahoma) to pick up glass bottles going to Coke bottling in Eagan, Minnesota at 3:30 PM CST. I checked with the shipping department and they had me back up to a dock and wait. It was 4 PM CST when they started loading our trailer with two forktrucks. We were loaded and headed northeast on I-44 by 4:45 PM CST.
We got to Joplin, and the companies headquarters, at 6:45 PM CST and hung around long enough to check with dispatch and get my truck checked for problems. I was going to fill my fuel tanks but decided to wait until I get to our Kansas City terminal; the reason why was that I will fill in Kansas City if I fill in Joplin or not...I had enough fuel to get to Kansas City. If I fueled in Joplin, I would have to log it as "working, not driving".
We were headed northeast on I-44 by 7:30 PM CST. Shortly we reached Hwy 71 and headed north darkness overtook us as we headed for Kansas City. We got to I-435 and went north on the east side of the Kansas City area to our terminal. We got to the terminal at 10:30 PM CST.
It had been a long day so I decided to stay here for the night. We didn't have to be there until the 21st...Bill enjoyed sitting up and talking with the truckers at our table in the terminal lounge....
6 AM CST and I was awake and ready to go. I got up and called the company answering service to see if there was a load for me. No luck. I drove to "Just a Truckstop" the in Oklahoma City and Bill was still asleep. Time was now a little after 7 AM CST as I prepared to go in and the breakfast buffet. I was able--a miracle--to wake Bill up and and get him in for breakfast.
We had the buffet breakfast and after checking for a load, still nothing. We went to the movie room where we were the only two there. I had the movie people play Logan's Run and Live & Let Die. We watched both of them before I was able to get another run...the run came in just before 2 PM CST.
We got to Sapulpa(Oklahoma) to pick up glass bottles going to Coke bottling in Eagan, Minnesota at 3:30 PM CST. I checked with the shipping department and they had me back up to a dock and wait. It was 4 PM CST when they started loading our trailer with two forktrucks. We were loaded and headed northeast on I-44 by 4:45 PM CST.
We got to Joplin, and the companies headquarters, at 6:45 PM CST and hung around long enough to check with dispatch and get my truck checked for problems. I was going to fill my fuel tanks but decided to wait until I get to our Kansas City terminal; the reason why was that I will fill in Kansas City if I fill in Joplin or not...I had enough fuel to get to Kansas City. If I fueled in Joplin, I would have to log it as "working, not driving".
We were headed northeast on I-44 by 7:30 PM CST. Shortly we reached Hwy 71 and headed north darkness overtook us as we headed for Kansas City. We got to I-435 and went north on the east side of the Kansas City area to our terminal. We got to the terminal at 10:30 PM CST.
It had been a long day so I decided to stay here for the night. We didn't have to be there until the 21st...Bill enjoyed sitting up and talking with the truckers at our table in the terminal lounge....
August 18, 2011
August 18, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Santa Rosa, New Mexico)My son Bill is riding with me...
We were both up eating munching in the cab at 6:30 AM MST. We decided to go to church if we could find our demonination in Tucumcari(New Mexico).
It was 7 AM MST, after the vehicle inspection and paperwork update, that we headed east on I-40. It was a nice & beautiful morning and we enjoyed it. We got to the big Shell Truckstop at 8 AM MST and found our church in the phone book. I called and got directions. We got dressed and headed to church.
At 1:30 PM MST we were back heading toward Oklahoma City. We some crossed into Texas where the terrain seemed to change from desert to grazing land. We went right through Amarillo--past the Big Texas Restauant--and onto Oklahoma. Over the Oklahoma border, at the first rest area, we stopped for a little break. I parked next to another truck from my company and found out the fellows name--handle--was Asphalt Cowboy. We talked for awhile and in the comversation I mentioned that the brakes on my trailer were not adjusted as I couldn't get the adjustments to work. He got his tools and overalls and adjusted them; he had to hit and bang on them but got 'em.
We got to the auto assembly plant in Oklahoma City at 8 PM CST. Since this was just a "drop & hook", I was able to deliver the load tonight. I got another trailer and called dispatch. No loads and so we went to our small terminal and turned in for the night...
We were both up eating munching in the cab at 6:30 AM MST. We decided to go to church if we could find our demonination in Tucumcari(New Mexico).
It was 7 AM MST, after the vehicle inspection and paperwork update, that we headed east on I-40. It was a nice & beautiful morning and we enjoyed it. We got to the big Shell Truckstop at 8 AM MST and found our church in the phone book. I called and got directions. We got dressed and headed to church.
At 1:30 PM MST we were back heading toward Oklahoma City. We some crossed into Texas where the terrain seemed to change from desert to grazing land. We went right through Amarillo--past the Big Texas Restauant--and onto Oklahoma. Over the Oklahoma border, at the first rest area, we stopped for a little break. I parked next to another truck from my company and found out the fellows name--handle--was Asphalt Cowboy. We talked for awhile and in the comversation I mentioned that the brakes on my trailer were not adjusted as I couldn't get the adjustments to work. He got his tools and overalls and adjusted them; he had to hit and bang on them but got 'em.
We got to the auto assembly plant in Oklahoma City at 8 PM CST. Since this was just a "drop & hook", I was able to deliver the load tonight. I got another trailer and called dispatch. No loads and so we went to our small terminal and turned in for the night...
August 17, 2011
August 17, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-traveling California/Arizona)I have my son Bill with me...
--times in Arizona are the same as in California this time of year--
We had crossed into Arizona on I-40 as our day started and pulled into the "Just a Truckstop" right after 12:30 AM in Kingman(Arizona).
I was hungry so I tried to wake Bill up--he wouldn't get up--so we could go get something to eat. I went into the restaurant and had the "sausage special". I talked with the waitress as she wasn't busy. I guessed that she was a nursing student--was correct--and guessed she knew something about psychology(she actually was minoring in psychology). After I was done, she told me to come back soon and I went out to the truck and thought about what I should do: keep driving or sleep. I wasn't really tired but Bill would see more if I waited for day light. I went to sleep...
We were both awake by 9:30 AM PST(Arizona Time). We went into the restaurant and had breakfast and then fueled the truck's tanks(157 gallons). By 11:30 AM PST, I had done a vehicle inspection, updated my logbook and headed the truck east on I-40.
First it was throught the desert for awhile and then we climbed into the mountains, coming to Flagstaff(Arizona). After the flagstaff area we stated to dissend into the desert once again. Once in the "flatlands" again, we stopped in Joseph City at a Love's convenient store with truck parking. We eat some snacks and then were on our way again. We went into New Mexico and on through Albuquerque. Climbed the steep mountain on the east side of Albuquerque onto the upper desert lands. It was onto Santa Rosa where we stopped at 9:30 PM MST for the night....
--times in Arizona are the same as in California this time of year--
We had crossed into Arizona on I-40 as our day started and pulled into the "Just a Truckstop" right after 12:30 AM in Kingman(Arizona).
I was hungry so I tried to wake Bill up--he wouldn't get up--so we could go get something to eat. I went into the restaurant and had the "sausage special". I talked with the waitress as she wasn't busy. I guessed that she was a nursing student--was correct--and guessed she knew something about psychology(she actually was minoring in psychology). After I was done, she told me to come back soon and I went out to the truck and thought about what I should do: keep driving or sleep. I wasn't really tired but Bill would see more if I waited for day light. I went to sleep...
We were both awake by 9:30 AM PST(Arizona Time). We went into the restaurant and had breakfast and then fueled the truck's tanks(157 gallons). By 11:30 AM PST, I had done a vehicle inspection, updated my logbook and headed the truck east on I-40.
First it was throught the desert for awhile and then we climbed into the mountains, coming to Flagstaff(Arizona). After the flagstaff area we stated to dissend into the desert once again. Once in the "flatlands" again, we stopped in Joseph City at a Love's convenient store with truck parking. We eat some snacks and then were on our way again. We went into New Mexico and on through Albuquerque. Climbed the steep mountain on the east side of Albuquerque onto the upper desert lands. It was onto Santa Rosa where we stopped at 9:30 PM MST for the night....
August 16, 2011
August 16, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Burbank, California)
We started the day parked in the parking lot of a closed down grocery store in Burbank. Since we had lived before, I decided to drive Bill around and see the apartment we lived in when he started elementary school. We drove around but I didn't want to take the semi down the small streets past his school. Around where we had lived there was no parking for the truck; we just looked as we drove around.
We got on I-5 south and went through Los Angeles. Following I-5, we got to Anahiem(California) and found the pick up point of the auto batteries we were getting. It was 10:30 AM PST when we got there and couldn't go early and pick up the load. The pickup time was 5 PM PST and so we found small shopping mall to wait at. We got a couple pizzas and some bread sticks to eat while watching my TV.
Picked up the batteries and was off running at 6:15 PM PST. We took Hwy east to Hwy 57 north. Got on I10 eastbound to I-15 north. We stopped in Barstow at the company's fuel stop but didn't get fuel. I did have to check my tires as I had a placarded(Trailer IDed as a load of hazard material) load. We were at the Barstow truckstop until 9:30 PM PST.
We left Barstow and headed east on I-40, through one of the deserts of California. We got through Needles(California) and had crossed into Arizona as the day ended at midnight...Bill had climbed into the sleeper about 11 PM PST....
We started the day parked in the parking lot of a closed down grocery store in Burbank. Since we had lived before, I decided to drive Bill around and see the apartment we lived in when he started elementary school. We drove around but I didn't want to take the semi down the small streets past his school. Around where we had lived there was no parking for the truck; we just looked as we drove around.
We got on I-5 south and went through Los Angeles. Following I-5, we got to Anahiem(California) and found the pick up point of the auto batteries we were getting. It was 10:30 AM PST when we got there and couldn't go early and pick up the load. The pickup time was 5 PM PST and so we found small shopping mall to wait at. We got a couple pizzas and some bread sticks to eat while watching my TV.
Picked up the batteries and was off running at 6:15 PM PST. We took Hwy east to Hwy 57 north. Got on I10 eastbound to I-15 north. We stopped in Barstow at the company's fuel stop but didn't get fuel. I did have to check my tires as I had a placarded(Trailer IDed as a load of hazard material) load. We were at the Barstow truckstop until 9:30 PM PST.
We left Barstow and headed east on I-40, through one of the deserts of California. We got through Needles(California) and had crossed into Arizona as the day ended at midnight...Bill had climbed into the sleeper about 11 PM PST....
August 15, 2011
August 15, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Santa Paula, California)My son Bill is riding with me for awhile
We were parked outside the customer waiting for the day to start. I was up at 6 AM PST waiting to check in with the gate guard at 6:30 AM PST. The guard let me in at 6:30 AM PST and I checked in at the receiving department. I backed into the dock and while they were unloading me I walked up to the front office to let them know that I was to get an "overnight" letter at their location. (I was having a registration & license plate for the trailer sent here--see yesterday)
I got unloaded and Bill woke up. I pulled my truck back onto the street. I checked with the office to make sure that the 'over night" stuff hadn't got there while I was unloading. Nothing so it was "wait for it". I and Bill sat in the truck, on the street, until 10:50 AM PST when the letter delevery truck arrived. I took the small package and put the registration in the "registration" box(on the front of the trailer). I then put the license plate on the trailer and we were ready to roll. I was still concerned about the trailer brakes not being right(see yesterday's entry).
I called dispatch at around 11:30 AM PST and got the standard,"call back in an hour" response. I asked the guard if he knew of a place I could go and wait for my next load. He told me of a convenience store with a small amount of truck parking that was not far off. We went to it and bought some munchies. We then went to a buffet restaurant a couple blocks away to have a late lunch.
I had instructed Bill on how to call in and find if I had a new load. I finally had one Bill said at 2:45 PM PST. I called dispatch and found I had a load of auto batteries I had to pick up tomorrow, Friday, at 5 PM PST. There were no early arrivals on the load. The load was going to Oklahoma City.
I knew of a couple places I could park the truck in Burbank--where we had lived up until about summer 1984--so we headed there. We went west on Hwy 126 to Hwy 101, which we took to Los Angeles. We went past the road I used to take to go to Malibu(Malibu Canyon) for surfing. Also went past Thousand Oaks where I got pull over the first time for a road violation(got a warning). Followed Hwy 101 to the southern tip of Burbank(California) where we got off the freeway by the NBC Studios--Home of the "Tonight Show"--and parked in the lot of a closed down grocery store. Tomorrow we will explore Burbank...tonight we rest, watch my TV and sleep...
We were parked outside the customer waiting for the day to start. I was up at 6 AM PST waiting to check in with the gate guard at 6:30 AM PST. The guard let me in at 6:30 AM PST and I checked in at the receiving department. I backed into the dock and while they were unloading me I walked up to the front office to let them know that I was to get an "overnight" letter at their location. (I was having a registration & license plate for the trailer sent here--see yesterday)
I got unloaded and Bill woke up. I pulled my truck back onto the street. I checked with the office to make sure that the 'over night" stuff hadn't got there while I was unloading. Nothing so it was "wait for it". I and Bill sat in the truck, on the street, until 10:50 AM PST when the letter delevery truck arrived. I took the small package and put the registration in the "registration" box(on the front of the trailer). I then put the license plate on the trailer and we were ready to roll. I was still concerned about the trailer brakes not being right(see yesterday's entry).
I called dispatch at around 11:30 AM PST and got the standard,"call back in an hour" response. I asked the guard if he knew of a place I could go and wait for my next load. He told me of a convenience store with a small amount of truck parking that was not far off. We went to it and bought some munchies. We then went to a buffet restaurant a couple blocks away to have a late lunch.
I had instructed Bill on how to call in and find if I had a new load. I finally had one Bill said at 2:45 PM PST. I called dispatch and found I had a load of auto batteries I had to pick up tomorrow, Friday, at 5 PM PST. There were no early arrivals on the load. The load was going to Oklahoma City.
I knew of a couple places I could park the truck in Burbank--where we had lived up until about summer 1984--so we headed there. We went west on Hwy 126 to Hwy 101, which we took to Los Angeles. We went past the road I used to take to go to Malibu(Malibu Canyon) for surfing. Also went past Thousand Oaks where I got pull over the first time for a road violation(got a warning). Followed Hwy 101 to the southern tip of Burbank(California) where we got off the freeway by the NBC Studios--Home of the "Tonight Show"--and parked in the lot of a closed down grocery store. Tomorrow we will explore Burbank...tonight we rest, watch my TV and sleep...
August 14, 2011
August 14, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-traveling northern California)my son Bill is with me...
It was about 1:30 AM PST when we got to the "Just a Truckstop" in Corning, California and settled down for the night.
I was up at 8 AM PST because I was concerned about my trailer having no license. I called our permit department and they informed me that I had an expired license plate on the trailer. The permit department--in Joplin, Missouri--had the license plate and registration. They said they would "overnight" mail it to our customer in Santa Paula, California, our delivery goal. This trailer hadn't been through the main terminal--where it would have gotten the plate--in years, according to the records they kept on it.
Since the registration was "bad" for the trailer, I figured I had better check the trailer brakes. I climbed under the trailer and couldn't get the brakes to adjust. I called the company's maintenance shop and told them...I was surprised as they told me not to have the truckstop shop fix them and to keep going with the "bad" brakes. I did.
Bill woke up around 10:30 AM PST and watched me play with the brakes. We them went in to eat and found out that today was "Trucker Appreciation Day" and they were going to have meals outside. I went ahead and fueled(149 gallons) and reparked the truck. We had our fill of potato salad, vegetables, hot dogs and potato chips. After eating--time:1:30 PM PST--we left for Santa Paula down I-5.
I had a little while to decided which I would take: Hwy 99 south or I-5 south. Both rejoin at the south end of the San Joaquin Valley. Both are about the same distance. What made me choose I-5 was that there were far less population centers, and thus traffic, to deal with. So after we got into Sacramento, California I continued to follow I-5 south.
The trip through the San Joaquin Valley was enjoyable as the scenery was that of several different types of crops. I don't know if Bill enjoyed the scenery but I know I did.
Just after Coalinga, California, we stopped at the rest area for awhile. I had my worries about getting inspected at the southbound California weigh station. With "bad" trailer brakes I knew they would nail me. Well, southbounding brought Hwy 99 back into I-5 just before the weigh station. Night had fallen and the weigh station was really full. They just ran us over the scales and we then were south on our way to the Grapevine upgrade.
We climbed over the mountains with no problem, getting to Santa Clarita, Calornia. There we took Hwy 126 west to Santa Paula. It was dark and we couldn't see very much of the scenery. I followed the directions I had been given and found the business we were delivering to.
The time was 10:30 PM PST when I checked in with the gate guard and I was informed to park on the street and come back at 6:30 in the morning...Parked and went to bed...
It was about 1:30 AM PST when we got to the "Just a Truckstop" in Corning, California and settled down for the night.
I was up at 8 AM PST because I was concerned about my trailer having no license. I called our permit department and they informed me that I had an expired license plate on the trailer. The permit department--in Joplin, Missouri--had the license plate and registration. They said they would "overnight" mail it to our customer in Santa Paula, California, our delivery goal. This trailer hadn't been through the main terminal--where it would have gotten the plate--in years, according to the records they kept on it.
Since the registration was "bad" for the trailer, I figured I had better check the trailer brakes. I climbed under the trailer and couldn't get the brakes to adjust. I called the company's maintenance shop and told them...I was surprised as they told me not to have the truckstop shop fix them and to keep going with the "bad" brakes. I did.
Bill woke up around 10:30 AM PST and watched me play with the brakes. We them went in to eat and found out that today was "Trucker Appreciation Day" and they were going to have meals outside. I went ahead and fueled(149 gallons) and reparked the truck. We had our fill of potato salad, vegetables, hot dogs and potato chips. After eating--time:1:30 PM PST--we left for Santa Paula down I-5.
I had a little while to decided which I would take: Hwy 99 south or I-5 south. Both rejoin at the south end of the San Joaquin Valley. Both are about the same distance. What made me choose I-5 was that there were far less population centers, and thus traffic, to deal with. So after we got into Sacramento, California I continued to follow I-5 south.
The trip through the San Joaquin Valley was enjoyable as the scenery was that of several different types of crops. I don't know if Bill enjoyed the scenery but I know I did.
Just after Coalinga, California, we stopped at the rest area for awhile. I had my worries about getting inspected at the southbound California weigh station. With "bad" trailer brakes I knew they would nail me. Well, southbounding brought Hwy 99 back into I-5 just before the weigh station. Night had fallen and the weigh station was really full. They just ran us over the scales and we then were south on our way to the Grapevine upgrade.
We climbed over the mountains with no problem, getting to Santa Clarita, Calornia. There we took Hwy 126 west to Santa Paula. It was dark and we couldn't see very much of the scenery. I followed the directions I had been given and found the business we were delivering to.
The time was 10:30 PM PST when I checked in with the gate guard and I was informed to park on the street and come back at 6:30 in the morning...Parked and went to bed...
August 13, 2011
August 13, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Gresham, Oregon)my son Bill is riding with me for awhile.
I woke up while parked for the nigjt at my tire drop at Gresham. I was awake before anyone got there. The manager arrived and told me where to back up to. The fellows here, as in most this store chain, were very friendly and helpful. I was unloaded and on my way to my second drop by 8:15 AM PST.
I got to my second drop(didn't record it and don't remember where it was) and got my tires unloaded by 11 AM PST. Laura brought Bill(see yesterday) before I was done unloading the tires and so they watched the end of the unloading.
Said "good byes" to Laura the Bill and I were on our way south on I-5. Last drop was in Eugene, Oregon and we were there at 1:30 PM PST. There were only 48 tires here to empty me out. I was done, empty and had another load by 3 PM. The next load was paper. I drove to the city adjoining Eugene, Springfield, and picked up 37,200 lbs of paper going to Santa Paula, California. The paper factory had a scale for us to weigh and I showed a weight of 70, 260 lbs.
By 5 PM PST we were heading south on I-5 again. We entered the roads over the Cascade mountain passes. It was up & down, up & down and so on. It seemed endless to me. In a car, one might not notice it as much. We stopped at a truckstop in Medford, Oregon at 8:45 PM PST and had dinner. It was after dark when we were readying to leave the truckstop.
Going into California, I thought I had better check my trailer's registration. I checked the registration box on the front of the trailer and found no registration at all. I called dispatch and was told to buy a temporary permit for that state and call the permit department tomorrow. I bought the permit and we were on are way. We find out tomorrow that that plates and temporary registration are no good in California. I couldn't belive that I had come from Texas with this load without checking for a trailer registration; I never forgot to check again.
We got into California and the California weigh station was closed. We were about an hour and a half from my goal of Corning, California when our day ended at midnight...
I woke up while parked for the nigjt at my tire drop at Gresham. I was awake before anyone got there. The manager arrived and told me where to back up to. The fellows here, as in most this store chain, were very friendly and helpful. I was unloaded and on my way to my second drop by 8:15 AM PST.
I got to my second drop(didn't record it and don't remember where it was) and got my tires unloaded by 11 AM PST. Laura brought Bill(see yesterday) before I was done unloading the tires and so they watched the end of the unloading.
Said "good byes" to Laura the Bill and I were on our way south on I-5. Last drop was in Eugene, Oregon and we were there at 1:30 PM PST. There were only 48 tires here to empty me out. I was done, empty and had another load by 3 PM. The next load was paper. I drove to the city adjoining Eugene, Springfield, and picked up 37,200 lbs of paper going to Santa Paula, California. The paper factory had a scale for us to weigh and I showed a weight of 70, 260 lbs.
By 5 PM PST we were heading south on I-5 again. We entered the roads over the Cascade mountain passes. It was up & down, up & down and so on. It seemed endless to me. In a car, one might not notice it as much. We stopped at a truckstop in Medford, Oregon at 8:45 PM PST and had dinner. It was after dark when we were readying to leave the truckstop.
Going into California, I thought I had better check my trailer's registration. I checked the registration box on the front of the trailer and found no registration at all. I called dispatch and was told to buy a temporary permit for that state and call the permit department tomorrow. I bought the permit and we were on are way. We find out tomorrow that that plates and temporary registration are no good in California. I couldn't belive that I had come from Texas with this load without checking for a trailer registration; I never forgot to check again.
We got into California and the California weigh station was closed. We were about an hour and a half from my goal of Corning, California when our day ended at midnight...
August 12, 2011
August 12, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Spokane, Washington)Bill,my son, is riding with me for awhile...
We were at at our fuel stop on the west end of Spokane when I woke at 5:45 AM PST. I decided to fuel(109 gallons) as I am not sure of the fueling points on the west coast. I have a booklet of fueling spots but I don't use these places alot. I did my vehicle inspection and logbook update.
I left the truckstop and backtracked on I-90 to Division St and went north on it. I had quite a ways to go before finding the tire store. I checked with the manager and was told where to back up to. While I was backing, Bill woke up and made his appearance. Bill watched as I unloaded the tires that were going there(this load has several drops). I told Bill that he could help on the next couple loads.
We were headed toward Seattle at 8:45 AM PST. I kept my speed up and enjoyed the flatness--except for one steep downgrade near Moses Lake(Washington)--of the land; wheat fields as far as one could see. Past Ellensburg(Washington) where I started climbing into the mountains and went over Snoqualmie Pass. When I got to I-405, I went north to Kirkland where our second drop was. We got there at 1:15 PM PST and got the few tires off. Went to the third drop in Bellevue(Washington) and got those few tires off. By 4 PM PST we were heading south on 405 and then south on I-5. We continued south on I-5 until we got to I-205, north of the Oregon border. Took I-205 over into Oregon and stopped at our first stop tomorrow in Gresham, Oregon at 7:30 PM PST.
Laura, a friend of mine living in Tigard(Oregon), was waiting for us at the Gresham tire store. I parked the truck---I was staying at the store that night--Laura drove us around and I took us to dinner. Bill went home with Laura and she is to show Bill Portland and all the bridges tomorrow morning. She will meet me at my second stop tomorrow...
We were at at our fuel stop on the west end of Spokane when I woke at 5:45 AM PST. I decided to fuel(109 gallons) as I am not sure of the fueling points on the west coast. I have a booklet of fueling spots but I don't use these places alot. I did my vehicle inspection and logbook update.
I left the truckstop and backtracked on I-90 to Division St and went north on it. I had quite a ways to go before finding the tire store. I checked with the manager and was told where to back up to. While I was backing, Bill woke up and made his appearance. Bill watched as I unloaded the tires that were going there(this load has several drops). I told Bill that he could help on the next couple loads.
We were headed toward Seattle at 8:45 AM PST. I kept my speed up and enjoyed the flatness--except for one steep downgrade near Moses Lake(Washington)--of the land; wheat fields as far as one could see. Past Ellensburg(Washington) where I started climbing into the mountains and went over Snoqualmie Pass. When I got to I-405, I went north to Kirkland where our second drop was. We got there at 1:15 PM PST and got the few tires off. Went to the third drop in Bellevue(Washington) and got those few tires off. By 4 PM PST we were heading south on 405 and then south on I-5. We continued south on I-5 until we got to I-205, north of the Oregon border. Took I-205 over into Oregon and stopped at our first stop tomorrow in Gresham, Oregon at 7:30 PM PST.
Laura, a friend of mine living in Tigard(Oregon), was waiting for us at the Gresham tire store. I parked the truck---I was staying at the store that night--Laura drove us around and I took us to dinner. Bill went home with Laura and she is to show Bill Portland and all the bridges tomorrow morning. She will meet me at my second stop tomorrow...
August 11, 2011
August 11, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Fort Hall, Idaho)My son, Bill, is riding with me for awhile...
Bill & I were both awake at 7 AM MST eatting munchies for breakfast. We walked around and found the Indian trading post opened at 10 AM; too late for us to wait.
We continued up I-15 . The scenery along this interstate has been spotted with Lava flows, circular style irragation plots and what looks like treeless mountains. That is, until we got to Montana.
It seemed like Montana was all trees on montains. Followed I-15 up to I-90. Went west on I-90 and stopped for a short break at the rest area just past Garrison(Montana). We continued past Missoula and got to Idaho.
Got into Idaho and climbed futher into the mountains. The mountain pass around these parts is called "4th of July". After we went over the pass, we seemed to go through the long valley. I found it really boring as the valley never seemed to end. Finally we broke out of the valley and past Coeur d' Alene(Idaho). Stopped for a break at the rest area just past Coeur D' Alene.
Went on to Washington and stopped for the night at our fuel stop in Spokane. Will deliver in the morning....Had dinner and spent the night. Time we got here was 5:45 PM PST.
Bill & I were both awake at 7 AM MST eatting munchies for breakfast. We walked around and found the Indian trading post opened at 10 AM; too late for us to wait.
We continued up I-15 . The scenery along this interstate has been spotted with Lava flows, circular style irragation plots and what looks like treeless mountains. That is, until we got to Montana.
It seemed like Montana was all trees on montains. Followed I-15 up to I-90. Went west on I-90 and stopped for a short break at the rest area just past Garrison(Montana). We continued past Missoula and got to Idaho.
Got into Idaho and climbed futher into the mountains. The mountain pass around these parts is called "4th of July". After we went over the pass, we seemed to go through the long valley. I found it really boring as the valley never seemed to end. Finally we broke out of the valley and past Coeur d' Alene(Idaho). Stopped for a break at the rest area just past Coeur D' Alene.
Went on to Washington and stopped for the night at our fuel stop in Spokane. Will deliver in the morning....Had dinner and spent the night. Time we got here was 5:45 PM PST.
August 10, 2011
August 10, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Hole 'n the Rock rest area, Utah)my son's riding with me....
I was up at 4 AM MST and took a short, short walk. Didn't wonder far from the truck as the night was so dark....I can't see a moon at all and it's dark. I decided to leave out at 4:30 AM MST even though we would miss the "Hole 'n the Rock". I want Bill to meet my friends in Orem(Utah) and today is the only day we can visit.
Headed north on Hwy 191 through Moab during the dark. Got to Green River, Utah at 5:30 AM MST and stopped at the convenience store --with a large amount of truck parking--I almost always stop at. I like this C store because they usually have 3 hot dogs for $1.00. They didn't have any out yet and Darrell was still asleep(don't know went he went to sleep last night). I got me a chocolate milk and drink it before going to the truck. I left Green River at a little before 6 AM MST and headed northwest on Hwy 6. Traveled this upper desert with Darrell climbing out of the bunk just before getting to Price(Utah). We traveled into the mountains starting at Helper(Utah) and crested the mountain at Soldiers Summit(Utah).
We decented down into the Utah Valley and went north on I-15 to Provo(Utah). We parked in the Motel 6 truck parking lot at 8:45 AM MST. I called the McIntoshes and Gordon came and got us. We went back to the McIntosh home where Bill got to met Becky(both same age), Gondon's and Shirley's youngest daughter. The kids didn't hit it off...We all talked and around 11AM MST we got talking about eatting and ended up going to a Chuck-O-Rama buffet. We filled up and then it was time for us to be going. They all took us back to the truck where I up dated my logbook before leaving.
We headed north on I-15 and went over the mountain pass between the Utah and Salt Lake Valleys...The Highway Patrol had a "turkey shot"(March 28, 1991) set up but I wasn't going too fast and it was set up only for the southbounders. We continued to Bountiful(Utah) and parked next to the K-Mart store and behind a convenience store. Call my sister and she came and got us. Went to their home and Bill played with his cousins until dinner time. After we had dinner, we needed to get going again. My Brother-in-Law took us back to our truck.
We left Bountiful at 6:15 PM MST and headed north on I-15. We stopped at our Ogden, Utah fuelstop and fueled(119 gallons). We bought some munchies for tomorrow. Continued north on I-15 into Idaho and ended our day at the parking lot of the Fort Hall(Idaho) trading post. We bunked in for the night as it was after 9:45 PM MST....
I was up at 4 AM MST and took a short, short walk. Didn't wonder far from the truck as the night was so dark....I can't see a moon at all and it's dark. I decided to leave out at 4:30 AM MST even though we would miss the "Hole 'n the Rock". I want Bill to meet my friends in Orem(Utah) and today is the only day we can visit.
Headed north on Hwy 191 through Moab during the dark. Got to Green River, Utah at 5:30 AM MST and stopped at the convenience store --with a large amount of truck parking--I almost always stop at. I like this C store because they usually have 3 hot dogs for $1.00. They didn't have any out yet and Darrell was still asleep(don't know went he went to sleep last night). I got me a chocolate milk and drink it before going to the truck. I left Green River at a little before 6 AM MST and headed northwest on Hwy 6. Traveled this upper desert with Darrell climbing out of the bunk just before getting to Price(Utah). We traveled into the mountains starting at Helper(Utah) and crested the mountain at Soldiers Summit(Utah).
We decented down into the Utah Valley and went north on I-15 to Provo(Utah). We parked in the Motel 6 truck parking lot at 8:45 AM MST. I called the McIntoshes and Gordon came and got us. We went back to the McIntosh home where Bill got to met Becky(both same age), Gondon's and Shirley's youngest daughter. The kids didn't hit it off...We all talked and around 11AM MST we got talking about eatting and ended up going to a Chuck-O-Rama buffet. We filled up and then it was time for us to be going. They all took us back to the truck where I up dated my logbook before leaving.
We headed north on I-15 and went over the mountain pass between the Utah and Salt Lake Valleys...The Highway Patrol had a "turkey shot"(March 28, 1991) set up but I wasn't going too fast and it was set up only for the southbounders. We continued to Bountiful(Utah) and parked next to the K-Mart store and behind a convenience store. Call my sister and she came and got us. Went to their home and Bill played with his cousins until dinner time. After we had dinner, we needed to get going again. My Brother-in-Law took us back to our truck.
We left Bountiful at 6:15 PM MST and headed north on I-15. We stopped at our Ogden, Utah fuelstop and fueled(119 gallons). We bought some munchies for tomorrow. Continued north on I-15 into Idaho and ended our day at the parking lot of the Fort Hall(Idaho) trading post. We bunked in for the night as it was after 9:45 PM MST....
August 9, 2011
August 9, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Tucumcari, New Mexico)Bill, my son, is riding with me for awhile
I was awake by 5:30 AM MST and left the truckstop heading west on I-40 by 6 AM MST. I was hoping to have Bill be able to see "Hole 'n the Rock" and so I left on today's travel early.
I stopped at our fuel stop in Santa Rosa(New Mexico) for fuel(99 gallons) and munchies for our breakfast: chocolate milk & turkey legs. We were there about a half hour and then moving toward Albuquerque. Went down the long down grade into Albuquerque and then right through it. When we got to I-25, we went north a short distrance(22 miles???) to Hwy 550(it was Hwy 44). As I started up Hwy 550, the up grade was steep enough that I needed to downshift two times. Got up to the more level ground and it was long before I stopped along the highway at San Ysidro(New Mexico) for a break at one of two fast "FOOD" places. We got out but they were still not open--10 AM MST...It looked like they would be opening but we didn't want to wait. We were there about 15 minutes and then through the Navajo Indian Rewservation.
The surrounding scenery was desertly up to Bloomfield(New Mexico). At Bloomfield I thought about stopping but I decided to go to Cortez and have a meal there. At Bloomfield, we started listening to a Navajo radio station--couldn't understand--as we traveled west on Hwy 64. At Shiprock(you can see an old volcanic cone, looking like a sailing ship, on the valley floor) we took Hwy 666--now 491--north into Colorado.
We stopped at the truckstop behind the Colorado truck scales and had a late lunch(we went into the restaurant at 2:15 PM MST). We both had the buffalo burgers(real buffalo meat) and Bill said it tasted like regular hamburger. We went there about an hour before heading on north to Utah.
Before Utah, we went through Dove Creek(Colorado), the self proclaimed pinto bean capital of the world.
Slipped into Utah and weighed at the Utah weigh station with no problem. Got to Monticello and turned north on Hwy 191 where I immediately pulled over and parked so we could get a couple sodas(soft drinks in Canada) at the convenience store I like stopping at. Shortly later we were leaving Monticello and heading into the beautiful mountainous and wonderlands of Utah. We got to "Hole 'n the Rock" and parked at the rest area just past it. The time was 5 PM and the (Hole..) was closed. Went back to the truck whwere we sat outside the truck until the bugs got too bad. I went to bed and Bill sat up and worked on some project he was working on...
I was awake by 5:30 AM MST and left the truckstop heading west on I-40 by 6 AM MST. I was hoping to have Bill be able to see "Hole 'n the Rock" and so I left on today's travel early.
I stopped at our fuel stop in Santa Rosa(New Mexico) for fuel(99 gallons) and munchies for our breakfast: chocolate milk & turkey legs. We were there about a half hour and then moving toward Albuquerque. Went down the long down grade into Albuquerque and then right through it. When we got to I-25, we went north a short distrance(22 miles???) to Hwy 550(it was Hwy 44). As I started up Hwy 550, the up grade was steep enough that I needed to downshift two times. Got up to the more level ground and it was long before I stopped along the highway at San Ysidro(New Mexico) for a break at one of two fast "FOOD" places. We got out but they were still not open--10 AM MST...It looked like they would be opening but we didn't want to wait. We were there about 15 minutes and then through the Navajo Indian Rewservation.
The surrounding scenery was desertly up to Bloomfield(New Mexico). At Bloomfield I thought about stopping but I decided to go to Cortez and have a meal there. At Bloomfield, we started listening to a Navajo radio station--couldn't understand--as we traveled west on Hwy 64. At Shiprock(you can see an old volcanic cone, looking like a sailing ship, on the valley floor) we took Hwy 666--now 491--north into Colorado.
We stopped at the truckstop behind the Colorado truck scales and had a late lunch(we went into the restaurant at 2:15 PM MST). We both had the buffalo burgers(real buffalo meat) and Bill said it tasted like regular hamburger. We went there about an hour before heading on north to Utah.
Before Utah, we went through Dove Creek(Colorado), the self proclaimed pinto bean capital of the world.
Slipped into Utah and weighed at the Utah weigh station with no problem. Got to Monticello and turned north on Hwy 191 where I immediately pulled over and parked so we could get a couple sodas(soft drinks in Canada) at the convenience store I like stopping at. Shortly later we were leaving Monticello and heading into the beautiful mountainous and wonderlands of Utah. We got to "Hole 'n the Rock" and parked at the rest area just past it. The time was 5 PM and the (Hole..) was closed. Went back to the truck whwere we sat outside the truck until the bugs got too bad. I went to bed and Bill sat up and worked on some project he was working on...
August 8, 2011
August 8, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Grand Prairie, Texas) Bill, my son is riding with me for awhile
Woke up this morning at a little after by a knocking on the side of the tractor. A fellow from the receiving department wanted to get me unloaded. Sounded good to me. Couldn't get Bill up and he slept through the unloading. After unloading on the rounds of wire cable was done--the time was 8:05 AM CST--I called Dispatch and let them know I was ready for another load.
I was told to go to Carrollton, Texas and pick up a load of tires and take them to the Lancaster(Dallas) terminal. I went to Carrollton and when I got there, Darrell woke up. We picked up the loaded trailer I was suppose to and then took it to the terminal. I was at the terminal by 10:30 AM CST.
I turned the paperwork for the load of tires into dispatch and asked if I could get a load of tires to Salt Lake City. Dispatch said they didn't have a Utah load but they had a multi-drop load to Spokane(Washington), Seattle(Washington), Portland(Oregon) and Eugene(Oregon). I grabbed the load and by 11:30 AM CST we were headed west on I-20. We went throught Fort Worth on Hwy 287 and continued on Hwy 287 to Amarillo, Texas. That trip to Armarillo was long and boring, almost like the trip from Laredo(Texas) to Houston, texas).
We got to the "Just a Truckstop" in Amarillo at 6:30 PM CST and had dinner. I thought about stopping for the night there but decided to get as many miles in as possible. At 8 PM CST we headed west on I-40. Tucumcari, New Mexico was my goal and we got there at 9 PM MST. I parked at the main Shell truckstop and Bill and I walked around for awhile and got some munchies. We bedded down for the night and slept well...
Woke up this morning at a little after by a knocking on the side of the tractor. A fellow from the receiving department wanted to get me unloaded. Sounded good to me. Couldn't get Bill up and he slept through the unloading. After unloading on the rounds of wire cable was done--the time was 8:05 AM CST--I called Dispatch and let them know I was ready for another load.
I was told to go to Carrollton, Texas and pick up a load of tires and take them to the Lancaster(Dallas) terminal. I went to Carrollton and when I got there, Darrell woke up. We picked up the loaded trailer I was suppose to and then took it to the terminal. I was at the terminal by 10:30 AM CST.
I turned the paperwork for the load of tires into dispatch and asked if I could get a load of tires to Salt Lake City. Dispatch said they didn't have a Utah load but they had a multi-drop load to Spokane(Washington), Seattle(Washington), Portland(Oregon) and Eugene(Oregon). I grabbed the load and by 11:30 AM CST we were headed west on I-20. We went throught Fort Worth on Hwy 287 and continued on Hwy 287 to Amarillo, Texas. That trip to Armarillo was long and boring, almost like the trip from Laredo(Texas) to Houston, texas).
We got to the "Just a Truckstop" in Amarillo at 6:30 PM CST and had dinner. I thought about stopping for the night there but decided to get as many miles in as possible. At 8 PM CST we headed west on I-40. Tucumcari, New Mexico was my goal and we got there at 9 PM MST. I parked at the main Shell truckstop and Bill and I walked around for awhile and got some munchies. We bedded down for the night and slept well...
August 7, 2011
August 7, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Wednesday-Laredo, Texas)Bill, my son, is riding with me for awhile
I was awake before Bill and walked into the terminal. After being in Laredo since Saturday I was still number 21 on the TRB. I will get out today but it will be later in the afternoon.
Bill and I ate munchies from the truck, wrote, talked with drivers and watched terminal TV . It was a little after 2 PM CST when I got called to the dispatch window. The only load that was available was large rolls of wire going to Grand Prairie, Texas.
I hooked to the trailer, did the vehicle inspection and got my logbook up to date My trailer had a taillight missing and the yard maintenance man put in a new one. Bill and I were heading north on I-35 by 3 PM CST. Through the desert regions we went until we got to San Antonio. We stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" and had dinner. We took our time and I let Bill play a couple video games. I didn't want to fuel here as we would stop at the terminal in Lancaster(Dallas), Texas. We headed north on I-35, taking I-35E when we hit the I-35E/I-35W split. We stopped at the convenience store at the Italy, Texas exit for a short break and then it was on to the Lancaster terminal where I fueled(96 gallons). Bill seemed to enjoy this fuel stop as he walked around and stretched his legs for the short time.
We got to our destination in Grand Prairie, Texas at 11:45 PM CST and being that no one was in the warehouse, I found an area to park--in their parking lot--and went to bed...
I was awake before Bill and walked into the terminal. After being in Laredo since Saturday I was still number 21 on the TRB. I will get out today but it will be later in the afternoon.
Bill and I ate munchies from the truck, wrote, talked with drivers and watched terminal TV . It was a little after 2 PM CST when I got called to the dispatch window. The only load that was available was large rolls of wire going to Grand Prairie, Texas.
I hooked to the trailer, did the vehicle inspection and got my logbook up to date My trailer had a taillight missing and the yard maintenance man put in a new one. Bill and I were heading north on I-35 by 3 PM CST. Through the desert regions we went until we got to San Antonio. We stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" and had dinner. We took our time and I let Bill play a couple video games. I didn't want to fuel here as we would stop at the terminal in Lancaster(Dallas), Texas. We headed north on I-35, taking I-35E when we hit the I-35E/I-35W split. We stopped at the convenience store at the Italy, Texas exit for a short break and then it was on to the Lancaster terminal where I fueled(96 gallons). Bill seemed to enjoy this fuel stop as he walked around and stretched his legs for the short time.
We got to our destination in Grand Prairie, Texas at 11:45 PM CST and being that no one was in the warehouse, I found an area to park--in their parking lot--and went to bed...
August 6, 2011
August 6, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Tuesday-Laredo, Texas)Bill, my son, is riding with me for awhile
I have been in Laredo for 2 1/2 days now and I will be here all day. I will be here again today.
I woke and drove over to Arlena's where Bill is staying with Cory and Nathan. Arlena had gone to work and so I sat around and typed. The boys watched TV and played and we talked once in awhile. Arlena came home in the mid afternoon and she and I went to eat.
Pam and a male friend came by Arlena's to get Bill and I and take us to Mexico. The friend Pam had with her worked in the US and lived in Mexico. He was a pretty nice fellow who Pam was taking home, since we were going that way. Pam, the friend and Bill hadn't eatten so they went to Arbys for dinner. Went they were done, they came and picked me up and we headed for Mexico.
We past the US border stores with all the cheap stuff from Mexico before going into Mexico. Looked like a bunch of old crowded junk stores.
We went the Pam's friend's apartment--a third floor apartment in a four story building--and Pam talked with his wife for awhile. While she talked Bill looked around as this world was very different than his.
Pam then took us to a shopping mall beyond the tourist attractions. We walked through some of the stores she liked. She showed Bill how to convert the peso(money) to dollars. We also visited a bakery with the pastries sitting in the open with flies on them. We continued and drove around. She seemed to love to point out the homes--very nice--of people she claimed to be drug dealers.
Before returning to the US, Pam wanted to get some Mexican candy and I wanted to get some Vanilla(It seems like getting vanilla is a must). We stopped and got three bottles of vanilla first and then went to a candy store. Bill and I bought some regular candy at cheaper then US prices. Pam then bought a brunch of Mexican candy, especially a hard sweet candy covered with chilly powder. She gave Bill--I declined her offer of a piece--a piece of the chilly covered candy and he rapidly split it out. He did ask for, and got, a couple pieces to share with his Spanish class back home.
Pam dropped us off at Arlena's place Csand we said our good byes. Bill and I then went back to the terminal where I found I was still high numbered on the TRB. The time was a little after 11 PM CST so we went to bed...
I have been in Laredo for 2 1/2 days now and I will be here all day. I will be here again today.
I woke and drove over to Arlena's where Bill is staying with Cory and Nathan. Arlena had gone to work and so I sat around and typed. The boys watched TV and played and we talked once in awhile. Arlena came home in the mid afternoon and she and I went to eat.
Pam and a male friend came by Arlena's to get Bill and I and take us to Mexico. The friend Pam had with her worked in the US and lived in Mexico. He was a pretty nice fellow who Pam was taking home, since we were going that way. Pam, the friend and Bill hadn't eatten so they went to Arbys for dinner. Went they were done, they came and picked me up and we headed for Mexico.
We past the US border stores with all the cheap stuff from Mexico before going into Mexico. Looked like a bunch of old crowded junk stores.
We went the Pam's friend's apartment--a third floor apartment in a four story building--and Pam talked with his wife for awhile. While she talked Bill looked around as this world was very different than his.
Pam then took us to a shopping mall beyond the tourist attractions. We walked through some of the stores she liked. She showed Bill how to convert the peso(money) to dollars. We also visited a bakery with the pastries sitting in the open with flies on them. We continued and drove around. She seemed to love to point out the homes--very nice--of people she claimed to be drug dealers.
Before returning to the US, Pam wanted to get some Mexican candy and I wanted to get some Vanilla(It seems like getting vanilla is a must). We stopped and got three bottles of vanilla first and then went to a candy store. Bill and I bought some regular candy at cheaper then US prices. Pam then bought a brunch of Mexican candy, especially a hard sweet candy covered with chilly powder. She gave Bill--I declined her offer of a piece--a piece of the chilly covered candy and he rapidly split it out. He did ask for, and got, a couple pieces to share with his Spanish class back home.
Pam dropped us off at Arlena's place Csand we said our good byes. Bill and I then went back to the terminal where I found I was still high numbered on the TRB. The time was a little after 11 PM CST so we went to bed...
August 5, 2011
August 5, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Monday-Laredo, Texas)Bill, my son, is riding with me for awhile
I woke up at the terminal and checked with dispatch after not seeing my TRB number go down much since Saturday. Dispatch said that I could be here easily until Wednesday--nearly 5 days(normally I would be frustrated but I have my son with me and we can "tour")--and there was no telling if I would even get a good load.
I went over to Arlena's again and found that Pam Morten had hired Bill and Arlena's boys--Cory & Nathan--to cut and clean her yard. Pam was having a party that evening. I took Arlena's car and took the boys to Pam's place and kind of put Bill in charge. I had to explain to Bill what a supervisor did as he told me that they don't do anything. The boys did fine.
I took Arlena to Pam's party that evening and I bought all the pizzas that everyone ate. After the party, I took Arlena home left Darrell there for the night. I went back to the terminal.
I woke up at the terminal and checked with dispatch after not seeing my TRB number go down much since Saturday. Dispatch said that I could be here easily until Wednesday--nearly 5 days(normally I would be frustrated but I have my son with me and we can "tour")--and there was no telling if I would even get a good load.
I went over to Arlena's again and found that Pam Morten had hired Bill and Arlena's boys--Cory & Nathan--to cut and clean her yard. Pam was having a party that evening. I took Arlena's car and took the boys to Pam's place and kind of put Bill in charge. I had to explain to Bill what a supervisor did as he told me that they don't do anything. The boys did fine.
I took Arlena to Pam's party that evening and I bought all the pizzas that everyone ate. After the party, I took Arlena home left Darrell there for the night. I went back to the terminal.
August 4, 2011
August 4, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Sunday-Laredo, Texas) Bill, my son, is riding with me for awhile
Got up and got ready for church today. Went to Arlena's home, got Bill and went to church. After church we went back to Arlena's and spent the day. That evening, I took every one to Baskin 'n Robbins for a treat. Cory--Arlena's younger son--was funny in that he got a banana split that looked larger then him.
I usually stay with the Mortens but Steven & Reida were out of town and Pam was there along with her kids. I talked with Pam at church and she said that if we are still here Tuesday night, she will take us into Nuevo Laredo(Mexico), deep out of the tourist area. Hopefully we will be here.
At the end of the day, I left Bill at Arlena's again and went to the terminal...My number on the TRB was still really high...
Got up and got ready for church today. Went to Arlena's home, got Bill and went to church. After church we went back to Arlena's and spent the day. That evening, I took every one to Baskin 'n Robbins for a treat. Cory--Arlena's younger son--was funny in that he got a banana split that looked larger then him.
I usually stay with the Mortens but Steven & Reida were out of town and Pam was there along with her kids. I talked with Pam at church and she said that if we are still here Tuesday night, she will take us into Nuevo Laredo(Mexico), deep out of the tourist area. Hopefully we will be here.
At the end of the day, I left Bill at Arlena's again and went to the terminal...My number on the TRB was still really high...
August 3, 2011
August 3, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-traveling in Texas) My son Bill is riding with me for awhile...
Day started at midnight as we had just crossed into Texas on Hwy 75. We had a perfectly 1/2 moon in front of us as we traveled through Denison, Texas.
Anna, Texas and I had run out of my driving time of 10 hours before a long break. We had been running all night with two other company drivers and they wanted to keep going to our Lancaster(Dallas) terminal. I was feeling fine and Bill was still enjoying himself so we kept going also. We drove through Dallas and unto our Lancaster terminal, getting there just before 2 AM CST. Parked the truck and went to sleep; Bill sat up longer, watched my TV and listened to the CB radio until he went to sleep.
I woke at 9:05 AM CST and went into the terminal for awhile. Bill stayed in the truck sleeping. Nothing happening in the terminal so I fueled(55 gallons) and took off down I-35E after 10:30 AM CST. When I got to Austin(Texas), I took the upper level of the bi-level interstate so Bill could see more of the area we were going through.
We stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio(Texas) for lunch/dinner and fuel(39 gallons-didn't like the Laredo fuelstop). Headed south on I-35 when done in San Antonio. After 2 1/2 hours of desert scenery we got to the Laredo terminal at 7 PM CST. Checked in with dispatch and was told to drop the trailer in our trailer yard....I did.
Went to Pizza Hut where my friend Arlena worked. We went in and talked to her and I asked if Bill could stay with them while I was in Laredo. She said, "Sure". Bill and I then went to Arlena's place and I introduced Bill to her boys and daughter. I left him there and then went to the terminal for the night. My number on the TRB was so high that I would be in Laredo for days....Great!!!
Day started at midnight as we had just crossed into Texas on Hwy 75. We had a perfectly 1/2 moon in front of us as we traveled through Denison, Texas.
Anna, Texas and I had run out of my driving time of 10 hours before a long break. We had been running all night with two other company drivers and they wanted to keep going to our Lancaster(Dallas) terminal. I was feeling fine and Bill was still enjoying himself so we kept going also. We drove through Dallas and unto our Lancaster terminal, getting there just before 2 AM CST. Parked the truck and went to sleep; Bill sat up longer, watched my TV and listened to the CB radio until he went to sleep.
I woke at 9:05 AM CST and went into the terminal for awhile. Bill stayed in the truck sleeping. Nothing happening in the terminal so I fueled(55 gallons) and took off down I-35E after 10:30 AM CST. When I got to Austin(Texas), I took the upper level of the bi-level interstate so Bill could see more of the area we were going through.
We stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" in San Antonio(Texas) for lunch/dinner and fuel(39 gallons-didn't like the Laredo fuelstop). Headed south on I-35 when done in San Antonio. After 2 1/2 hours of desert scenery we got to the Laredo terminal at 7 PM CST. Checked in with dispatch and was told to drop the trailer in our trailer yard....I did.
Went to Pizza Hut where my friend Arlena worked. We went in and talked to her and I asked if Bill could stay with them while I was in Laredo. She said, "Sure". Bill and I then went to Arlena's place and I introduced Bill to her boys and daughter. I left him there and then went to the terminal for the night. My number on the TRB was so high that I would be in Laredo for days....Great!!!
August 2, 2011
August 2, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Warrenton, Missouri)My son Bill is riding with me for awhile.
I woke a headed for Kansas City around 7 AM CST. Bill got up as we passed Columbia, Missouri. We got to I-435 on the east side of Kansas and went north to the terminal. I got to drop the trailer in the yard and was ready for another load at 10:45 AM.
I checked the TRB and there were few drivers on the screen. I told Bill that I was going to lay down in the terminal's bunk room for awhile. I told him to wake me up when my number on the TRB gets to number 2. He woke me up at 11:30 AM CST(big nap)and told me that they called my number. Dispatch had called several numbers up at the same time, mine being the last.
The terminal manager--Jack--was handling the dispatch window and he and I got along great. He offered me a choice of 3 loads: one to St. Paul, Minnesota or one of 2 Canadas.
I said a little prayer that I could get a Laredo loads. As I was explaining that I had my son with me and we had gone to Canada each of the two other years he had riden with me, Paul(the dispatcher behind Jack, looking at the load computer screen) got Jack's attention and told him that he had a load to Laredo and a load to Del Rio, Texas just come in. I took the Laredo, Texas load and had to deadhead to St. Joseph(Missouri) to get it.
I decided that since I would be going through our Joplin, Missouri terminal, I wouldn't fuel before leaving.
We had gone up I-29 to St Joseph and got to the company dropyard. The trailer I needed was there so I did a "drop & hook". I called dispatch and got the order to GO. At 1:45 PM CST we were heading down I-29 toward Kansas City. Down I-29 to I-70(east) to I-435 south. Coming to Hwy 71, we went south. What always seened like a long drive, we finally got to I-44 and went southwest to Joplin getting to the Joplin terminal at 5:30 PM CST.
The truck had to go through a fast inspection while in Joplin and got through it with no problem. We were at the terminal only about 45 minutes. After fueling(174 gallons) we headed into Oklahoma on I-44.
By the time we got to Big Cabin, Oklahoma, we had two other drivers from our company running with us. At Big Cabin, we three trucks went south on Hwy 69. We all three talked and told jokes for hours. We stopped in Stringtown(a speedtrap), Oklahoma for an half hour break and then down Hwy 69 again. Hwy 75 soon joins us and when Hwy 69 leaves us, we follow Hwy 75. We were all still talking on the CB radio--telling stories and jokes as we went over the Red River into Texas as our day ended...
I woke a headed for Kansas City around 7 AM CST. Bill got up as we passed Columbia, Missouri. We got to I-435 on the east side of Kansas and went north to the terminal. I got to drop the trailer in the yard and was ready for another load at 10:45 AM.
I checked the TRB and there were few drivers on the screen. I told Bill that I was going to lay down in the terminal's bunk room for awhile. I told him to wake me up when my number on the TRB gets to number 2. He woke me up at 11:30 AM CST(big nap)and told me that they called my number. Dispatch had called several numbers up at the same time, mine being the last.
The terminal manager--Jack--was handling the dispatch window and he and I got along great. He offered me a choice of 3 loads: one to St. Paul, Minnesota or one of 2 Canadas.
I said a little prayer that I could get a Laredo loads. As I was explaining that I had my son with me and we had gone to Canada each of the two other years he had riden with me, Paul(the dispatcher behind Jack, looking at the load computer screen) got Jack's attention and told him that he had a load to Laredo and a load to Del Rio, Texas just come in. I took the Laredo, Texas load and had to deadhead to St. Joseph(Missouri) to get it.
I decided that since I would be going through our Joplin, Missouri terminal, I wouldn't fuel before leaving.
We had gone up I-29 to St Joseph and got to the company dropyard. The trailer I needed was there so I did a "drop & hook". I called dispatch and got the order to GO. At 1:45 PM CST we were heading down I-29 toward Kansas City. Down I-29 to I-70(east) to I-435 south. Coming to Hwy 71, we went south. What always seened like a long drive, we finally got to I-44 and went southwest to Joplin getting to the Joplin terminal at 5:30 PM CST.
The truck had to go through a fast inspection while in Joplin and got through it with no problem. We were at the terminal only about 45 minutes. After fueling(174 gallons) we headed into Oklahoma on I-44.
By the time we got to Big Cabin, Oklahoma, we had two other drivers from our company running with us. At Big Cabin, we three trucks went south on Hwy 69. We all three talked and told jokes for hours. We stopped in Stringtown(a speedtrap), Oklahoma for an half hour break and then down Hwy 69 again. Hwy 75 soon joins us and when Hwy 69 leaves us, we follow Hwy 75. We were all still talking on the CB radio--telling stories and jokes as we went over the Red River into Texas as our day ended...
August 1, 2011
August 1, 1991, 2011
FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Cleveland, Ohio) My son Bill riding with me for awhile...
I woke awhile before my son...like 8 AM EST and called in to see if I had an assignment. Not yet.
I went to the truck, fueled(127 gallons) and then got my son up. We ate some munchies while we sat in the tractor. Around 9 AM EST we walked into the truckstop and I called dispatch again. A load was waiting....
We had to go back to the Cleveland engine plant and pick up a load to the Claycomo(Kansas City), Missouri. We got to the plant and had to wait until 11:15 AM EST to have them load us. We watched them put the engines in the trailer with their forktrucks. Once they started loading, it didn't take long. We were out of there by noon EST. We headed down I-71 toward Columbus, stopping a the the TA truckstop at Seville(Ohio)--intersection of I-76 & I-71). I had to get Bill a meal as he was seeming(not complaining) pretty hungry. I have a problem figuring other's hunger when they don't vocalize it. We got away from Seville at 2:15 PM EST and continued down I-71 until we got close to Columbus. I thought and decided to go through town and so I went right down to I-70 while I was on I-71. On I-70 we headed west. We continued through western Ohio into Indiana. We did see what looked like a couple drivers getting speeding awards in Ohio.
We stopped for a short break after going through the downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana, stopping at the rest area before the Monrovia(Indiana) exit. Onward to Missouri, "over" St. Louis on I-270, following I-70 to exit 188; stopping at the truckstop(Warrenton, Missouri but the exit reads "Truxton"). I was out of driving time and tired so we settled down for the night.
I woke awhile before my son...like 8 AM EST and called in to see if I had an assignment. Not yet.
I went to the truck, fueled(127 gallons) and then got my son up. We ate some munchies while we sat in the tractor. Around 9 AM EST we walked into the truckstop and I called dispatch again. A load was waiting....
We had to go back to the Cleveland engine plant and pick up a load to the Claycomo(Kansas City), Missouri. We got to the plant and had to wait until 11:15 AM EST to have them load us. We watched them put the engines in the trailer with their forktrucks. Once they started loading, it didn't take long. We were out of there by noon EST. We headed down I-71 toward Columbus, stopping a the the TA truckstop at Seville(Ohio)--intersection of I-76 & I-71). I had to get Bill a meal as he was seeming(not complaining) pretty hungry. I have a problem figuring other's hunger when they don't vocalize it. We got away from Seville at 2:15 PM EST and continued down I-71 until we got close to Columbus. I thought and decided to go through town and so I went right down to I-70 while I was on I-71. On I-70 we headed west. We continued through western Ohio into Indiana. We did see what looked like a couple drivers getting speeding awards in Ohio.
We stopped for a short break after going through the downtown area of Indianapolis, Indiana, stopping at the rest area before the Monrovia(Indiana) exit. Onward to Missouri, "over" St. Louis on I-270, following I-70 to exit 188; stopping at the truckstop(Warrenton, Missouri but the exit reads "Truxton"). I was out of driving time and tired so we settled down for the night.
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