FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-traveling toward Joplin, Missouri)
Day starts as I am am speeding(not really...) through Tulsa, Oklahoma northwest on I-44.
Nothing really exciting except that I was singing with my cassette tapes playing, thinking I am not sounding too bad. I was obviously dreaming. Sometimes the nights are full of interesting and beautiful things and sights, but not tonight.
1:45 AM CST found me pulling into our Joplin, Missouri terminal. I dropped my trailer in the trailer area and took my paperwork to dispatch. Dispatch asked me if I could handle a "rush" load to Kansas City and drop it at the terminal. I was tired as my 8 hour break yesterday in Oklahoma City was one of watching movies and drinking soda pop("soft drink" in Canada). I was feeling OK so I said I would take it.
I hooked up to the trailer, did a vehicle inspection, up dated my logbook and was leaving the terminal at 2:30 AM CST. I took I-44 east to Hwy 71 and then headed north. This stretch is normally boring to me but tonight it was really boring. I kept my speed up and as the sun was trying to make it's appearence, I pulled into our Kansas City terminal--5:30 AM CST.
Since I was already told it was a "drop at the terminal", I dropped my trailer before checking in with dispatch. Took my paperwork in and dispatch said they had a load in Lexington, Nebraska that needed to get picked up. It would be a deadhead and a drop & hook at the shipper's plant. It was to be delivered to the St. Paul auto assembly plant Monday morning. I told dispatch that I needed a sleep break and questioned why so many loads were "rush". I took the load and hooked up to the trailer before I went to sleep. I slept pretty well and woke at 3:30 PM CST. I checked in with dispatch before fueling(129 gallons) and leaving the terminal at 4:15 PM CST.
Followed I-435 north then west to I-29 north. I really enjoyed this trip north after passing St, Joseph, Missouri. (everyone has a different opinion and this is an example...I met a fellow that just hated the I-29 Missouri drive while I loved it) Went up into Iowa and then took Hwy 2 into Nebreska. Followed Hwy 2 to Lincoln, Nebraska where I took I-80 west. I stopped in York(Nebraska) at KFCs and got a bucket of chicken to munch while I drove. Onto the shipper's place in Lexinston, getting there at 10:45 PM CST.
I found the loaded trailer and did my drop & hook. Did the vehicle inspection and updated my logbook. Called dispatch and got the word to go. I wasn't tired and had another 4 hours to run so I took off east on I-80, starting at 11:15 PM EST....
My long day ended as I was closing in on--I was close to but had a little ways to go--Grand Island, Nebraska...
I kept a day by day journal the first 5 years I was enjoying North America. While earning a living,I kept track of where I went, often what I did, feelings I had and various other details. I am writing this blog day by day as I lived it. The month/day I lived it is the same as the month/day I write about it. The years are obviously different...thus the days title: ie: August 30, 1989, 2009.
About Me
- The Protraveller...
- Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.
About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...
I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net
Blog Dictionaries...
The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...
June 14, 2011
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