Enjoying North America while earning a living...

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

My photo
Starting as a preschooler, I remember my Grandfather bringing me rocks from his trips he took after he retired. Each rock had a story to tell. In the sixth grade, I watched a freeway be built and then wondered where all the trucks would go. I remember in high school looking at the mountains and wanting to travel. I did many jobs BEFORE trucking but I always wondered what driving would by like. I really wanted to see things and drive a big truck. So after almost finishing nursing school, a divorce and three cute little kids, I became a truck driver. While earning a living, I found myself enjoying North America and seeing the land and people. NO ONE ENJOYED TRAVELING MORE THAN ME. There are two things I have enjoyed in this life and they are traveling and writing. I use to call myself "Protourist" but my Mother-in-law and Wife would become upset with me as they know I really love THE "travel" and not THE stopping to see things. I now call myself "protraveller"(I like it with a double "L") and my Mother-in-law and Wife are now happy!!! I love to write and this blog gives me the opportunity to share my past and thoughts with the public.

About this blog's layout...BLOG UPDATED ONCE PER DAY...

I follow my journal daily by writing under the daily title, "FIRST 5 YEARS:" The first five years will strictly follow my 5 year journal. If I find the day I am writing about to be boring, I will either write about thoughts I remember(placed under the title of "SECOND 5 YEARS"), write a trucker tale(placed under "A Trucker's Tale"), give a helpful trucker hint, ask a "student driver" question or do something.....When a location appears after the day of the week after "FIRST 5 YEARS:", it is where I am at the start of that day((IE: FIRST 5 YEARS: (Sunday-Kansas City, Missouri))..... I would encourage those that find themselves enjoying North America to follow me day by day.....REMEMBER: THIS IS A BLOG ABOUT WHAT LIFE IS LIKE FOR A TRUCKER THAT DOES NOT HAVE A DAILY ROUTINE ROUTE(called a "dedicated" route). THERE WILL BE MANY TIMES WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE SIMILAR(boring???) TO PREVIOUS DAYS; THAT'S TRUCKING! THERE WILL BE DAYS WHEN THE ROUTING, SCENERY AND DAY'S ACTIVITIES WILL BE TOTALLY NEW; THAT'S TRUCKING. Frustrations? I mention the frustrations I had as a driver. I loved my job while earning a living and realized that all jobs have frustrations; truck driving is, and was, no different..... Many pictures on this blog can be left-clicked and made larger.....Questions?...Please E-mail PT at fabalt2000@centurylink.net


Blog Dictionaries...

The Trucking Dictionary...words in this dictionary will many times appear highlighted. If a word isn't highlighted or in the blog dictionary and sounds "different", check it out in this dictionary. Please note: Many times when clicking on these dictionaries anywhere in the blog, the first thing that comes up is an advertisement which I have no control over.
The Blog Dictionary...This dictionary contains words I use that aren't "trucker" words and thus not in the "trucking dictionary". I separate them--the dictionaries--in case someone wants to copy the trucking dictionary for personal use. This dictionary also contains names of people(not real names) that I dealt with many times through my trucking career. Blog word found in this dictionary often will be licked to it.
DAILY UPDATES SHOULD BE UP BY NOON CST...

December 22, 2011

December 22, 1991, 2011

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

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

I drove to Louisville and took I-65 south to Shepherdsville(Kentucky) where I went to sleep for the night.... 
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December 21, 1991, 2011

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Saturday-Taylor, Michigan)
No Loads and not much to do today.  Went to the Sveden House Buffet restaurant for dinner.  "Jesse James" came along and we talked trucking while we ate....
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December 20, 1991, 2011

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


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