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...

January 24, 2012

January 24, 1992, 2012

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Friday-Taylor, Michigan)
At 5 AM EST, while sleeping in my tractor buck,  I was woken by the dispatcher.  He had a load for me to deliver...in Canada. I hooked up to the trailer, did a vehicle inspection and then fueled(119 gallons).  According to dispatch, I was getting paid for this trip 93 miles...OH boy!!!  Had to do the Canadian customs and customs brokers for the pay of 93 miles.

I delivered the Wallaceburg, Ontario load and then given a load to pick up three blocks away. 

I had been to this pickup before when I was training.  This auto parts factory--the first one I pickup a load in in Canada when I was with my trainer--had a restaurant in it and it was the first place I even saw gravy put on french fries(a Canadian thing???).. Anyways,  I picked up the load of auto springs to Kansas City and headed for Taylor, Michigan southeast on Hwy 40 to Hwy 401 west.  Got through the border checks, American customs and then went to the Taylor(Detroit) Terminal.  I topped off my fuel tanks(31 gallons) and checked in with dispatch.  As I was getting ready to leave the terminal, I found two other drivers--their handle & name: Yankee Turtle & Nick--going to Kansas City; we decided to run along with each other. 

The three of of headed west on I-94 and stopped at the "Just a Truckstop" in Lake Station, Indiana for dinner.  Left the truckstop after eatting and continues west On I-80 to I-55 which we all took south.  We stopped at our fuel stop at Mclean, Illinois for the night, or part of it.  We all decided to get up at 4 AM CST even though it was 11:45 PM CST when we shut down for the night....I don't remember why we didn't plan on more sleep..
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January 23, 1992, 2012

FIRST 5 YEARS:(Thursday-Taylor, Michigan)
No loads all day so stayed at the terminal except for one trip to the restaurant down the street....
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