RELEASE

Yesterday, we made it to GREEN BAY where I relased LOUIS to take his SQT. In the last few day, we all but ran out of hours on my 70 while at a live unload in SUPERIOR, WI. We spent the balance of the day until 3 A.M. on Thursday, when we drove to LAKEVILLe, MN to drop and hook for a load going to YODER, IN. At Superior, we found a small/gr8 truckstop (NMEDJI T/S) where the driver's lounge had leather rocker recliners, couch tables free fax, coffee and pop. GR8 place to rest. Parking 4 about 30 trucks. Exchanged war stories with other more veteran truckers. Having time to kill, Louis and I added some pin stripping to the hood and fenders. Dressed it up a bit.



Running to Lakeville, going thru Minneapolis/St. Paul, we hit a detour (no trucks) on I-31E. Needless to say we were able to recover withoout losing much time and added miles. Leaving Lakeville, we chose to take Wisconsin 29, all the way from EAU CLAIRE, WI to Geen Bay. GR8 route, lots of T/S.



Got to Green Bay to drop our load, now a relay at the OC. Also dropped LOUIS, my student at the training academy. Hes ready as he can be 4 his SKILLS TESTING. He has been a gr8 student working out his few driver issues on a day by day basis.Spoke for a time with my TE Supervisr (RICK) about the traing, and other misc. GPS issues. LOUIS, I wish you the best in this new carrier.



Having used up all but 2 of my 70, I spent the night, and now the morning at the OC. I have a noon liveload (AT), and taking it to GARY OC for aother relay.. THEN HOME!!

NORTH EAST AND BACK

Picked up Louis at Seville on the last day of APRIL. Met his girlfriend and after their goodbyes, settled into the preliminaries/paperwork/expectations. Retiring for the night, HE IN THE UPPER BUNK, we got a decent night's rest and headed to deliver our load. Prior to delivery we got our next assignment headed to VERMONT for a 1430 pickup. All went to HECK in a handbasket about an hour before we were to get to the DROP (we would have been on time--BUT). We hit heavy construction traffic about 30 miles away. Three lanes to one. WE called the next shipper to say were stuck in traffic, could be there one hour late. NO PROBLEM, but the load has to be in Vermont by the 2nd at 4 P.M. We got to the DROP at KC a day early, made our drop, and were routed to SEARS to pick up an empty.

Finding the EMPTY with a slashed tire, we looked for another to substitute. Now we're going to be even later. NONE available, we were directed to take the TBOd trailer about 40 miles north of our pickup point, switching it for still another trailer. MORE phone calls, and told that if we can be there by 0730 on the 2nd, we could still load. HUM??? Not much time to deliver 306 miles into vermont by 1600. IN THE MOUNTAINS YET. WE got our trailer and drove to about 4 miles from our morning pickup. Staying the night at a PETRO, we finally got supper, and needed rest.

Headed to the SHIPPER, guess who got LOST. Lucky that we left early!! about 20 miles in a circle, we found the shipper, printers making sixpack cases for microbrews.

EARLY that mornig , we got out of the dock by 9, and on the road, still needing to scale 35,000+ pounds. We found a scale enroute and headed further north to BRIDGEWATER CORNER, VERMONT. SHIFTING, BRAKING, STOPPING ON HILLS, etc., etc., Louis is getting a lot of shifting practice. The grinding keeps me awake. We arrived at the delivery about 20 minutes to spare. At the delivery, live unloading, casees for LONG TRAIL BREWERY, we had time to get supper. They had a great restaurant, with SAMPLES of their PRODUCTS. Sorry to say I couldn't have any. We finished our meals, took a tour of the brewery, and waited for our next assignment.

NEXT LOAD: Deadhead to SKOWHEGAN, MAINE (WHERE???) to pick up 43000# of rolled paper, going to OBERLIN, OHIO, Menominee Falls, WI, and Lomira, WI.. 3 stops, LOTS of MILES, heavy through the mountains. Louis is realy getting to practice shifting. DOing better, Louis is really determined to get things down, and evaluating his accomplishments and errors. Driving hard not to waste time, we spent the next night at a PILOT, and the 4th at a rest area in NEW YORK STATE, making it to SEVILLe, OH (where we hooked up) last night.

It looks we may have a LAYOVER/RESTART today. I need to call in to my HANDLERS to determine if we may relay the load here, or sit on it till morning. While here, if we sit, I'll work with Louis on backing and more paperwork. Assuming we sit, deliver at all points, I may be able to release him for SQT this week. I need to call Green Bay to see what the possibilities are.

So having had my shower, getting my laundry done, and about to have breakfast, it's sit and wait until my people are at their desks. More later, including FOTOS.

THE PEOPLE YOU MEET

Well on Monday, I delivered my Load of BUD in DALLAS. While unloading

I met a driver who was driving for the FUN of it. He recently purchased his own truck with CASH. To make a short story long, He didn't need to work. DAVE and his sistes inherited family land with natural gas wells. This 59 year old makes upwards of $37000 NET each week, his share of what the wells produce. NOW I ask you is life fair?? HE stated that his children don't have any idea of what he's worth.

On the other end is the working man, another driver I met in MISSOURI. CURTIS (44 years young) and I were sitting and talking driving at a VOSS TRUCK PLAZA at exit 208 on I-44. He has a HOBBY FARM with beef cattle at ODESSA , MO. HE was very interesting to talk to. He hauled FLATBED. It was a great way to spend an evening. SEE the FOTO...By the time the evening was over, he invited me to ODESSA if and when I'm in the area around Kansas City.

On Tuesday, I got a qualcom message to pick up a new student in OHIO, on my way to deliver in Pennsylvania. I did so today. His nme is LOUIS (LOU, LOUIE)..He's recently out of the military and seems that he has his head on right. dedicated, his dad come from trucking. I'm looking forwards to these next 2 weeks. I'll add pictures as the weeks go on

Well sitting in SEVILLE, OH waiting to deliver in Pennsyvania tomorrow. probably will start out at 4A. M. and deliver a day early. MORE loads, More $$$.

OF BAILING WIRE, DUCKTAPE AND PEN CASING

What do the above 3 items have in common?? Answer later.



Finally got out of Colorado (Pueblo) on thursday afternoon. The shop helped me strap on the old driveshaft to take back to SCHNEIDER.

Picked up a trlr @ Target DC, and headed to Anhauser Busch for a load in Fort Collins. Spent the night at Denver TA with Idle Aire. The load for Dallas wasn't supposed to be ready until Friday @ 11 P.M. So what's new. I've never gotten out of AB before midnight, so I decided to take my time. Then plans changed, when I chose to get there early, drop my trailer after having it powerwashed (AB bound trlrs require washing the inside before going to Fort Collins), and then take the Budwiser tour. Afterall, I had a day to KILL.



Arriving at Budweiser, I checked in and was informed that my load was already ready, (OR IS THAT ALL READY?) and that I could take it. This was almost 12 hours too soon. I hadn't planned for this. Well, one more day to drive and take it easy over the road.



Headed out, I made it to GAYLORD, TX and spent the night at a small LOVES (about 12 parking spots is all they have). Using the CB, I asked a trucker who was flying by on US287, where to stop for the night. He suggested this little LOVES.



Got up at about 7 in the A.M. and headed to Dallas, Planning to make use of a layover combined with a restart. The load couldn't be delivered till MONDAY (tommorrow).



Somewheres near HEDLEY, TX I got a call over the CB from a trucker following me, informing me that my trailer lines were dragging. I made it to the next rest area and proceeded to check it out and fix the problem. I found that one of the suspension springs had broken, causing the lines to drag. The lines, by the way, give air to the trailer BRAKES. Here's where the title items comes in.



Looking at what I had available, I took a PEN CASING, cut off the tip, and inserted it as a splice between the two sections of hoseline. I then used BAILING WIRE to secure the hose around the pen casing. Then using DUCK TAPE, I put a covering over the repair. (FOTOS INCLUDED) IT WORKED and got me to DALLAS OC where a fitting was replaced by mechanics, only to be told my repair was ILLEGAL by DOT standards.


At At the rest area, I met a new friend who came over to assist THIS OLD/VETERAN TRUCKER. OLD MAYBE, VETERAN NOT!! This new friend was THOMAS JENKINS, who drove for SHAFER TRUCKING. HE had FIVE years to my ONE. After reparing the line we parted our ways. HE first, me after breakfast in the cab or the truck. About 150 miles later I past him comming out of another rest area. We hooked up on the CB all the way to DALLAS. Hopefully we'll run into each other again. THOMAS, IF YOU'RE READING THIS, THANKS FOR BEING THERE NEW FRIEND. THE LORD DOES PROVIDE!!



Now I'm sitting in the cafeteria, had a good breakfast, and meeting new friends/acquaintences. The OC also gives me the chance to catch up on laundry, emails and computer work, and shopping at walmart. THat's for later in the day.

2morrow, 2morrow, my truck may come 2morrow

Well, one more day it seems. The driveshaft was to be here in Pueblo 2day but never got here. The shop called and said 2morrow. Supposedly the driveshaft was held up at Canadian Customs.

Doesn't look like I'll make Green Bay on time. Hopefully we can make up the lost miles.

MAYBE 2Morrow

Well, been waiting in Pueblo, CO for the past 5 days. Chances are good that the driveshaft will be here tommorrow, and can be put in in about 3 hours. Perhaps I'll be on the road for a short day in the afternoon. Depending on where CHRIS sends me, I may get my TE recert at either, Green bay, Dallas, or Fontana. If none of these work out, then INDY in MAY.

I hope Chris can make up the miles I lost by dropping my driveshaft.

The DAYS INN has been a gr8 place to stay, with several restaurants in walking distance, a pool hall about 1/2 mile away. I got out and walked about 5 miles a day for the last 3 days. did some shopping and now am only waiting till tommorrow for the OK to roll.

ANOTHER DOWN DAY

Well I was on my way to SEATTLE, when at exit 27 northbound on I-25 in Colorado, my truck lost it's driveshaft (became DESHAFTED). The truck bounced and rocked, naturally I ran over the shaft. Not knowing what had just occurred, I thought I blew a TIRE. Knew different when I realized I had no POWER. Just coasting, Got over to the right shoulder, stopped, walked around the truck, put out safey triangles, looked back down the highway only to see the driveshaft laying on the shoulder about 1/2 mile away.

I walked the 1/2 mile, and saw that the universal joint had come apart. See fotos of the differential joint. I contacted SEM who sent out a tow. Sat for about 1 1/2 hours since the tow came from exit 101 in Pueblo, CO. At least I had great scenery while sitting. more fotos.

Arriving at the shop in Pueblo, I was told I could have the truck as early as SATURDAY afternoon, or as late as some time MONDAY. I hope I don't lose this load.

Schneider put me up in the hotel, Days Inn was the only close one to take a comm check. I checked at least 5 hotels. I'm also walking distane to the shop.

Had a great pasta dinner and went to sleeeeeep. Must be the BLUE MOON!!!

COntacted my board this morning again to give an update and get codes to pay for the room.

I'll stop by the shop in a little while to check on the status of my truck. There's a chance I can stay on this load if Schneider can't fing a SWAP driver in the area. They'll just have to reschedule the laod for more time for me.

Now later in the day, about 3 P.M., another driver showed up for the load. He had just made a delivery at a TARGET DC in the area. He was hoping to stay near for soon to have TAH. He's concerned that he'll get stuck in the NW. GOOD LUCK!!!

I expect that when I get my truck back, Chris will start headed me to GREEN BAY.