YEA IT'S ME

HEY RAY AND GRUBBIE, THIS ONE IS FOR BOTH OF YOU.. ITS REALLY TOO MUCH TO PLAY CATCH UP, BUT SOME THING HAVE HAPPENED THAT ARE INTERSTING..LIKE---BEEN TO CANADA TWICE IN JUST OVER A WEEK. FIRST TO ONTARIO. THAT WAS OK. BUT SECOND TO QUEBEC..THE PROBLEM WITH QUEBEC IS I DON'T READ AND/OR SPEAK FRENCH..ALL THE ROAD SIGNS ARE IN FRNCH. THE MAPPING SOFTWARED DOESN'T NECESSARILY UNDERSTAND FRENCH EITHER..IT'S PRONOUNCIATION OF STREET NAMES LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED.

OTHER THINGS INCLUDE A STUDENT QUITING AFTER 3 DAYS, A PREVIOUS STUDENT HAVING A MINOR SCRAPE, ETC., ETC., ETC. IN ATA AGOOFDANOTHER ASPECT OF NOT KEEPING UPWITH THIS BLOG, SCHNEIDER HAS BEEN KEPING ME RUNNING. THAT'S A GOOD THING.. I 'D BEEN GOING TO BED EARLY AND DRIVING EARLY PLAN , TO PICK UP A NEW STUDENT MONDAY. TIL THE NEXT TIME KTBC/PH BILL

Sitting at Carlisle, Pennsylvania working with my current student, DiCarlo. He,s been with me for three days now and we've had a few good experiences. Right now he's working diligently on trip planning. Yesterday we had two new steer tires put on in Ohio, and it was determined we needed a front end allignment. We got routed after the load we were on to this OC. We get th work done tomorrow, and are taking a 34 restart.

RANDY, IS A TRUCKER I SEEM TO KEEP RUNNING INTO...JUST LIKE A BAD PENNY.

STUDENT FROM TENNESSE

Here is a foto of my latest student. Picked DALE up while enroute to TN. He's from SPARTA, TN, and met me in CLINTON, TN. As soon as I got him, e got our next load from NEWPORT, TN to LARDO, TX. Nearly 1300 miles..I feel SAFE with him, beg Being that I was a FIREFIGHTER, I expect we'll get along well.

STOP OR NOT STOP

Prior to coming TIME AT HOME, I had a load I picked up in Kentucky. After offing a ramp onto I64, at proper speeds, I saw a state highway patrol car in the HAMMER lane behind me. Checked my speed and was legal. All of a sudden he pulled behind me, followed me for about a quarter mile, and put on his lights.. Naturally I pulled over onto the shoulder.. I waited for him to come to the truck, and waited, and waited, etc.. Now I'm already tight on my drive time and day clock. After about 15 minutes, I took my paperwork, license, permit book and such, and exited the passenger side. I walked to the rear of the trailer and was surprised to see that he was not stopping me, but a female driver, who was in my rear blind spot. I got back in my truck and continued on my way.

Here is a picture of my most recent student, ALF (short for Alphonse). He has been one of my better students since the training program started up again. I felt like I had SANTA in my truck for two weeks. He did quite well, passing his SQT and getting a truck assigned. Best OF LUCK and congrates to ALF.

HEY RAY..KTBC&PH

at gary

Picked up a new student (AL..FOTO ATTACHED) at the Petro in Rochelle on Monday. He's been with me two days now and doing well. short miles, but OK loads. to Edwardsville, followed by one to Gary, waiting on a trailer to take to CINNCI.

Was able to meet with my good friend RAY last evening...Went out for a PIZZA. Last couple days, I was able to reconnect with GUS, both at Edwardsville and again GARY.

TIME AT HOME AGAIN

It's been a great three weeks for miles, but ended with a lot of frustration. I was supposed to pick up a female student in the Kansas City area, but never made it that far west from Georgia when I received the assignment. I got turned around and headed for Pennsylvania when I got a new student assignment from New York state (SEAN)...He met me at our Carlisle OC. Worked out great for the next two weeks. We went from PA the NY, to Laredo, TX, ,SC, ,OH, IN,and IA and eventually to GARY. The last two days, getting him to GARY, and me home was more than frustrating. WE did get back a day late. The fotos of my last two students, included..Nick followed by Sean.. Nick as well as other past students, call me from time to time for advice. One student, Steve, from Indianapolis, called to talk. He was apparently bored, being home, recovering from surgery. He'll be driving a gain soon.

AS YOU CAN SEE, THERE IS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL, following the darker days.

I'm home now, preparing to get scoped over the next few days. This is an event scheduled every couple years. Needless to say I'll get some long needed rest!

By the way RAY..THIS ONE'S FOR YOU..KTPH&TBC!

SORRY FOR LAZINESS

I guess I need to apologize to those (RAY) who follow my long dormant blog. This ones for you Ray. I'm sitting at our operating center at Laredo, TX..Taking a34 hour restart with my student, SEAN. No pictures to add at t his time. Most loads over the last couple/few months have been tight, with decent miles..Starting early, finishing late. Hows it go??? "EARLY TO BED, EARLY TO RISE, MAKES A MAN HEALTHY WEALTHY AND WISE" SOMEHOW I QUESTION THE VALIDITY OT THAT STATEMENT. What am I missing?? Will be here till Wednesday morning, to be home on or about the 4th. Will continue later.

TO RAY

HAPPY HOLIDAYS. PLAN TO BE IN GARY MONDAY NIGHT IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED.

THE ITALIANS

Here is a foto of my friend Rick TOSI in the middle, with two friends from ITALY. LUCA, on the left comes most every year to hunt for a week with RICK. He usually ring others as well. This year it was RICARDO TOSI. NOTE that RICK and RICARDO have the same SIRNAME. LUCA and RICARDO will be going home in about a week.

BIG RACKED

Here id s dhot of me with my friend RICK. How's this for a TEN POINTER??

BY THE WAY RAY..KTBC&PH

WHITE DEER

Am TAH.. did a little hunting, saw a few, shot none..attached are a couple fotos my friend RICK took where he lives. NOTE that this is perhaps a ONE-IN-A-MILLION occurance.

I leave out on the road again on tuesday, after they upgrade the new technology in my truck. I'll also be taking out another new student with me for two weeks. Will send updates then.

MORE FOTOS

Here are a few more fotos from my recent trips west and north.. some others didn't come out very well.

GANDOLF

This is GANDOLF, my friend RAY's "BEST FRIEND". Last week while at Gary, RAy and I went to get his DINGY out of the water, and GANDOLF kept us company. He's really a gr8 dog!!

While at Gary, I released my student CHRIS. I was since messaged that he did pass his SQT. He should probably have his truck by now.

Since I left Gary, I finished my load to Roselle, Il, picked a load from CHICAGO to Jonesboro, AR. RAn a 3 stopper from West Memphis, AR, Memphis, TN, and SOMERSville, TN to Chesapeake, VA. Next a couple short loads around Chesapeake, and one up to New Hamshire, and then Maine to Atlanta GA. I'll finish this one on Monday. Am at our OC in Carlisle, PAfor a DOT10. Took some intersting FAll FOTOS, will post them later.

NEW STUDENT

Well, training is up and running again limitedly..this is CHRIS (SEE FOTO), my latest student. He's from Chicago, and seems to have a lot on the ball. He's been with me for a week now since my TAH. We've been to 7 states so far and are on our fourth load together. Today we're taking time to work on his trip planning. Tommorrow we head fro a few stops in IOWA, and then back to ROCKFORD.

TAH - With feet in a tree

Well, I got home in time for opening day WHITETAIL SEASON. Spent two days with my feet in a tree or three. May try again tomorrow, before I go out on the road again. Will attach fotos if I get some.

I did see 6 deer on opening day, but only one came reasonably close (+/- 20 yards) for a shot. Being borderline, I chose not to take it. Tracking a wounded deer, worse yet, losing it isn't worth it.

Got a call from Greenbay telling me I'll be taking out a student again from Chicago. That will be on Monday.

THIS ONE"S FOR GUS

Well GUS and I communicate regularly..always comparing notes and picking each other's ????

We spoke recently about a certain MILLEr load, 50000+ in the box. A new style 48ft trailer, narrower than most, and only nine holes for adjustments. Cound not run legal, but burned off enough fuel to cross a MISSOURI scale and get the green light... Made the delivery at West Memphis, and spoke with the driver picking up the load to relay to TEXAS. I scaled the load four times before being told to run with itMy next load is a ZERO paid miles load. Relay it just down the street...

THIS ONE'S 4 RAY

Well I'm sitting at a truck stop in Wausau, Wi. Just delivered a load of rolled paper. May be shut down for the night,,not sure yet. IF i don't get a load soon, I may push myself out til morning.

Lately, most runs have been a bit tiring..I did spent time at home and an afternoon with SANDY, yesterday. Left Rochelle this morning to deliver on time.

TWO MINNESOTAS, ONE NEW MEXICO 4 A WASHINGTON

Never made it to Washingtopn..Was pulled off the load for a hot delivery to Minnesota, back to Wisconsin and on to New Mexico. That too was pulled. long story. Maybe in the near future. I did get back to Dallas and Oklahoma though. Now in IOWA.

While at Dallas, they brought in one of our trucks which was involved in an accident about 2 weeks before.

FINALLY, WASHINGTON STATE

On my way to Washington State. I pick up a load tomorrow, Friday, in WISCONSIN, and deliver on TUESDAY in EVERETT, Washington..Right on the PUEGET SOUND. I've been asking for a NW load for some time. This load will add 4 of the last 5 continental states, leaving SD. MAYBE ALASKA or HAWAII??? NOTLIKELY IN THE NEAR FUTURE. I may try looking up an old friend in MISSULA, MONTANA. I'll try to take FOTOS alaong the way.

NEW STUDENT

Here,s a FOTO of my latest student (TONY). He did pretty well. I picked him up at Gary two SUNDAYS ago, and spent 10 days with him..Released him for testing on TUESDAY. He called me today and said he passed his testing. He will be going to a SEARS dedicated account.

The two FOTOS of ME, he took just before we parted ways.