Profile For RedGator (Nalee)

It's crazy reading through this thread and re-living the experience in my mind. Whole cities shutdown. I miss Covid traffic though🤭 You could breeze through any city at any time of the day or night. All this time unvaxxed and I still haven't caught it. I guess my OCD, clean freak nature works for something 🤣 It still amazes me how many folks STILL won't let you use their bathrooms though🙄🤦‍♀️

Im not a fan of Walmart. They typically don't take super long with beef but their rules definitely don't make them "trucker friendly". Give me a drop and hook anyday🤣 I've been to Walmart in North Platte, NE every week for the last month and a half. It's their favorite place to send me. Their minimum is 3 hours😒

Cleburne, TX = Walmart distribution center. I like delivering to Walmart DC’s because their procedures are not draconian and always the same. My only irritation is that they are so exacting about the appointment time. I’ve never been late, so that’s not the problem. But a driver cannot arrive more than an hour early. 9 times out of 10 I’m way ahead of the appointment time so I have to park and wait. It’s nice that some DC’s have remote lots. I wish they all did.

Thank you 😊 My husband primarily hauls steel and wood. The company he's leases into has dedicated contracts which have slowed up some. Them rates and that fuel bill though....UGH! I'm glad diesel is on the decline but last year was killer. That's part of the reason I never wanted a truck because that out of pocket cost is crazy. Ahhhh yes "The Boy wonder".....there so old bad blood there.....Part of the reason I left TT but that's water under the bridge now. I've told Logan and Sheffield Mick to pop back in. (Not sure if that was their screen names or not). It's so hard to keep track especially having been gone so Long. While my memory is vast for certain things for others it's spotty at best lol I have too much to remember for my husband 🥴 I'm going to include a picture of his truck. It's pre-ELD which is a blessing and a curse.

Congrats on getting married!!! Tell the ol man he don’t rock the shades as well as you do, lol. I hope he has consistent work. I’m doing the flatbed thing as an O/O and it is getting slower and slower this past year, but we’re hanging in there. I even resorted to pulling a reefer for a few months. Too hetic a pace for this old man. I normally haul headstones and bulk granite blocks. The pic in my profile is the little Pete I bought 5 years ago.

I had the pleasure of meeting up with Navypop down in Florida a few months ago. I met Daniel B years ago on my way to CDL school and we stay in touch. He’s still around some too.

If you can entice some old timers back that would be very cool.

It's AWEFUL 🥺 The wind really kicked my tail yesterday. It's colder than snot but I'm headed to AR for some hopefully warmer weather 🤞

I was in Schofield last night and in Plymouth today. Are you still hanging around up here?

Nalee, I delivered a load yesterday to Cargill in Butler, WI. I bet you’ve been there. While there I met another ASL driver and had a brief conversation. He told me his name but I already have forgotten. Small world. (Don’t take that personally, lol)

No, it was too cold in WI. I headed south after picking up another load and am almost to Memphis for my 10 hr. break. Deliver in Cleburne, TX tomorrow.

School will teach you to pass your test. So whatever the school had taught you then go with that. Your trainer (hopefully you get a good one) will teach you how to maneuver in the real world. While the manual teaches us what "looks good", more often than not it isn't practical out here. Don't over think it.

I figured while I was resurrecting myself I would bump this little gem to the top. If you're new and thinking about coming into this industry, it's worth some contemplation. This lifestyle isn't for everyone and more often than not the "glitz and glamor" that folks think it is turns into a hard pill to swallow.

We work directly for American Foods Group so we haul our own loads. While beef typically slows up this time of year it hasn't been anything out of the ordinary.

Well you know a girl has to make a grand re-entrance🤭 I'm glad you are doing well🥰 The warm welcome back is much appreciated. It's thawing this old girls jaded heart ❤️

Wow, blast from the past. Great to see you and that you're doing well.

I have been doing great. Best of luck to you.

I was in Schofield last night and in Plymouth today. Are you still hanging around up here?

Nalee, I delivered a load yesterday to Cargill in Butler, WI. I bet you’ve been there. While there I met another ASL driver and had a brief conversation. He told me his name but I already have forgotten. Small world. (Don’t take that personally, lol)

Of course you have to live way up in my "No go zone" 🥺🥺🥺😭😭😭😭😭 I've ran the same way my entire career. It's not the running. I enjoyed the lifestyle and the "escape" that it gave me. In 2021 I got married to my 2nd husband who Is a Flatbed owner operator. This change has brought me great peace and I don't feel the need to "run away" anymore. I took the 9 months of to basically be a housewife. Anyone who knows me well laughed at me and thought I wasn't gonna hack it🤣 Just like all those years ago in trucking when folks didn't think I was going to be able to last "more than 3 months" I proved them wrong. I enjoyed being home and taking care of my husband and Poe. It was calm and peaceful. A far cry from the everyday hustle and bustle out here. I think I might be ready to just be home. Trucking was just what I needed back then but life has changed and so have my needs. I'm not quite sure what I want to do next but I'm sure I will be great at it😉 Haven't made any official decisions but suggestions are always welcome 🥰

Are you still in NY?

I sure am, but I moved to the Adirondacks in the Northeast corner of New York.

I took a 9 month break last year from trucking because I was just getting burned out

I did that a few times over the years. I would decide I needed a change, so I would quit trucking, move somewhere else, and just mix things up a little.

Early in my career I burned myself out running too hard. That was the only time I did that. I took a few months away from trucking before returning. That's why I always try to tell new drivers not to push too hard. The stress level is incredible when you're new. Trying to run 3,000+ miles per week on top of that gets to be too much after a while.

I'm currently contemplating hanging up my keys permanently

Really? Do you have some ideas for your next chapter?