AJ's Truck Driving Journey

AJ's Observations From The Road...

#1 There is something about vintage 60's and 70's country music that just goes with trucking. This comes from a life long rocker.

#2 Some vintage Peterbilts are rolling works of art.

I like the new avatar. Where'd you take that pic?

I think I figured it out... Mackinac? That one belongs in the "Spooky Bridges" thread...

I think I figured it out... Mackinac? That one belongs in the "Spooky Bridges" thread...

Sorry I took so long to get back... It's a jungle out here, man !! lol

Yes, Mackinac. I was taking a load of raw paper out of the UP for a run to New Hampshire.

You can tell I am south bound because the ice build up is on my right. The prevailing winds pile it up against the bridge. The east side of the channel was clear.

I just made it out of there by a few hours before that massive blizzard hit that causes the big, multi-car pileup.

Whewwww.... I saw it coming and expedited all matters !!

My second stint on the road solo began the day before Thanksgiving and lasted up to Christmas Eve. My sinus infection was tormenting me the entire way. I would wake up to anything from unbearably throbbing, to mildly painful. But, it was always there. Once I got upright, and busy with truck, it subsided somewhat. I was taking large amounts of Ibuprofen and Excedrin. I was unwilling to take antibiotics because of the GI tract side effects common with that treatment. No way I was going to be on the road with that situation. So the pain was mine to bear. Thank goodness my wife found a natural cure. She healed me during my Christmas break with grapefruit seed extract nasal spray and a brand new Vicks vapor humidifier in my spare room. I slept for 2 days straight and most of a third! By a week into my third, post Christmas run, I finally had a morning where I woke up with no headache. !! awesome.

I don't remember, in great detail, much of the Thanksgiving run. I was making the delivery, eating and sleeping.

I do remember a mill in Connecticut. I swear, it looked like the mill was started as a classic water driven, paddle wheel mill, as the hard running stream went straight through the middle of the paper mill !! The owner then, simply expanded on the same site with modern industrial might. The property was so tight that the trailer parking was most creative. I explained to the night shift switcher that I was a new driver and there was no way I could replace the loaded trailer I came for with the empty I was carrying with my big, sleeper cab cruiser. He let me drop my empty where I sat and go get the loaded one. He had to pull another trailer out of the way for me to get out of the place!! I mean small New England town !! lol

This brings me to point I want to make about being a new driver. If you get into a situation that is tough for you and there is another driver there, jump out and tell them you are new to driving and this looks a little tough to you. Do it with a smile and a joke. Like - hide your small children and livestock!! I'm coming in!! Not one driver turned down my request for assistance and I learned something from every one of them. There is help out there. Just keep a good attitude and make the experience fun and challenging instead of "Oh, crap !! I can't get this thing in the hole!! "

I tried to enjoy the amazing scenery, as much as I could, during this run. I could forget about the headaches at times from the shear grandeur of this country.

When I came off the road on Christmas eve, I was completely exhausted. But that was the worst of it. I would begin healing from this point on.

During this current, post Christmas run, I found myself exploring the mechanics of the truck more and spending more time chatting with Shippers and Receivers. There really are great people everywhere.

I finally found the air tank manual purge valves for this ProStar !! I walked up to a driver of the same model truck at a fuel island and asked !! lol

As of this very second, I am shutdown for my 10 hr reset just south of Louisville, KY on I 65. 134 miles from home. I have put in a hometime request. Since I stayed out so long on my first stint, my FM said he would work me home after a couple of weeks. Looks like a prime spot to DH home.

I pulled into town last night for some hometime. This time.... No Headaches !!! Woo Hoo

Shipping out Monday...

Just received notice of my biggest pay week yet. $1400 Gross / $1100 take home... sweet.

Roll on big wheels...

Just received notice of my biggest pay week yet. $1400 Gross / $1100 take home... sweet.

Roll on big wheels...

Nice! Who do you drive for, again?

Glad to hear you're feeling better... and thanks for these updates... they are illustrating very clearly (and interestingly) how difficult it can be getting started out as a truck driver... and how rewarding as well. I think I have a much more realistic idea of what to expect - for having followed this thread...

Just received notice of my biggest pay week yet. $1400 Gross / $1100 take home... sweet.

Roll on big wheels...

Nice! Who do you drive for, again?

Glad to hear you're feeling better... and thanks for these updates... they are illustrating very clearly (and interestingly) how difficult it can be getting started out as a truck driver... and how rewarding as well. I think I have a much more realistic idea of what to expect - for having followed this thread...

I pull for Roehl.

Do not get your hopes up ! lol

While that number may be close to the norm for LTL cats like 6 String, .32 / mile OTR rookie drivers would rarely see 4 digit checks, I would think. I rolled 4k miles that week and was lucky with the expedited pick up and deliveries. I, also, had $85 in reimbursements.

I was simply thrilled to see the number and had to share the notion of what is possible out there.

Roll on !!

Just received notice of my biggest pay week yet. $1400 Gross / $1100 take home... sweet.

Roll on big wheels...

Nice! Who do you drive for, again?

Glad to hear you're feeling better... and thanks for these updates... they are illustrating very clearly (and interestingly) how difficult it can be getting started out as a truck driver... and how rewarding as well. I think I have a much more realistic idea of what to expect - for having followed this thread...

I pull for Roehl.

Do not get your hopes up ! lol

While that number may be close to the norm for LTL cats like 6 String, .32 / mile OTR rookie drivers would rarely see 4 digit checks, I would think. I rolled 4k miles that week and was lucky with the expedited pick up and deliveries. I, also, had $85 in reimbursements.

I was simply thrilled to see the number and had to share the notion of what is possible out there.

Roll on !!

Yeah, I was wondering how you did that with Roehl! You drive OTR though, don't you? I have spent so much time driving around Chicago, OTR is sounding good right now!