Independence Day!

Hard to believe, but I have just one day left to go in my training before being assigned my own truck. Sometime tomorrow morning my mentor and I, as a team, will be rolling one last time into Lewiston, Idaho. My 42 days of road instruction will come to a close and in just a day or two I should have my own truck and officially a solo company driver.

While we could have easily pressed on last night and arrived back in Lewiston early today, for the first time since hitting the road on Saturday April 12th, we are actually “killing time” on the road in order to finish this trip on my final day of training. So, after arriving early this morning at a Pilot Truck Stop along Interstate 90, some 175 miles east of Missoula, we’ve parked our trusty Kenworth and are enjoying a good 20+ hours of sleep and relaxation. A little less than 500 miles separates us from our final destination. We’ll leave sometime late tonight, with me behind the wheel, to complete the journey and bring our long travels together to an end.

My mentor has taught me a lot, based on his 34 years and more than 4-million miles of long-haul truck driving. His work as an on-the-job instructor is nearly over but our friendship will continue on. Along with my roommate Thomas from the Academy, who I’ve kept in regular contact with, Dennis no doubt will remain a good friend and advisor. He’s gone well beyond my expectations and has, over these last six-plus weeks, watched over me and my welfare. He’s shown great patience as I’ve ground and tested the gears of his $110,000 truck and missed exits and routing along the way. Right now as he sleeps in the back I’m sitting in the air conditioned front cab writing this post. I’ve been lucky to have been taught by one of the best and to have spent these long days of driving behind the wheel of a new 8-speed Kenworth truck. I will often be reminded of Dennis’ wisdom and his advice as I travel in the days ahead.

It’s been 75 days since I drove the slightly more than 200 miles to Lewiston from my “home” in Yakima and it’s been a whirlwind experience and quite the journey, to say the least! A lot has certainly changed in my life. The Swift Academy and it’s accelerated training, to prepare me to receive my Class “A” Commercial Drivers License, was a big challenge all in itself. It’s something I’ve written about in my earlier entries. Then for the last 6 weeks it’s been a menu of “real world” long-haul trucking. In our 41 days together Dennis and I have driven more than 30,000 miles crisscrossing 16 states and numerous cities and communities along the way. I’ve climbed tall mountain passes and driven along some of the west’s most beautiful canyons along the Snake and Columbia Rivers. I’ve been on a two-lane stretch of road so close to California’s Mt. Shasta, it was if I could have reached out and touched it. A far cry from the view one sees from Interstate 5. We’ve covered the entire northern states from Washington to Wisconsin. We’ve travelled south as far as Illinois and Indiana returning to the west coast via Iowa and Nebraska. We’ve hauled everything from trailer loads of empty tin cans and Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice to huge 4500 pound rolls of paper. We’ve visited a Tracy, California pet food manufacturer, that didn’t smell so nice, and a large detergent distributor in Salt Lake with the mixed aroma of a load of freshly washed clothes as well as dishes.

During these past several weeks I’ve often thought as I drive, “I can’t believe I get paid to do this!” I’ve seen some of the most picturesque sights. Among them numerous small mid western American towns. Communities dotted with farms and quiet tree-lined streets with beautiful white steepled churches and little school houses. I’ve also passed their proud high schools with their football stadiums and seen the little cemeteries where they bury their dead. One can only imagine the history and the people that have passed through these towns.

During our last trip through mid Iowa I was driving along westbound state highway 18, not far from our connection with Interstate 35 near Mason City. I couldn’t help but notice the varying shades of green grass and the differing crops and farms that blanket the flat landscape there. I’m reminded of one sign I saw for a nearby community; “Welcome to Rudd. Not bigger, just better!” America is truly a blessed country and a wonderful place to visit. Often in our day to day lives we become cocooned within our own communities and surroundings. We forget that there are a lot of people with diverse lifestyles and a great big world out there.

Shortly after the drive through Iowa I found myself meandering along Interstate 90 and through the “Badlands” and “Black Hills” region of South Dakota. Along the way and seen from the freeway are scattered a few authentic old west towns that look just as they did in the 1880s. Among them, and close to Rapid City, is the once lawless and infamous town of “Deadwood.” You may know this as the place where the popular HBO television series of the same title was set. Deadwood is famous for it’s old west reputation and ripe history along with it’s colorful inhabitants. It’s where in 1876 Wild Bill Hickok in Saloon No. 10 met his doom with a bullet to the back of his head. Apparently next to Hickok’s grave in Deadwood can also be seen the final resting place of frontierswoman Calamity Jane.

I also saw a tourist attraction along the same stretch of Interstate 80 at a casino where you could see movie props from the Kevin Costner film, “Dances With Wolves,” as well as some of his other movies. “Dances” is among my favorites and apparently the movie was filmed at a state park in nearby Custer. Kostner owns the casino and found interest in it while shooting the movie. Not far too is the famous Mt. Rushmore National Memorial. While I haven’t had the opportunity to explore these sights as a team driver, I’m hoping that as a solo driver I’ll be able to take at least some advantage.

Late last Tuesday night we spent a couple of hours at Walcott, Iowa and “the world’s largest truck stop.” Just west of Davenport the “Iowa 80 Truck Stop” is a truck driver’s department store of sorts and a modern multi-level grown-up’s toy store. It includes elevators and several floors of shopping space as well as a number of trucks on display in their main “showroom” along with the absolute best showers I’ve experienced to date! Nearly anything you’d want to buy as a long-haul trucker is available at the store or through their catalog. Their parking lot was huge with room for over 800 trucks.

It’s amazing that what I once feared, I now love. I can remember, in my first few days on the road, dreading the thought of driving the two lane highways through the numerous communities, valleys and hills one has to navigate. These are conditions that test a low-mileage trucker versus the relative ease of traveling the Interstate, with no stop signs or traffic lights to encumber your progress. I worried about the constant slowing down I would encounter along the way and the fact that I would have to downshift the truck frequently to control my speed as well as the engine RPMs. It was difficult to say the least, but now, with the miles of experience behind me, I actually look forward to the challenge, and the change in scenery, one experiences on these secondary roadways. I certainly haven’t perfected the process of shifting but am well on my way. The same can be said for backing these trucks and trailers into those spaces separated by just inches between other trailers and 18-wheelers. I’m far from perfection in this process as well but know that, with additional time and practice, I’ll be able to handle the challenge. It’s like I told Dennis last night, “I don’t want to be just a truck driver, I want to be a darn good one!”

To wrap things up, it’s been a great experience. Not an easy one for sure, and in fact far harder than I expected. But I’ve had a good time none-the-less. There were admittedly a few times -- early on -- when I wondered, “Is this really what I want to do?” Now with nearly 15,000 miles of personal long-haul driving experience behind me I’m definitely happy with my decision. I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have to do this job ... I get to!

In the weeks and months ahead I have a lot to look forward to. Among them, renewing old friendships as well as family relationships. My early plans include a trip, with time off, in the Washington D.C. area where I grew up and went to high school. A new-found friend awaits my visit there. I’m hoping to not only visit some of the areas where I lived, but to see Arlington National Cemetery, as well as the White House and other attractions while there. After that it’ll be on to Swift company headquarters in Phoenix for some required simulator training and a few days to visit my son and new daughter in-law as well as other family and good friends. The company store also will get a visit! Then I’m hoping to once again head back east, this time to Akron, Ohio. There I’ll visit my only surviving uncle and his wife of more than 60 years along with their family. He’s among that “greatest generation” and truly an American hero who, along with thousands of other soldiers, fought for their lives on June 6, 1944 to take back France’s Omaha Beach from the occupying forces of Germany. It was the beginning of the end for the Nazis and their occupation of Europe. Finally in early September I’m planning a weekend visit with one of my best friends from the Seattle area. Only this time we’ll be in New Jersey where he’ll be on a job assignment. We’re looking forward to a weekend in the big Apple and whatever else meets our fancy over the two and a half days. Other places, friends and family are in my plans for the remainder of the year.

Finally, thanks again to all those who regularly visit this blog and send me messages of support. I’m surprised to see that there are folks who visit regularly from not only many unexpected places around the country, but from various locations around the world. It would be nice to know who you are and what brings you to my little spot on the World Wide Web. Please take a moment to say hello and to ask questions or leave comments should you be so inclined. I’m not sure where the next few days will lead, but you can be sure that I’ll document much of what I see, do and think within these pages all along the way. We’ll “talk” again soon!

22,750 Miles Later and 10 Days to Go!

It’s been quite a while since I’ve last posted here, due mainly to our hectic schedule since I started training with my “mentor” trainer. As I wrote before, we’re constantly on the move. I seemed to have lost control of my life these last several weeks as my instructor decides where we go, when we go, when and where we sleep, eat and shower. While this isn’t entirely true, as he does often include me in the decision-making process, the bottom line is he doesn’t earn any money unless the truck is moving, and believe me this Kenworth has been on the move! I’m reminded some of what it was like when I was in Air Force basic training, only this time it’s Swift Transportation’s version of “basic” and my Technical Instructor (or “T.I.”) is an old-school truck driver with 34 years experience. But now, with a little time off for my son’s wedding yesterday, I finally have an opportunity to rest, recharge my batteries and post some of my thoughts.

First, I’d like to thank all those family and friends that have written or told me personally how much they enjoy reading my posts and that they hope I will continue. There’s great satisfaction in knowing that there is an audience out there that takes an interest in reading of my experiences and thoughts. It’s greatly appreciated and thank you to each and all.

As I mentioned, my son Matt was married yesterday in Seattle with a reception last night in Tacoma. His bride, who I met for the first time yesterday, is a wonderful, sweet and spunky young woman who he met while serving a Church mission in Brazil in 2001 - 2003. As I repeatedly said last night, with those who came to celebrate the occasion, I can’t believe that so many years have passed before us and my kids are now themselves marrying, and no doubt will soon have families of their own. Getting old(er) has never been something I’ve looked forward to, but to see my kids grow into happy, successful and responsible adults is truly a blessing as those years continue to mount up. The reception was a great occasion and an opportunity to see and visit with family and friends, many of whom I hadn’t seen for several years. Matt’s mother did an exceptional job arranging for a memorable event, in a beautiful location, with an awesome roof-top view of Puget Sound’s nearby Commencement Bay, but soon, at least for me, it’ll be “back to reality.”

To date with 32 days of training behind me, and just 10 days left to go, my mentor and I have accumulated an amazing 22,754 miles together. I never expected, in my wildest dreams, to have covered so many miles, in so short a time, but the log books don’t lie. We recently made our fifth trip to the St. Paul, Minnesota area. To say the least I’ve seen enough of Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota. We’ve been through the area enough now that I’m beginning to recognize the bathrooms and aisles of several truck stops that we’ve visited before. Meanwhile we’ve visited Salt Lake City once again and have made several stops at our home-base in Lewiston.

I’ve seen Swift company terminals in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota., Fontana & Lathrop California as well as Salt Lake. We’ve twice been to Las Vegas and neither time did I even set foot in one of it’s casinos, as we “dropped,” “hooked” and passed right on through. Twice too we’ve been in California, first in the southern part of the state, and more recently visiting it’s northern region passing through Sacramento and then Stockton. We were in “Salty” (Salt Lake) a week ago yesterday and it was amazing to see how large the Swift terminal is there. There were hundreds of Swift trucks and trailers parked at every available space. The yard was fast filling up as truckers were parked for a rest of a day or two, possibly the entire weekend, as they prepared to venture to places far and wide and in every possible direction from Salt Lake. Terminals are especially nice as they have free showers and the opportunity to relax and commiserate with other truckers. On our arrival we waited in line in fourth position for about 45 minutes at a fueling stand at the terminal -- one of three -- with each line at least four or five trucks deep. One of our recent trips originated from a Pet Foods plant in Tracy, California with delivery at the $30-million Regional Wal-Mart Distribution Center in Hermiston, Oregon. The distribution facility had nearly 200 dock doors serving hundreds of trucks each day. It’s amazing what goes on behind the scenes to bring the millions of products and services to the nation’s public. It’s something far too few of us give any consideration to, as well as the trucking industry’s huge impact on our lives as well as the nation’s health and economy. More on this subject someday in a later post.

Our routing often takes us along the shortest distances possible. This means traveling along the back roads and through the smaller communities that we regularly overlook when we drive the Interstate system. In late May, and again just this past week, after leaving Las Vegas, rather than heading up Interstate 15, we were directed off “the beaten track.” The route took us along Nevada state highway 93 that travels a distance of more than 550 miles from the City of Lights to Twin Falls, Idaho where we finally picked up westbound Interstate 84 for the short trek to Payette. From there it’s still another nearly 200 miles north, along yet another two-lane roadway (Highway 95), to our destination in Lewiston. Northern Nevada has got to be some of the most desolate desert traveling anywhere in the country, with no cell phone service for literally hundreds of miles as we pass through, or by, small towns like Ash Springs, McGill and “Mule Foot” as we make our way to the better-known, and somewhat larger, communities of Ely and Wells. Some of our travels gives me the distinct impression that I’ve suddenly found myself on the set of an old western movie.

Our last trip from St. Paul, Minnesota took us westbound on highway 19 from the community of Cannon Falls to Northfield until we picked up Interstate 35 and headed south to Iowa and Des Moines. Along 19 we traveled through several small towns where I couldn’t help but notice the numerous beautifully maintained farms there. Many of the homes included large, sprawling, green and meticulously trimmed lawns with their houses, barns and other buildings freshly painted. A far cry from many of the farms I’ve seen elsewhere. It appeared that the folks in these Minnesota communities took special pride in the appearance of their properties. Then it was westward through historic Council Bluffs and then on to Omaha. In western Iowa and into Nebraska I counted nearly a dozen large wind turbines spread among the miles, as their huge blades, driven by the wind, slowly turned -- most of them miles in the distance. No multiple turbine farms, like I’ve seen in Washington state, but these impressive power generators seemed to be even larger.

I’ve seen for the first time the beautiful Snake River Canyon along Idaho state highway 95. The northbound drive approaching Riggins along the Snake River offered some picturesque scenes and impressive opportunities for white-river rafting. And then there was the long, nearly 45 minute, climb up White Bird Pass. Unquestionably the steepest and longest grade I’ve negotiated a big rig over in my short career. Another recent trip took us along the beautiful Columbia River Gorge which marks the border between Washington and Oregon.

Shortly after leaving Minnesota a week or so ago (I’d have to check my log book), while traveling south on I-35 and some 25 miles into Iowa, we once again passed by the town of Clear Lake. Mentioned in my previous post as the place where singer Buddy Holly last performed in concert in the late 1950s. After the performance he, along with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, boarded a plane at the local airfield and then crashed just five miles north of town. The scene is accurately portrayed in a Lou Diamond Phillips movie chronicling the short life of 17 year old Valens. The incident is memorialized in Don McLean’s hit song “American Pie” as “The Day the Music Died.” Apparently the club, “The Surf Ballroom,” where the three performed, is still in operation and hosting concerts. When I’m “solo” I’ll make an effort to see the memorial that marks the crash scene. One thing I’ve come to appreciate is the wisdom that some folks have in their travels of venturing off the Interstate in an effort to see parts of the country otherwise missed. From here on out, whenever time and opportunity allows, I would choose to do the same thing in my personal travel.

So, with my return to Lewiston tomorrow, I’ll begin the downhill grade as I wrap up my final 10 days of training. Sometime during the final week of this month I should finally be assigned my own truck and officially a “solo” company driver for Swift Transportation. To say the least, I’ve paid my dues and I’m excited about finally having my own truck organized and outfitted per my personal tastes and preferences. The venture from my first post to this has been a long one, and more difficult and challenging than I had expected, but the reward, as it’s been said, is -- in the journey. That journey will continue ...

Truckin' Ain't For Sissies!

The title of this blog was seen just a few days ago on a guy's shirt at a Victorville, California truck stop. Boy, have I learned in just the thirteen days I've been on the road how true that is! There's so much to learn and so much to do. I'm being worked to the max right now as I learn the ropes of my new job with my 'mentor" instructor. It's been a constant go, go, go with my trainer who pauses to take no casualties. "Keep it moving" is his motto. He makes no money sitting idle!

So far in our travels we've spanned nearly 10,000 miles. Hard to believe. I never expected to travel so far in so short a time. It's pretty much eight to ten hours of driving and then ten hours of sleep only to repeat the process over and over again. One guy drives as the other sleeps. I've lost control over my life for the next several weeks, with not much of a social life these days, but it's worth the temporary sacrifice as my instructor tells me I'm ready to go "solo." He's confident I can handle the job alone but the company requires I remain in training for a total of 42 dispatched days. Just 29 more left to go.

It's been difficult to keep track of time and even to remember where we originated our loads. Was it early this morning, last night or days before? Is it Tuesday or Wednesday? I've resorted to keeping a written record of our loads, dates, origins and destinations, least I forget. I've been traveling America but in reality seeing only portions of it along the way. I slept as we passed through Council Bluffs and Omaha as just one example. This will change when I get my own truck.

Something I've grown to enjoy is the shortest routing which takes us off the regularly travelled Interstates. You know the type -- those two lane highways that join the small towns and communities you otherwise would never see. The kinds you see in the movies. It's just as the song says, "Get your kicks along Route 66."

In just the last few days we've been as far east as St. Paul, Minnesota (for a second time), including Chicago, Indiana and everywhere in-between. Two new states added to my discovery were Nebraska and Iowa. Among the highlights was our travel past Clear Lake, Iowa. I remembered it as the location where in 1959 singers Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens performed their last concert. Shortly afterwards their plane, taking off from the local airport, crashed killing all aboard. There are of course no signs along the roadway, that mention it's notoriety, but apparently there is a monument marking the crash site.

Since last Saturday, in addition to our trip back to Minnesota, we've been through towns like Cheyenne, Wyoming, Las Vegas, Des Moines, Iowa, Rialto and Santa Ana, California, as well as Salt Lake City and Seattle earlier today. It's been a long time since I've been to Vegas and I was amazed at the beautiful, huge and opulent hotels that have sprung up within feet of Interstate 15. Certainly an escape from the realities of life, to say the least.

Tomorrow we head out to St. Paul once again! The area reminds me a lot of western Washington. Lots of trees! My mentor says that last February it got down to 30 degrees below zero there. Thank the Lord it's nearly June.

Washington and other nearby states could learn a lot from the Rest Areas in North Dakota and Minnesota. Their settings are noteworthy, their buildings are stone and beautiful, and some of the hand blow-dryers operate at warp speed.

So far we've hauled facial tissue, paper towels, 4500 lb rolls of paper as well as empty tin cans out of Owatonna, Minnesota. There were 172,800 of them to be exact weighing nearly 19,000 lbs. In Salt Lake we picked up a 30,700 lb load of various detergent soaps and took it to southern California. Interesting to see a huge warehouse that deals exclusively in soaps, and the smell was aromatic to say the least! Eventually we made our way to Henderson, Nevada (outside Las Vegas) where we picked up our heaviest load to date. Just over 45,000 lbs of Ocean Spray products (Cranberry Juice etc.) to Associated Grocers in Seattle.

I'm back in my temporary home of Lewiston, Idaho for just one night, then we're back on the road tomorrow morning. I decided to treat myself to a motel room for the evening since it's the first time I've slept outside the truck in nearly two weeks. Even made a trip to McDonald's! It gets a little too cozy over time when you're sharing small quarters with another guy. But he's a good cook and has a lot of knowledge and old-fashioned "know-how" to share.

'Til we "talk" again, thanks as always for stopping by. And the next time you curse that 18-wheeler that stands before you, remember that everything you own got to you via truck.

Best Sign Seen

As you can tell I haven’t had a lot of time to correspond via the Internet. Save a few minutes at a small Truck Stop with free Wi-Fi in Montana I’ve had no way, nor really the time, to post anything. I’m not sure that this will change very much while on the road with my mentor for the remaining five weeks. But after a five-day, 4400 mile round trip to Chicago and Terre Haute, Indiana I’m back in Lewiston, Idaho having returned at 5:00 this morning. We’ll have a couple of days off until we hit the road again on Saturday morning. Time to get better organized, a haircut, and do my laundry etc.

It’s been a whirlwind experience to say the least, and I’ve learned a lot on this first trip. Except for once again having to learn a new shifting technique, driving this monster truck has been fairly easy-going. To give you an idea just how big these trucks are, I can walk beneath the side view mirror, with the bottom just barely clearing my head, and I’m 6’ 1“ tall!

My mentor tells me I am the best student driver he’s had, due in no small measure to my experience driving transit buses both on the freeways and streets of Seattle. It's just as I told him, "I'm a driving fool!" He was actually able to go to sleep and leave me on my own while I put in my time behind the wheel our first night out.

So far, in the past five days I’ve logged 45 1/2 hours of driving time covering, behind the wheel, a distance of 2413 miles. Along the way I’ve seen three states I’ve never visited before (North Dakota, Minnesota & Wisconsin). In addition I've revisited several I hadn’t seen for more than 20 years, reminding me of my days in the Air Force and later in television. We ventured past places like Missoula and Billings, Montana then on to Bismark and Fargo, North Dakota with St. Cloud and St. Paul, Minnesota not far beyond. We then made our way through La Crosse and Madison, Wisconsin. Eventually we reached Rockford and later Chicago, Illinois arriving there at noon on Monday. After dropping off our load, originating right here in Lewiston, we ventured further south through Kankakee and Danville, Illinois (the boyhood home of comediene Dick Van Dyke), and finally crossing into Indiana bypassing Indianapolis and then on to Greensburg and Terra Haute. While passing through Illinois we saw a sudden but brief change in the weather. There was heavy swirling winds and near zero visibility that made us wonder whether there was a tornado close-by. Then in Indiana we saw the aftermath of an accident involving a semi truck that rear-ended another losing it’s load along the roadside.

I’ve learned I have a lot to learn when it comes to ”real-world“ backing up into docks, especially when you have to back between two other trailers with less than two feet to spare on both sides! Not only that a real trucker, I’ve found out, can back up bending either to his ”sighted“ (or drivers) side or on the opposite ”blind side“ No Way! Not ”yet“ for me anyway.

Now that I’m back in Lewiston I’ll be staying in the truck where I'll wile away my time and spend my nights sleeping in the upper bunk. My mentor has gone home, some 45 minutes away, and has left the truck here at the Lewiston terminal so I’ll have a place in air conditioned comfort to stay. Better rest and catch up for the week ahead! No idea where we’ll be going but as a dedicated driver it’s likely we’ll be making similar trips to the same areas over the next five more weeks.

Finally, the best sign seen on this trip ... ”Rattlesnakes Observed in Area. Please Stay on Sidewalks“ (At a rest area in North Dakota)

Tissue Anyone?

Worden, Montana - It really is “Big Sky Country” out here. Some 634 miles out of Lewiston we’re now about 25 miles east of Billings. I’m writing this on my laptop for posting later. The North Dakota border is a little more than 200 miles ahead along I-94 and via Miles City and Glendive, Mt. We’ve just spent the night in the dusty parking lot of a small “bar and Casino” but the accommodations in the truck are good.

Our plans have changed some. Instead of going to St. Paul Minnesota our destination is Ellwood, Illinois located just south of Jake and Elwood Blues’ hometown of Joliet, in the Chicago suburbs. After dropping our trailer there we’ll head to Indiana where we’ll pick up another trailer in Greensburg, 40 miles south of Indianapolis along Interstate 74. We’ll cross the state westward and pick up an additional load in Terre Haute and then head back to Lewiston.

I drove 519 miles from 2:00 yesterday afternoon until 11:45 last night. A lot more than I had anticpated based on what we were told in Orientation, but I’m not complaining. I was ready for the task. Frankly, driving this truck with it’s 20,000 pounds of cargo, and a total gross weight of about 57,000 lbs. isn’t much different than driving those heavy tunnel buses, I grew accustomed to, that are part of the transit system in Seattle. In fact the buses weigh more, but these 18-wheelers are much more top-heavy causing one to have to exercise more caution.

I’ll refer to my mentor as “D” to protect his privacy. He and I get along well and he is pleased with my ability to handle his truck. We spent a lot of time just visiting and talking about some of life’s past experiences. I have quickly learned that some of what we’ve learned at the Academy and in Orientation doesn’t apply when you’re out here in the “real world.” But all the basics are there. I’ve had to relearn shifting technique due to this being different and newer equipment. The RPM’s and shifting ranges are a bit different and my mentor has me shifting through the eight gears with less useage of the clutch that I’m used to. It makes it a bit easier than what I had learned previously, but my shifts have been rough as I acclimate myself to the characteristics of this Kenworth truck. The truck has less than 78,000 miles on it and it’s big, roomy and purple! The bunk I sleep in is roomy and allows space for even some of my carry-on bags. “D” leases this truck at a cost of more than $2000 a month, but still is able to make a very good living. The truck is a 2007 Kenworth T-2000 and has most of the luxuries of home. It has plenty of storage space, (See photo above) including a small wardrobe closet, several drawers, lots of cubby-holes for miscellaneous, as well as a pull-out small table for preparing meals etc. It includes a great stereo system that pumps music etc. throughout the cabin, including separate controls at the bunks. There's a place for a small television with DVD player but my mentor has reserved that space for some of my belongings.

By-the-way, our first load in this my new career? More than 1600 cases of facial tissue! But hey, we’re what keep’s America in business!

Countdown to Zero Hour!

I've spoken to my mentor driver on the phone several times over the last two days. He called me again early this afternoon to confirm that we would be picking up a load from the Potlatch plant here in Lewiston tomorrow morning and making a trip straight to St. Paul, Minnesota. I'll meet him at 8 a.m. Zero Hour! Hee Haw!!! Where the heck is Minnesota??

Per MapQuest I find that this first trip will be a little more than 1400 miles intersecting four states via the northern plains. Nearly 350 miles of it will be travelled on I-90 through Montana, with 825 miles along I-94 through North Dakota and into Minnesota. By car it's estimated to take a little more than 21 hours of driving time.

Within minutes after posting my last blog I received a call from a woman at our Lewiston Terminal. Her task was to coordinate the myriad paperwork, checks and processes leading to final confirmation that I'd been hired. She said she needed me to sign a few papers. Turns out when I got there I find that my Driver Code was issued late the afternoon before making me an official employee of Swift Transportation. I was relieved knowing that i could make definite plans now to be on the road with my mentor this weekend.

My mentor it turns out drives a dark-purple Kenworth Tractor that I've recently seen parked here at the Terminal. Very, very nice! From what I understand it's a newer model. One of my priorities is to buy a new digital camera so I can better document my travels, but it'll probably be a couple of weeks before I'll be able to do that and post them on this site and possibly elsewhere. By-the-way, for those of us familiar with the Seattle area, Kenworth trucks are built at a plant in nearby Renton with their headquarters in Kirkland. Seattle's PACCAR is the parent company which also builds Peterbilt trucks. Kenworth and "Pete's" are considered by many to be among the cream of the crop in the trucking industry.

So the next 18 hours will be among my last here in Lewiston, at least for a while. I started out just over a month ago arriving here on April 10th not knowing for sure what to expect but confident, based on similar life experiences, that all would be well. I'd hoped it would be smooth sailing to this point and for the most part it has been, with just a few bumps along the way, both literally and figuratively!

I'm excited to be finally hitting the road for some "real world" experience. I've received rave reviews regarding my mentor and I know I'll learn a lot under his guidance. There's no doubt about it, there's a lot yet to learn in these next six weeks, things they can't possibly teach you in school. In fact I've heard it repeatedly said that you never stop learning and growing in this business, no matter how long you've been on the road.

I hope you'll continue to check in regularly and follow along as my adventure continues. I'm not sure what to expect regarding my access to the Internet while on the road. I know many truck stops offer wireless Internet service for a one-time or even monthly fee. Depending on the regularity of that access I'll try to continue posting entries at least every few days. Regardless, I'll be thinking of all of my friends and family and looking forward to seeing all of you again, and some of the new ones I'll meet and make along the way.

It's a huge lifestyle change for me, that's for sure. But those of you that know me best know that it's a lifestyle, in many ways, that I've grown accustomed to over the last few years. It's amazing the changes and circumstances that have brought me to this point in my life. Who would have thought, just a short time ago, that I'd be doing this? But with me, what in my life has ever happened, according to plan? Not much to tell you the truth!

I often think of my father, who I never knew. I've been blessed to live 23 years longer now than he. That's a long time! There are others who i came to love, but who were taken from us far too early in their lives as well. I often wonder, why have I been so lucky? So, I often remind myself to be grateful for every day, every minute that I'm allowed to live on, regardless my circumstances.

It's just as singer/songwriter Jimmy Buffett has expressed in one of his songs, and something I've shared in other places: "Some of its magic and some of its tragic, but I've had a good life all the way." So, why I ask, should the future be any different?

Sitting and Waiting

Well here it is Thursday and I've completed all my training. I've got my new Class "A" Commercial Driver's License in hand and I've been through the 2 1/2 day Orientation at Swift. After checking out of my motel room yesterday morning I was checked back in to the same room by early afternoon. Believe me over the last several days I’ve grown quite adept at packing and unpacking my things. A lot of my fellow students have left Lewiston for their homes and should be on the road in an 18-wheeler sometime between tomorrow and Monday. As for me, being low on funds and with all my worldly possessions in storage -- with no home in Yakima to return to -- I chose to stay here and live in the luxury of a local motel paid for by Swift.

There are only a couple of things keeping me from getting my "Driver Code," a six-digit number making me an official employee of the company. One is confirmation of employment at my first job in Yakima and clearing up another "loose end." I'm not worried about either, but it's a bit frustrating especially when the job confirmation issue should have been settled several weeks ago. But that's bureaucracy! Over the years, I've gotten used to it.

Orientation was a breeze! Some of it was a rehash of things we learned while in the Driving Academy. There were 18 of us in attendance. About half-a-dozen from my Academy class and others who are recent graduates of other schools. In addition there were a few seasoned vets of long-haul trucking looking to make a change in employer.

Our last several days were mostly devoted to learning about the company, it's benefits, policies and procedures. One of the more interesting things we reviewed was the Qualcomm Satellite system. It's a small keyboard unit and the link that will keep us in contact with our Driver Manager and other offices within the company. It's amazing to see all the data our supervisors can see about us and our trucks on their computer screens. Just by typing in our truck number they can see our current location, where we're going and where we've been. How many days we have left on the road as well as our average speed and how long our transmissions have been in neutral! If we're pulling a refrigerated trailer they can even monitor it's temperature! There's a lot more but I think you get the point. I'll also be able to send and receive private email with family and friends through the same system, it doesn't matter where I'm located so long as I've got my connection with an overhead satellite.

So here I am, drawn closer still to my ultimate short-term goal of getting assigned my own truck and becoming a "solo" driver. I expect that will occur in late June or early July at the latest. Before that however I'll have to go on the road for 42 "dispatched days" with a "mentor driver." That comes out to be about six weeks.

Mentor drivers are experienced drivers whose job is to train and prepare rookies like me in the rigors and ways of "real world" long-haul trucking. I've only scratched the surface of what I'll need to know while on the road. Mentors get paid handsomely for their sacrifice and deservedly so. I've learned that my mentor is a 60 year old who lives about 45 minutes from Lewiston. I spoke to him on the phone this morning. He's been driving 18-wheelers for 34 years, so I should be in "good hands" as the Allstate Insurance people would say. We'll be on the road beginning this Saturday morning. He does what's called "dedicated runs" for The Potlatch Corporation. An interesting company Potlatch is "a real estate investment trust, or REIT, that owns and manages 1.5 million acres of timberlands." It's probably Lewiston's largest employer with a big manufacturing plant along the banks of the Clearwater River. My mentor said to expect to travel as far east as Chicago as well as St. Paul, Minnesota (where there's a Swift Terminal), Lost Wages, Nevada, Salt Lake City and Spokane, Wa. So that's the game-plan for the near-term. Sounds like fun, especially the Las Vegas part! AND I've never been to Minnesota!

Orientation provided a lot of new information as well as answered a lot of questions while confirming many things I'd heard from other drivers. One of the best things about my job is that I can take my days off anywhere I want! I just have to ask my "Driver Manager" to route me to virtually anywhere in the country! This means I'll be able to visit family and friends and parts of the U.S.A I've never seen before. My Academy roommate and I are already planning to rendezvous at several locations. One of them -- at next year's Daytona 500, the granddaddy of Nascar racing! I'm looking forward too to visiting our Memphis Terminal, which I'm told, is just down the road from Elvis' Graceland. Best of all my transportation is paid for! The only thing I'll really have to fool with is renting a car if need be. And of course I'll have a place to sleep in my truck which will be well accommodated.

In addition to the standard bunk bed, air conditioning, cruise control and other fun gadgets that's found in all Swift trucks, I'll be adding a number of things to make it a more comfortable "home." Among them a CB Radio, a 13" TV/DVD player as well as a small microwave and refrigerator. I'm planning to replace the standard AM/FM/CD in-dash radio with a unit that's iPod and XM Satellite Radio compatible. It'll include a built in Global Positioning Satellite (G.P.S.) system with a pop-out touch-screen video display that controls the iPod, XM Radio and the G.P.S. features. It also has a remote control to page through and select from the various menus. One unit I've been told about is the Pioneer AVIC-N3 Multimedia AV Navigation Receiver. It's loaded and sells for around $1100 discounted. Sounds like a lot but the separate individual components would cost more and it's all in-dash with no unsightly wires. Over the next six weeks I'll be doing more research and of course will be saving my pennies!

One of the first things Swift requires, after I go "solo," is that I attend a "Simulator" course at one of 10 different Swift Terminals around the country. One of them is at the company headquarters in Phoenix. It's a course that only takes a "couple of hours" so the rest of the time, during my two or three days off, I'll visit visit with family and friends there. After "clearing solo status" I have 30 days to attend the class. I'm really looking forward to it, but it will probably be in July ... not the best time to visit the southwest! So let this be notice to all of you in the Phoenix area!

Another great benefit is the ability to take passengers along. Swift has a liberal policy in this regard allowing it's drivers to take anyone over the age of 12. Swift does not limit passengers to immediate family as many companies do. The paperwork is minimal and approval via fax can be accomplished in minutes. So, anyone interested in hitting the road in an 18-wheeler for just a few days, or up to two or three weeks, is welcome to let me know. If you could tag along for a full two weeks we'd be able to visit any part of the country you'd like. Now how fun could that be? Imagine the possibilities!

Well there's plenty more to tell, but it'll have to wait until another day. I'm always willing to answer any questions you might have or will write about something regarding trucking and the industry you might be interested in learning about. Just leave a comment or email me to let me know. While this is a diary for me to chronicle my travels and experiences, I hope it'll be something folks will enjoy periodically checking in to read. To make that experience more interesting I need your input.

As always thanks so much for stopping by!