Watching the snow fall in Grand Rapids, MI

I parked the rig yesterday at a Mobile-Exxon truck stop in Grand Rapids, MI (US-131 south, exit 75). I have a load to deliver in Ada - a few miles east of Grand Rapids - on Monday morning. Snow began (again) this morning and it has continued for several hours, with an accumulation of 2 to 3 inches (since 7:00 AM local time).

The drive west from Baltimore, MD Friday and Saturday was 'normal' (dry road surface and a beautiful day) until 75 miles east of Toledo, OH: gusts to 60 mph suddenly slamming into the left side of the rig was (is) a bit un-nerving, and dangerous. Local weather forecast predicted strong winds thru 10:00 PM; so, I parked the rig at 2:00 PM in a state-owned-managed service center roadside the Ohio Turnpike. Next morning the wind was calm compared to previous day.

I stopped in Tallmadge, Ohio (prior to the above overnight stop) to buy food, goodies, and stuff at a Wal-Mart Super Center that is located a few hundred yards from the Ohio Turnpike. Spending $60.00 at Wal-Mart provides me 3 or 4 dozen meals compared to the same amount spent at truckstops for 5 or 6 meals.

I'll try to take a few more photos later today and tomorrow. Click on
Snow in Grand Rapids MI to access the photos.

A lot of miles driven since my last post. I'm currently in Dallas, Texas. The photo was taken a few days ago, and shows me and my 'first truck' - a 2005 Volvo. The Volvo is a really nice tractor - automatic transmission (manual 10-speeders, it will spoil you fast), enough muscle for a 'maxed out load', lots of cubby holes and storage bins, a very comfortable sleeping berth, and lots of extra features I enjoy. I've added a coffee maker, air purifier (for diesel fumes and cigarette smoke removal), Coleman dc-powered cooler, 200-watt power inverter, a cb radio, and a 13-inch color tv/dvd, plus a few miscellaneous trucking related tools.

On the right side are links to my photo galleries at Flickr! Hope you enjoy the photos!

Later!

Jim

HAZMAT test

Yesterday I made a 92 (2 incorrect answers out of 30 questions) on the Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) test at the local North Carolina DMV drivers license bureau office, which is required to obtain the HAZMAT endorsement on my NC CDL class A license. This endorsement will be added to my license as soon as the background check is complete, NC DMV is notified, and I'm back in North Carolina for a visit to the license bureau.

Yesterday I also purchased a sleeping bag, a collapsible suitcase, a pair of comfortable work boots, and a Rand McNally Motor Carriers Road Atlas - items suggested by P.A.M. to include in the stuff I take on my road trip with my driver-trainer.

Today I will make the daily check-in call to P.A.M.'s student liason to receive an updated status of P.A.M.'s processing of my new employee paperwork. At this point in time, my October 8th pick-up date may be delayed for a day or more.

I am now ready for pick up, and to continue driving toward this new horizon in my career and life!

Photos from Newport, Arkansas - post four

Another blog and photos (by Joe Staebell) for the three weeks of truck driver training at Arkansas State University in Newport, Arkansas (ASU-N). Click on one of the thumbnail photos to open a new web page and to display a larger version of that photo.


Photos of the 'Serpentine Backing' practise station.





In the above photo, the student has positioned the tractor-trailer rig between the leftmost and center barrels. The student's next steering adjustments will position the rig to the left of the center barrel and angled toward the space between the center and rightmost barrels. The starting position of the rig was parallel to the the line of three barrels, with the trailer bumper approximately 6 feet to the left of the leftmost barrel and two feet away from the barrel line.




In the above photo, the student is backing the tractor trailer rig between the central and rightmost barrels. When completed, the rig will be positioned parallel to the line of three barrels with the tractor bumper approximately six feet to the right of the rightmost barrel.




Shown in this photo are two of the range instructors: Dennis standing beside the golf cart; Bobby Joe seated in the golf cart. The instructors used golf carts and other small 4-wheelers to travel the range. During a typical day on the range, a student walked a mile or two on the range, walking from car parking area to range truck parking area, to/from the range's break room/bathroom building, etc. By the 2nd week of training, instructors usually allowed students to drive their range rig to/from the break room/bathroom.


Additional photos will be added ASAP..!

Photos from Newport, Arkansas - post three

Another blog and photos (by Joe Staebell) for the three weeks of truck driver training at Arkansas State University in Newport, Arkansas (ASU-N). Click on one of the thumbnail photos to open a new web page and to display a larger version of that photo.




Another view of the driving range at ASU-N. The WW-2 airfield provided lots of flat, solid and unobstructed space for students to practise various driving skills. This photo shows traffic lanes delineated by a line of barrels on the left and right sides of the runway. In the middle are 3 practise stations for the Serpentine Backing exercise. In the background on the left side is the 'angled barrel dock' practise area. In the background, middle of photo, is a rig parking area and the 'angled alleyway dock' practise area. On the right side of photo is the 'straight-line backing between trailers' practise area.





This view shows a portion of the runway shown in the previous photo, and the 'angled barrel dock' practise area in the background.






This view shows a tractor-trailer rig at one of the 'angled barrel dock' practise stations. Joe took the photo while in the driver's seat of a tractor.

Additional photos will be added ASAP..!

License transfer and background check.

Yesterday I transferred my Arkansas CDL Class A license to a North Carolina CDL Class A license via trip to the local NC DMV office. As prerequisite for the transfer, I took a brief eye examination to test my visual acuity and my recognition of commonly used highway signs. The yellow pennant-shaped sign stumped me for a few minutes - the 'No Passing' sigh placed on the left side of a highway.

Today I completed an online application (via the 'TSA HazPrints' website) for a background check to be conducted by/for the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) and was digitally finger printed - both prerequisites for receiving a Hazardous Materials endorsement on my CDL Class A license.

More photos will be blogged tomorrow.

Photos from Newport, Arkansas - post two

During the next few days, I will post blogs and photos for the three weeks of training at ASU-N in Newport, Arkansas. The photos are provided by Joe Staebell, a classmate and fellow graudate of ASU's 'Truck Driver Training Institute'. Click on one of the thumbnail photos to open a new web page and to display a larger version of
that photo.

A view of part of the 'practise range' at ASU-N. The range is located on a portion of an airfield built in the early 1940s. The range consists of several (12 or more) practise stations. Each practise station is set up with 55-gallon plastic barrels to delineate and to outline barriers and obstructions. Our instructors encouraged their students to imagine the barrels as buildings, street corners, tractor-trailer rigs, etc. Fortunately, whenever a student knocked over a barrel with their trailer . . . it was ONLY a barrel and NOT the side of a trailer, building, fire hydrant, a person's body. In order to graduate, a student was required to complete each practise maneuver without knocking over barrels. Driving skills practised on the ASU-N driving range: 100-foot straight-line back Right-hand turn Angled barrel dock 100-foot straight-line back between two trailers. Angled alleyway dock between 53-foot trailers. Serpentine backing. This maneuver required the student to back the tractor-trailer rig through and around three barrels that were placed along a straight line and spaced approximately 70 feet from each other, like this "o----o----o". The path the rig followed is described as serpentine and looks something like "----\__/----". Using the "o----o----o" as the exercise course, the rig's start position was parallel to and above the lefmost "o" with the rear of the trailer approximately 6 feet to the left of that barrel and approximately 2 feet away from the 'barrel line'. The student backed the rig between the leftmost and the center barrel; then, backed the rig between the center and rightmost barrels. The end position of the rig was correct if the tractor's bumper was approximately 6 feet to the right of the rightmost barrel and parallel to the 'barrel line'.

One of the 'range trucks' we drove - this one, a Volvo automatic with 53-foot dry van. There were approximately 32 range trucks available to students. Most tractors had a 10-speed manual transmission, air brakes, power steering, and was coupled to a 53-foot dry van or flat-bed trailer.

In the foreground is an 'angle barrel dock' practise station. Beyond this station are three other angle barrel-dock stations. Not a lot of room to manuever the tractor - trailer in front of the dock. The 'rig' was positioned at an angle to the dock. Imagine a clock that shows a time of 10:25. Substitue the tractor for the short hand on the clock; the trailer for the long hand. That was the position of the rig at the start of the backing maneuver. Zero points was a perfect grade for this maneuver. Points were added for going into a barrel-outlined area, for staying too far away from the barrel corner during the right-hand turn leading into the angle dock area, for knocking over barrels, for not positioning the trailer's bumper within a two-foot zone at the back of the docking slot.

A view of the practise station for the '100-foot straight-line back between two trailers' exercise.

Additional photos will be added ASAP..!

Photos from Newport, Arkansas - post one

During the next few days, I will post blogs and photos for the three weeks of training at ASU-N in Newport, Arkansas. The photos are provided by Joe Staebell, a classmate and graudate of ASU's 'Truck Driver Training Institute'. Click on one of the thumbnail photos to open a new web page and to display a larger version of that photo.

The apartment in Newport AR where I lived while not in school. Class began at 6:00 AM and ended at 5:00 PM, 7 days per week. Not a lot of free time at the apartment at the end of a WORK DAY! A good schedule, though, and no complaints from me. I wanted to attend a tough and demanding driving school, and ASU-N is that, with lots of 'driver humor', tips and valuable anecdotal information, care and support by ASU-N instructors and staff.

The apartment in Newport AR where I lived while not in school.

The apartment in Newport AR where I lived while not in school.

Mission accomplished!

Another card id in my wallet - an Arkansas CDL Class A license - valid for 90 days. This should be enough time to transfer the license to North Carolina 'home' registration with N.C. Haz-Mat endorsement.

After 29.5 hours OTR via Greyhound - and brief visits to a dozen or more bus terminals - I'm back in Graham, N.C. Friday, September 29th, was a very 'long' day for me: started with alarm clock at 4:00 AM and ended Saturday night at 10:00 PM with lights out and sleep. For me, on this trip, bus naps were a mote point.

Photo uploads for the three weeks in Newport Arkansas will be delayed for a few days. Joe, who shared the Newport apartment and one of 23 ASU-N TDTI (Truck Driver Training Institute) graduates, took 75+ photos and will send most of these to me ASAP. When I receive them, I will upload same to this blog.

A few days to relax, take care of personal business, and prepare for pick-up by a P.A.M. Transportation Services' driver-trainer on/after October 8th.

In an earlier blog post, I stated that I was to drive for USA Trucking. I switched to P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. while at ASU-N.

If you have questions and/or comments about this blog, send me an email at brojws@gmail.com - or, simply to let me know you're reading my blog. Thanks!

Later.

Jim

Have Greyhound, Will Travel

So, if one does not want to spend close to $1,000 for airfare, the next best travel alternative is Greyhound Lines (trans-USA bus company). For this particular trip, I prefer Greyhound's $136.00 fare for the trip from Greensboro NC to Jonesboro AR. The return fare in only $81.00 if booked 7 days prior to departure date.

Compared to air travel, some of the VERY desirable aspects to travel by bus are: 1) I will NOT be a potential candidate for a randomly selected 'strip search' by bus station security personnel; 2) I can board the bus WITHOUT taking off my shoes for x-ray examination; 3) I can observe the handling and storage of my luggage; 4) I will be able to actually see recognizable land features - not a high-altitude abstract collage; 5) I will only be a few feet off the ground, within easy step-off or jump-off distance (good to know for both normal and emergency action); 6) my ears will probably not have to adjust to changes in altitude; 7) the baggage claim area is 'at the bus'; 8) there will probably be fewer people waiting to use the onboard toilet.

In 4 hours (at 1300), I will board a Greyhound bus in Greensboro NC for the 'one day and forty-five minute' trip to Newport AR - arriving at 12:45. The trip (1,158 miles) will include stops at a dozen or so stations along the way, and three transfers to a different bus. I anticipate taking several brief naps during the trip - not really a sound sleep; hopefully, refreshing respites of rest for body and mind (especially the eyes).

My next blog will probably be after September 30th, after my return to Graham NC and completion of my three weeks of ASU (Arkansas State University) training in Newport. After my return, I will go to the local NC Drivers License Bureau, take the North Carolina 'Hazardous Materials Endorsement' test, and have the 90-day Arkansas CDL class A driver's license (issued at the end of ASU training) transferred to a North Carolina CDL class A license. Once that is complete, I will call USA Trucking to schedule my pick-up by one of their driver-trainers, to begin an additional 4 to 8 weeks of one-on-one driver training in company truck with company instructor.

Photos and text in my next blog post.

Please say a prayer for me - that all goes well with training, tests, everything!

Take care,

Jim

In the beginning...

What do I want to do? Where do I want to go? Life decisions! Change! Need a job! Need a place to live! Need . . . need . . . need! For the moment (days, weeks), my "wants" have very low priority. Currently owning just a few things - 2 suitcases filled with clothes and misc. stuff, a laptop, a computer printer - has its advantages: less stuff to haul around, to be concerned about, to give away or sell one day.

At 59, I've lived a really good life and I'm trying to figure out the best way (for me) to continue to do just that! I believe I have found a way to do all of the "above" and have fun, travel the USA, be employed with benefits, and be physically active.

I hope to become an OTR (Over The Road) truck driver during the next few weeks. Sometime today I should receive a "go/no-go" decision from a truck driving school. If it's a "go" . . . I will start a 3-week training course on September 11th. If it's a "no go" . . . I will continue to look for an OTR opportunity!

Being an OTR truck driver is not a new idea for me. I was in the process of applying to a truck driving school a year ago when I got a chance to travel to Greece and visit a good friend who lives on the island of Crete. Crete was okay and it is REALLY good to be back in the USA.

Driving a vehicle larger than an SUV is not new to me. I drove a school bus during 3 of my high school years. I drove a converted Trailways bus for a couple of years in my early 20s while I pursued a career as a musician (bass guitar) in a rock-n-roll band (mostly Motown, soul, r&b, beach music).

I like to travel, be on the move, visit new places, experience living in different locales. I spent a few weeks last year travelling the USA in a Chevy van which I bought and 'fixed up' for that purpose (I sold the van to pay for travel to/from Greece).

As a first post, perhaps I should tell you that I hope to update this blog as often as possible (once or twice a week) with text, links and photos. Eventually I hope to have a digital camera mounted inside the truck cab and have it set up so that I can concentrate on driving and easily trigger the camera to take a photo of whatever is of interest in front of me. I should be able to use my laptop computer whenever I am within WIFI range at truck stops (and other locations) to post new blogs and photos.

That's the game plan at this point. Hope it all works out . . .AND. . . I hope that God will help me to always drive safely, on schedule, and comply with applicable state, federal, and company rules and regs. I believe in prayer and in keeping a good relationship with God.

Anyone interested in reading about OTR truck driving? Viewing photos of the USA from a truck driver's perspective? Having access to relevant links about OTR, truck driving, sights, highways, towns, cities, truck stops, people I encounter while driving/working? Then sign-up - subscribe - to this "Life OTR" blog! Okay? Thanks! Jim

***** Update @1510, 6sept06 *****

Thanks to 'Driver Solutions', I will begin class at Arkansas State University (ASU) in Newport on September 11th. I will work for USA Trucking - based in Van Buren Arkansas.

I will travel to Newport via Greyhound bus - airfare is too expensive.

Links in the sidebar are to websites for companies, the school and towns mentioned in this blog.

I am EXCITED..!!!

YEAH!!!!!!

Later,

Jim

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