Profile For 87Wrangler

Thanks…Yeah I like the old stuff, new is nice but the vintage is what I really like

Here is the outside.Inside photos soon

Hello guys Things are going well and making much more sense…stress levels are lowering as well…everything is improving even the new little camper everything except my being tired all the time!!! LoL Need two of me!! Just checking in

Trying again with the photo and was trying so say "massive inside and out cleaning"

Home photos are not loading again!! so they must be in the gallery lol

Hello Everyone......just a quick update

Things are going well but have been very busy with the trucking. I had my first review and it was good. Just want me to continue working on learning the routes, finding the delivery locations and what to do if I miss a turn. It is getting better, they even told me that they want me!! LOL It was a good thing to hear. He said when you came her zero experience after two weeks with trainer zero experience and after one month still no experience but am improving and getting faster. As usual I am doing my best, and have always been a little slow out of the gate until I get things figured out. Then move over cause I am coming through!! LOL

I really appreciate you guys and will try to do a better job on updates. I have been all over Wisconsin and Minnesota finally broke 600 miles the other day with two drops and a pick up...felt pretty good. They pay is consistent and good which is nice to have again after all of the ups and downs. I did purchase a new to me camper after they told me that I will not be able to make it this winter in a pop up. Period!! That they were not going to worry about me trying to do so and to find a place. Most things I looked had high rent. Not much available honestly and can't see paying to heat a place I am not going to be at but a couple days a week.

So instead, found my dream camper she is vintage just like me and am currently installing 2" foam insulation on all the outside walls and roof. She needs a little work but I love it. Now have a full bathroom and kitchen. The pop up has a cassette toilet and shower but you have to use a curtain so this is much much better and has a full size toilet and small corner sink. It is small/cozy but will be easy to heat and the price was right. Got it last weekend and after fixing about 5 water leaks on the plumbing, a roof leak and massive inside and out. Got all of the appliances up and running after much cleaning and repairing all of the thermocoupels. I was able to spend the first night in her Saturday night. Slept like a baby... My plans are unchanged and going to continue with my dream which used to be our dream and try to purchase a little land next year to move the campers too and eventually build a house with my bare hands.

Also did find a place about 100 yards from the terminal to park both campers for just 20 bucks a month. So I do not have to leave my popup at the yard anymore. They have been great but do not expect them to have to do that for me. Plus did not want the other guys to think I was getting special treatment. It was so nice to unhook the water and electric and leave the campground in about 15 minutes as opposed to the 1.5 hr set up and takedown with the pop up. I love her too but man a lot of work to set up and take down.

Anyway hope you guys are all doing well. I am still hanging in there!!

Thanks Glen for the comments and support......it is really appreciated! We really are all part of a family full of a great group of people... I can honestly say I can see what made my uncle love trucking, it was the only job he ever had outside of the military. I am grateful to be a part of it. There are so many who want to be and cannot for many reasons! You guys hang in there and I am here if you need me too!! OK

To the millions...You are not going to believe this...It is like a revelation, something you probably will not fully understand until you actually do it, but here goes: when trucking " you work and sleep"

I mean I have worked hard all of my life. But this is mental, physical, requires patience, endurance, common sense, street smarts, a perception or communication outside of normal sensory capability, as in telepathy and clairvoyance AKA "ESP" and even a little luck sometimes...lol

Why does everyone seem to think and act as tough you have been there and a little mumbling and a finger point is sufficient. Directions seem to usually be for how you would walk or drive a car or bicycle right up to the front door.....Does anyone else think of the song give me 40 acres and I will turn this rig around just before making a turn that the office suggested that looks like it needs a weed eater, tree trimmer, a few cars towed, and 25 spotters when just a block back your gps was screaming turn left and it looked like an interstate? lol

One day this week my gps was screaming turn right, google maps said go straight and my navigation app was saying turn left? I was at the right road but NO SIGN AT ALL... I just stopped at the red light put on my flashers and hopped out and asked the nice lady walking is this Washing Street? Still didn't want to take the turn but did It was very tight but made it ok.....However when I pulled out of the warehouse I went down one more block to the interstate looking one and was glad that I did. I am learning slowly but do not want to have to call for a crane to turn me around if I am off route even by one block and it is probably the most stressful part of my job right now. Simply doing the right thing feels more like a crap shoot in trucking for me sometimes!! lol Had a several 20 hour days with four tarps that absolutely wiped me out! Its tough, but I still like it and am learning more each and every day. I have lost even more weigh and this time it is not due to sickness but is called flat bedding this time the fat has turned into a little muscle! Flat bedding is a better workout than insanity ANNE!! LOL. This job is routine and so that is what I am working on. Which includes everything from trip planning, to what is needed or not needed on the truck. A healthier diet that does not require a pressure washer to clean up the mess, even how to take a quick shower out in the middle of no where when you needed one 4 days ago....

Oh.....Does anyone else have dispatch calculate the hours you have a little on the positive side when in reality you can probably make it but by the skin of your teeth? I am finding we all have a job to do and it really is a team effort. Everyone works hard in the trucking business including the guys in the office and shop, but it is us who seem to be under the microscope most of the time and its us that either makes or breaks all of the planning, which is another stressful area for me, simply because I do care and what to do a good job, for all of us to be happy and make money!

Hey Pack Rat...hpe all is well with you and please share to the millions that I still love flat bedding and one day hope to be very good at it! Load securement is an ART, one that requires teaching! I love it when I can hop in and not worry about the load. What an awesome feeling when you about an hour out stop to stretch and to check the load to find that nothing moved and will barely take one more click on the winch!! AND drum roll PLEASE

This is the first week I have been able to let a check ride!! OH YEAH BABY!! Its finally coming together in that respect too!! I am so thankful, you guys have no idea the hell I have been through to be able to finally say that!! Thank you again to everyone that has followed and offered not only to help but I know you actually mean it.....if you are a true trucker you are a part of a great family.....mean it guys and thanks again and forgive the delay I really was tired, but did get a long weekend but had to use most of it getting ready for the following week....you guys no how that goes right?

Even splurged and purchased a new pair of work boots this weekend.........usually try to spend extra on family when I have it, but they were 4 years old and absolutely worn out and needed to be replaced a couple years ago!

Hello Everyone, just a quick update.

Had a pretty good week and scored the weekend off. I needed it, trucking is great but exhausting. One time I turned around because I was reading the directions coming from the west and the directions were from the east. So wrong turn, but did not panic just looked around for a few seconds chose a spot a couple yards down the road and turned around. I am still very aware of all that is around me, how big this truck is, but the anxiety is starting to leave and it is becoming more of a challenge!

I still have so much to learn, but swapped out dry van to flatbed several times meeting drivers the last couple days I am starting to get a routine that I am starting to follow each and every time dropping and hooking. I can for the most part do both in around 10 to 12 minutes now with a good pretrip. The maps are becoming easier to understand and sticking in my head better, plus have hammer on the phone now, gps and a hand written list of turns with average miles to exits. Helps so much. Still do not like it when Gordon Rd. cannot be found because it is now HH but was Gordon when I got there in an old green barely visible sign, but HH was huge??? I still made the turn, I just slow down hit the flashers and find it when I know I am close to exits that are in question.

Also blind sided off the highway into a small road cutting back into me with only two pull ups. One of the guys showed me how to open the small window in the sleeper to help you see better! Woohoo

Still struggling when I just ride up to hit a spot without doing the 12 to 9 to 45 or like coming from the wrong side but have room out front. I seem to always hit the middle??? lol Also l hitting the S pattern into truck parking at rest areas better. Also coming onto ramps at a better speed and timing than before. I am still liking it very much, but appreciated being able to get away from the truck a couple days. Pay was very good as well!!!!!!!! What a blessing!!

Such a beautiful morning...makes me happy to be alive and a part of this big beautiful world we live in. It is sometimes easy to forget all we have been given. The simple joys in life like this are something money can never buy!

Good Moring to everyone watching the thread. I made much better time coming back. Was able to fuel, wash windows, and shower in the same time it took me to get there on Wednesday, and that was after up at 4am unloaded 3 trailers with a crane, rolled up 4 traps and did not leave until around 4pm and drove back over 400 miles, go in around 11pm. So I figured out the advice I was given by several which is a very key element watching every sign and when you do things make more sense and do not give the shock factor I was having each time a new addition comes up or navigating an exit. It also helps with lane position. I really thought I was but was focused on so much around me because I was in such a nervous state I was honestly having trouble just keeping the road I am supposed to be on and the next road in my mind.

I used to have nerves of steel but something has changed a little now things seem to shake me up a bit more than need be. Hopefully once I finally get things going in the right direction, my confidence will return. I am praying for that. It just felt like this was do or die and that is a large burden to carry after all of the other in the last three years life has thrown at me. That was not a problem yesterday, I did not have to keep rechecking my notes. Was very smooth coming back. I have a beautiful photo of my office yesterday morning I will try to upload.

The driver I met and worked with yesterday invited me to come hang out with him and some friends to fish, ride 4 wheelers and just have a good time tomorrow. So I think I will, maybe a little fun instead of fighting constant battles will do me some good. Thanks again Anne and family and those watching my thread who commented.

Well made it no problems this time but should have topped off the fuel before leaving...out in the middle of nowhere but have enough I think. Followed my signs no closed exits was much better! Maybe my nerves are calming down a bit as well. I was feeling very overwhelmed to say the least but got a good nights rest and unloading now!!

What I meant to say is I can see the actual road, but not the name or number on my maps but have not idea how to used the information. BTW whats up with the same road changing names 22 times....that gets nerve wracking too. Its the same dang one and the route I am on the sign just keeps getting smaller and smaller? Makes me nervous to say the least because I have already learned you DO NOT want to miss a turn.

Thanks guys...really I mean it. It seems I am meant to be alone for a reason? But the trucking thing is kicking my you know! I am so happy driving straight with no exits withing 100 miles....love it then, my first few days have been filled with closed exits, few wrong turns, missed locations, ect. the maps seem somewhat incomplete to me. For example ext 249 was closed in Minnesota so what do you do? I have no idea SO I pulled over to scope out a bridge sending me back up 94 east but could not make the turn the bridge cut back into me. Traffic everywhere, if I would have had my sawzall I would have made that turn, but the sign blocking me wouldn't have. Not so funny thing is f I would have just went around the curve just before St. Paul the other detour sign was about 1000 yds away. LOL so crisis averted but I was sweating bullets.

Then missed a so called truck stop that was actually a convivence store with about 10 truck spots blocked from view by the building. You just cant tell me truck stop and expect me to be focusing on a small convivence store my mind doesn't work that way, especially when I am surrounded by traffic my mind just ignored it. I am finding that traffic for sure does not allow you to scope things out coupled with not being able to make a quick decision and act? I have to get better with directions, because my GPS routed me into an industrial complex dead end which narrowed down? I backed up about 500 ft and made two right turns with a gnats you know between my my trailer and guy wires, signs poles and missed a van by 2 cm to make the second one? My gosh my first day sucked, but I made it with no dents dings or abrasions except to my emotional health.

Next day wasn't much better routed me to the wrong building needed to turn left instead of right off 39 north but this time stayed a little more focused and it was early in the morning so I found a nice shopping center to turn around in and figure out what went wrong, but was a few minutes behind my schedule, but it all worked out. When I called the A.H. to ask what to do that I was meeting he said dont know I am not there yet running late and hung up on me. Now this morning I am headed to Iowa down 94 for again, and I am already wondering about exit 249 and what to do. My maps do not help and and do not even say 694S I do sed 494 W but not much help here, yes they are new Rand's. Maybe I need to go to a map class. I can see what the gps is trying to do, but many roads on the map are just not there or visible to me anyway. I am still liking it this has become another challenge that I will hopefully overcome with time, I keep telling myself that if others can do it so I. Man missing a turn really does blow!

Thanks Anne and family, I really do appreciate it and mean that maybe I am just meant to be alone? Hope not but maybe.......she is gone, guess she found another, not sure, but usually what happens. I can live with what I have done by her, she is a grown woman and I am not one to beg. I cant help but feel thats what she wants feels like some kind of sick power play. Love me one minute to this? I really do think she is going to miss the best part, because all I needed from her was to hear good job, you can do this? That's it? and that is something I will not forget after being a good, very good provider for all these years.

Hello everyone, so after a couple days off....not really; I have the usual case of too much to do and not enough time to do it. However one thing I did get complete is ole red running better than she has in a long time maybe ever. What a relief. The fuel pump pit stop somewhere in Kentucky on the side of the road was a step in the right direction but did not change the flat pedal or slow top speed, but now I have to let out of her. Wooohoooo...The fuel filters were the problem. So wish I would have figured it out sooner making the trip here would have been much smoother. I am so thankful she is back too. I was able to get my Kenworth partially set up over the last few days, but I am sure this will be a learning as I go process. I am leaving out headed towards Denver on my first solo trip, with a step deck which is also my first early tomorrow morning. I will try to keep you guys posted.

I have the trip plan ready to follow, loaded in my gps and am excited and nervous to say the least. My gps was fun to try to find a place for the large screen makes it kind of tough but think it will be ok for the time being, but the center of the dash area is out. It blocked half of my field of view. Things you just do not consider until you experience it. I am considering putting the camper up tonight and sleeping in the truck so I can just wake up and go. I haven't decided yet, and kind of want my first night in her to be on the road. LoL

Seems like a lifetime to make it here, but have. Thanks to all of you again!

BTW and to make all things wonderful the wife wants out? According to her I was successful when we met but not now? We planned this together and I followed through as fast as I possibly could. If she had any idea as to what I have been through mentally, physically, and emotionally. I am still recouping from an all around beat down, from a flood taking my home, covid plandemic taking my job, rock mtn. spotted fever, a broken ankle ect. then covid for the third time and a bad case of it, she would realize that I am successful not to mention a survivor and man who never quits, or stops doing the right thing even in the face of absolute and constant mean and nasty life changing adversity. Honestly, at one point I did not even think I was going to live, but I will not try to change her mind, she is a grown woman. However, I do know down deep that she is going to miss the best part! So guess this really is a new chapter in my life and on the flip side now I will be able relate to many many more trucking songs!! LoL

Delivery early this morning.....back to yard for small meeting and was issued my First Truck! Her she is!! Will probably be going on my first load Sunday!! Can you believe it??? Finally after all of the hard work!!! She is getting a bath, my inverter and cb installed as we speak..Already stuck my microwave in the cabinet!! Camper set up and in Ahhhhhh!! Finally mode for a few days...Photos are going to profile again? Followed all steps twice just like last time?

You too pack rat