Duluth, MN

Since I last emailed these are the cities I've gone to. (Whiting, WI - Waseca,MN - Easgan, MN - Duluth, MN - Cloquet, MN - Brainerd, MN and St Cloud, MN. I'm in St Cloud now picking up some scrap paper which I'll take to Duluth. I'm getting the hang of it. Much shorter trips. I call in at least 2 or 3 times a day. Mostly paper or paper products, although yesterday I hauled Coca-Cola products.

I have not been back to Red Wing this week yet. The other drivers have been very helpful with directions to businesses and advice about procedures.

I figured something out this morning. When I ran back in the '80's I used to run the city streets of South Mpls. That was enjoyable, but what really fascinated me was running up and down the alleys. Observing the back side of the city. Driving a truck feels the same. I see the back side of the city a lot and it is fascinating. It is not as well kept, usually older and a bit out of the way. Maybe it has to do with seeing beyond the facade. It seems a bit more real. Anyway, I find it fascinating.

I'm hoping to be home on Friday, but probably won't know until Friday morning.

Happy Birthday, Grandpa! What's it like being 90? - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Appleton, WI

I had a busy weekend once again before heading out last night from Red Wing. I'm in the process of taking a load of rolls of paper to Appleton, WI. I'll be delivering it this morning at 10:00 am.

Last week I was done driving on Thursday morning which was much sooner than I thought it would be. But, it turned out to be fortunate for me. When I got home I checked my banking accts online and discovered that someone had withdrawn money from savings acct. I quickly called the bank and after an hour of talking to a variety of officials discovered that someone in CO had posed as me and had withdrawn the funds. For the next couple of days I took care of business (ie - closed the checking & savings accts and opened up new ones, notified places where there were automatic payments, changed passwords, etc.). I will recover the funds withdrawn. I'm glad I had the time to deal with this.

I also spent time with Tristan. We signed him up for baseball this spring and summer, and he spent 3 nights with me which was wonderful. We saw the movie 10,000 BC which was better than I thought it would be.

I also watched the MN Girls High School Basketball Tournament on TV. My former niece, Caroline Haik played guard on the team that won the Class AAA tournament. That was fun. She is a good player.

I'm hoping I'll drive more miles this week than last, but we'll see. I'll be figuring out my brackets for the NCAA Basketball Tournament in the next few days. I hope you all had a good weekend and that this week will also be good for you. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Red Wing, MN

I spent last night at home once again. Not bad. After delivering the load in Lincoln, NE yesterday morning I called in for my next assignment. The dispatcher said to call back in an hour. So I did that. They then told me to drive to Omaha and call in. So, I did that. They then told me to drive to Des Moines and call in. So, I did that. Once again, they told me to drive to Clear Lake, IA (100 miles) north of Des Moines. So, I did that. Finally, they said to drive back to Red Wing and call at 8:00 am this morning. I arrived in Red Wing at 7:00 pm and had a nice evening.

As I was traveling back, I believe they were looking for possible loads on my return trip (backhauls). I was paid for the miles I drove (over 400 miles) so I didn't lose out on anything.
The weather was nice, the temperature was mild, the roads were dry and it was a pleasant drive. I was surprised to get home once again this week. I expect to drive the next couple of days, but as of yet I haven't received my next assignment.

Kara and Ben both emailed with info on what the 5th season in Cedar Rapids is. It is a season of the 'mind' where one appreciates the other 4 seasons. They sent specific references in case you are interested.

Grandpa's birthday is coming up next Wednesday, March 19th. He will be 90. His sister, Marge, just turned 89 this past Thursday, March 6th. They are 'Irish' twins. They were born within a year of one another. Happy Birthday to both of them. Greta's husband, Tom had a birthday on the 6th also. I think he is 42. I believe Crish, my nephew, was also born in March, but I don't remember the date. (Crish, be sure to let me know).

I hope your week has been good. I'll let you know where I head next when I find out. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Lincoln, NE

I started out on my own Sunday night at 8:30 pm from Red Wing. I took a load down to Cedar Rapids to be delivered at 11:00 am Monday morning (216 mi). After that I was sent to another company in CR to pick up a load of paper rolls (7 @ 6,000 lbs each) and they had me take that back up to Red Wing and drop it at the terminal there. I arrived at 5:30 pm.

My next assignment was to pick up a load in Mpls at 7:00 am this morning, so since I was in Red Wing I headed home for the night. That was a pleasant surprise. I'm guessing it won't happen very often.

I've picked up the load and am now heading south on I-35. It's 395 miles to Lincoln, NE. I'll be there sometime later this afternoon.

Where as with Schneider everything was done on computer, here at Monson I need to make phone calls to Dispatch to get my load and other information. They usually only tell you one thing at a time. For example, they say go to this location and when you are loaded call. When you call again they tell you where to take the load and possibly to call back in a couple of hours for the delivery time.

My truck is nice. It has 9 speeds instead of 10. It has 675,000 miles on it. It is not as deep as the Schneider trucks. The bed is right behind the seat. There are places for storage above the bed at either end of it. I've got my XM radio setup, a couple of books and my computer. I don't need much else. Oh, I forgot, and my Blackberry.

I'm guessing they'll send me right back to MN after I deliver in Lincoln. It is strange to think I'll be home as soon as this Friday. So far, it is working out well.

I noticed in CR that they call themselves the City of 5 Seasons. I'm curious what the 5th Season is. Do they have two winters? Does anyone know?

I hope you have a great week. I'll let you know where I'm headed next. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Red Wing, MN

Well, I finished my 'Check' ride and my day of orientation. I got back to Red Wing last night and will find out Saturday afternoon when I'll need to make my first pickup/delivery.

I did well on my 'Check' ride. The trainer was used to drivers right out of a training program. My having a year of experience was very helpful.

I was assigned my own truck, #452. It's at the terminal in Red Wing. I'll put some of my stuff in it this weekend. I received my ID card which gets me into the terminal. They don't have T-shirts or sweat shirts with Monson on it, but I did get a cap.

I talked to some other truckers who were interested in why I was switching from Schneider to Monson. They also seemed impressed with my experience. It looks like a good company. Much, much smaller than Schneider, but well run. They primarily pickup up paper, pulp, scrap, etc. It looks like I'll be doing border crossings into Winnipeg and Ontario from northern MN at times.

I'm not used to driving with someone and carrying on a conversation for a period of time, so Tues and Wed were different. I wasn't able to send my allotment of emails or make any phone calls. Nor did I have the alone time I'm used to. I'll be looking forward to that.

Greta drove Tristan to my place last night and he was there when I got home. It was good to see him. He spent the night and I took him to school this morning.

I'll let you know where I'm headed when I get the news tomorrow. Hope you all have a good and satisfying weekend. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )

Mendota, IL

I started with a different trucking company this morning. (Monson). As I mentioned before, it has a terminal or operating center in Red Wing. I'm now in the process of a 2 day 'Check Ride'. I'm driving with a Monson driver who is checking out my driving skills and teaching me the procedures that Monson has and the paperwork that needs to be filled out. I met him at 8:00 am in Red Wing. We picked up an empty trailer at the terminal there and headed to Fridley, MN (an inner suburb of Mpls) and picked up a load of rolls of paper. We than left for Mendota, IL which is 40 miles south of Rockford. We arrived in Mendota at 8:00 pm this evening.

I drove the whole time and adjusted to the new truck quite quickly. It is an International. Schneider had Freightliners. Everything in the truck is a bit different. Gauges are in different places as well as switches. The clutch and brake have a different feel to them. I need to shift at different speeds and rpm's. The mirrors are different. The steering wheel is bigger. The seat doesn't have as much 'cush'.

I must say though that the driving is the same and many procedures with the truck are the same. (Hooking up to a trailer, backing up to the dock, moving the trailer tires forward or back. )

The man I'm driving with is 64 and has been driving for 11 years. He is very nice. He has 2 children and 5 grandchildren. He owns an Apple computer and listens to NPR so we have things in common. I'll drive with him again tomorrow.

After delivering in Mendota tomorrow at 6:00 am we then drive down to Normal, IL and picked up a load of scrap paper which we will take up to Duluth by tomorrow afternoon. I'll spend the night there and on thursday have a day of orientation and then return to Red Wing late thursday afternoon.

Tonight, Monson is putting me up at a motel which is nice. I'm on my computer now, but will fall asleep soon.

I hope you all are doing well. I'll let you know how this time of adjustment goes. - James (Jibs - Dad/Papa )