General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: A Fitting Final Gift From Jimmy Carter [View all]NowISeetheLight
(3,987 posts)New England is great. In the 90s I drive OTR semi for several years. It was my first "real" job after years of trying to survive after leaving the Navy. I was able to be alone.
The job wasn't easy, crazy hours, not enough money and living in a truck is different. But the travel was incredible. I visited Maine one fall as the leaves were changing. It was just beautiful. I kept a map in the truck and by the end of my driving career I'd been to 49 states and six Canadian provinces. I also drove on nearly all interstate highways in the US.
The longest run I had was picking up one of those play palaces in Illinios for a new restaurant in Juneau. It was a Burger King I think. I had to deliver to a pier to offload and a boat took it over. It was only 8000 pounds so an easy load. One other run I had was over Christmas week. I loaded in Connecticut and delivered in Sacramento six days later. I was late as I was stuck on Elk Mtn in Wyoming on I80 for two days at a rest stop due to snow. I don't miss the hours but I do miss the freedom.