Recient Books I have listened to

Yes, I know I have been gone from my Blog for quite some time. No apologize just to much happening in my personnel life.
Enders Shadow, by Orson Scott Card, is a very interesting book. It held my attention from the moment I started listening to it. This book is science fiction (futuristic), the story line evolves around Earth at war with an alien planet. The military picks the smartest children and educates them in the art of war. This episode follows one such child named Bean, as he progress's in his live and education. Far from a coming of age story, very intriguing and some what spellbinding.

Review of Wind in the Ashes, By WW Johnstone Read by Scott Fortney

William W. Johnstone is my favorite author, and has been for 20 plus years. I was stopped at a truck stop (Flying J) in Kentucky and while browsing the audio books. I saw a book "WIND IN THE ASHES" written by W.W. Johnstone , read by Scott Fortney, and published by Speaking Volumes of Santa Fe, New Mexico (www.speakingvolumes.us). I bought the audio book. This review is directed toward the reader (Scott Fortney).

As to my credentials: I love reading and listening to books. I have over 120 audio books an CD and Cassette, I also have over 41 gigs of downloaded audio books . This does not take into account all the books I rent and listen to. Although I am far from an expert I know what I like.

A good reader/performer can make or break a book. Scott does an excellent job with this book, as I suspect he does with most everything. It is easy to tell he enjoys this book and story line, for when a person enjoys their work they seem to do a better job. Scott makes the characters come alive, his enthusiasm for the story line and the characters is very evident. I have read this book several times and enjoyed it as much this time as I did the first time. To me it is important for the reader to be able to project himself into the character, this gives each one its own personality, Scott does this very well. He seems to live the characters, or give life to, I'm not
sure how to explain that.

I have and will continue to recommend books read by Scott Fortney. I am eagerly awaiting his next book. The Ashes series is a big favorite with the trucking community and the last time it was available it was a rental from Audio Adventures. The series was so popular it was hard to find the books to rent them. I am sure it will be as popular, if not more so, this time around.

Yes, I highly recommend this reader/performer. Stay with it Scott as I think you are doing an excellent work.

Truck Versus Turkey Truck wins

I was home from 3-12 thru 3-17 . While at home I got my CDL (drivers license) renewed. My first load was from Austin, Tx to Georgia, now for the turkey story.
I was driving along listening to Glen Beck (the best talk show host) as I crossed under an overpass in Ruston, La. a large Turkey flew from my right and hit my windshield
about 8 inches to the drivers side of center. I thought someone had thrown something from the overpass.
Over the years experience has taught me that when the unexpected happens, if no one is hurt or about to be hurt, do nothing until you evaluate the problem. This does not take long. If I had slammed on my brakes the cars behind me might have rearended me. Had I tried to miss the bird I could have, wrecked the truck, hit the overpass or hit another vehicle. As it was I turned on my flashers , slowed and moved to the shoulder of the road and stopped.
The turkey was flopping around in the highway, until a red dodge pickup put him out of his misery with his front tire.
Yes turkey's can fly.

How Truck Drivers are Trained

The trucking industry is in a continuous hiring mode, driver turnover is 100% or greater. Most of the larger trucking companys have their own training schools. With this article I will try to show how potential drivers are trained and in future articles, Why they do not stay in this industry.

CDL (Commercial Drivers License) training usually is from 3 to six weeks.

1. What does training consist of: my source of information is from students I know and have met over the years. and the web.

a. CDL permit training---need a permit before you can drive, just like drivers ed

b. Endorsement study---CDL has endorsements ie: tanks, doubles & triple trailers, hazmat, etc.

c. Job procurement---you have to know how to fill out an application

d. DOT hours of service---federal regulations which control how, when & if a driver can drive legally

e. Map reading/trip planning---roads, travel time, where you are to fuel, where to park to rest, & proper time management

f. DOT regulations--- federal rules which cover the transportation industry

g. Pre/post trip inspections--- federal rules require specific things to be checked daily

h. Accident reports---both how to report, & how to fill one out

This is just the basic classroom training, the driver training is done hands on and requires much more time. In my opinion driver training never ends. The schools I checked on the web require 120 hours of practical, behind the wheel training. Then the student goes (over the road) out with a driver trainer for 3 to 6 weeks. The trainers are certified by the company they work for, and have went through a course to learn proper training principles.

2. Most of the hands on school training involves:

a. different backing maneuvers

b. shifting the transmission---although several companys now have automatic transmissions in their trucks

c. pretrip/postrip inspections

d. turning corners

e. being aware of what is happening around your vehicle while you are driving, looking for hazards

f. night driving

g. crossing railroad tracks

h. lane changing

i. hooking up to a trailer & unhooking

j. how to merge on a ramp

k. space management---how to keep the area around your truck clear---front rear and both sides

l. learning the blind spots--- places the driver cannot see either though mirrors or by turning his head

m. bobtail---driving the tractor with out a trailer attached

This is at best just a partial list, basically just as in life training never ends.

Just for your information.

The world's most solitary tree is located at an oasis in the Tenere Desert in Central Africa. There's not one other standing tree within 31 miles. In 1960, it was smashed into by a truck.
( taken from truckinfo.net )

When Trucks Stop America Stops

Everyone knows the economy is bad right now. With this article I will attempt to show just how badly it effects the trucking industry.Most trucking companys pay their drivers by the mile, a few pay a % of the load value. So basically when we are not moving we are not getting paid. There are exceptions to that--we get layover pay after the first 24 hours, this amounts to about 1/4 of what could be made if we were hauling freight.

I delivered Tuesday in Baton Rogue, La. at 1:00 pm. I went to the closest truck stop to wait for my next load. At 3:00 pm my dispatcher told me to head for Houston, Tx. as there were no loads available for me in Baton Rogue. While in route to Houston I
received load information for a load from Houston to Sorrento, La. approximately 284 empty miles and 296 loaded. It was to deliver Thursday am. That load was canceled before I could get there. Next load was from Austin, Tx. to Allentown, Pa. 428 empty and 1649 loaded, this load also canceled. By this time I am very upset to say the least. I have now sat from Tuesday to Thursday without earning any pay to speak of. My next load, this is the one I am on, was to pickup in Houston Friday and deliver on Monday in Greenville, SC. 284 empty miles and 933 loaded. (the empty miles are from Baton Rogue to Houston) This means I will finish this week with 1200 miles less than I normally do, and 1500 less than I shoot for. Really hurts my paycheck.

Everything you buy has at one time been delivered on a truck, trains and ships cannot deliver to the stores, so when truck loads get slow or stop the economy is already in trouble. Another sign is when trucking companys quit hiring drivers. This industry typicallyhas a 110% turn over in drivers so they are hiring all the time just to keep the trucks full. None of the major carriers, that I know of, are hiring.
Several carriers are consolidating their freight lanes and closing terminals. As the compitation for loads progresses the price per mile,that the carries are paid, will drop. WHEN THE TRUCKS STOP AMERICA STOPS The produce that is in your nearest store did not come from your local farmer it came from Texas, California, Florida, Oklahoma even Mexico just to name a few. And it is the same with every thing in that store. I will try to keep this post alive so those who are interested can follow. Thanks

Alex Archer's Rogue Angle, from GRAPHIC AUDIO

First a little about me. I drive a truck for a living, picking up and delivering refrigerated freight all over the lower 48 states. Driving 8 to 11 hour per day gets very tedious. It is not boring as there is always some thing or some one getting crazy to keep you on your toes. I own well over 150 audio books, mostly Graphic Audio format. The Graphic Audio format I refer to is basically every thing that a movie has except the picture. That is to say they include sound effects and actors for each character.

Ok, now for the book, Rogue Angel number 1 Destiny. The heroine in this book is Annja Creed an archaeologist and researcher for a TV show Chasing History Monsters. Through a twist of fate she finds herself heir to Joan of Arc's mystic sword. She finds herself involved in countless adventures involving ancient treasures all over the globe.

Even though this series of books, currently up to #14, is action adventure. The author keeps a historic base through out the stories. The stories are fiction with enough reality to be believable. The author keeps you guessing what is going to happen next. The historic references are real, sometimes mythology although some would say that is historic also.
This is not a super hero type book, as Annja is not sure she believes that the sword she now has is real or not.

The main character has the same daily problems as everyone else. She lives in a loft apartment in New York City, and lives on a budget like normal people do. Her boyfriend is a NYC cop, he is unaware of her ability with Joan of Arc's sword.

Graphic Audio does a super job of producing this book in the graphic format. If you have never tried Graphic Audio, you are missing out on an adventure in audio books.

Trucks and cars Share the same road

People driving cars get upset with truck drivers, just as truck drivers get upset with people who drive cars.
Most of the problems , I believe stem from the lack of knowledge the general public has as far as trucks are concerned.
There are several things common to truck driving that are not common to car driving.

1. WIND -- effects trucks at least 75% more than cars---causing trucks to drift from one side of the lane to the other
2. STOPPING DISTANCE -- the distance is far greater for trucks-- a cars weighs approximately 2,000 pounds -- a truck 80,000 pounds
3. REAR VIEW -- a car has windows all around plus mirrors -- a trucker relies on his mirrors and even then has spots he cannot see
4. PARKING -- no comparison at all-- size alone says it all

Things to be aware of that will help us all.

1. when you pass a truck, always pass on the left if possible, get past do not linger beside a truck
2. do not tailgate a truck, when you are that close the driver cannot see you, and you cannot see anything except the back of his trailer
3. do not try to pass a truck on the right when it is turning--left or right-- the driver cannot see your car and might hit it
4. parking for trucks is hard to find---I know there are trucks stops and rest areas--DOT regulations require A driver to take a 10 hour break after working 14 hours or driving 11 hours (example: day starts at 10:00 am at midnight 12:00 am day ends) all parking areas are full so where do I park this 76 foot long beast--where ever I can safely get off of the road
5. A truck hauling hazmat must stop at all rail road crossing
6. The rubber from a blown truck tire (we call them gators) will tear up your car if you hit it , a truck has 18 tires the only ones that the driver is aware of immediately when they blow are the front tires, the other 16 might or might not cause an immediate problem when they blow out
7. please if you are going to drive 30 mph below the speed limit than do not get on a major highway. I see people almost every day on a 65 mph interstate driving 30 to 35 miles per hour, not that it slows up all the traffic but a truck tops a hill or rounds a curve and there is the slow vehicle, causing the truck driver to react by hard breaking or quick lane changing neither are good actions
8. dim you headlights when meeting an on coming vehicle, I try hard to see all around my truck so bright lights at night blind me
9. Most drivers will stop to help broke down motorist but should only do so when it can be done safely
10. we all need to share the road

Just a side note: there are several states that do not allow trucks to park on interstate ramps, there is probably a very good reason
for not allowing parking there. Most of those same states are closing rest areas, and have large parking areas in their state scales but will not allow trucks to park there overnight (or for their 10 hour mandatory break when it comes due. Kentucky will allow trucks to park in their state scales, and even provide facilities for truckers. North Carolina and two or three others only allow 2 hour parking so how are we to obey the law when there are more trucks on the highway then their are parking spots. Remember If you have it a Truck hauled it.

A Simple drivers review of the new W.E.B. Griffin book Black Ops

The new W.E.B. Griffin book BLACK OPS lives up to all of my expectations.

I rented Black Ops thru the Audio Adventures Book club, which has racks in most of the major truck stops/travel centers in the US. I usually rent at the TA, Loves, or Petro truck stops. The rental cost is $13.50 for that you get 19.5 hours of enjoyment, on 16 cds.

This book is the forth in the Presidential Agent Series. It is fiction that reads like real life. The characters are so real you feel as if they are old friends or enemies, maybe that is just me as I have read and listened to the previous three Presidential Agent books. It is very easy to tell the author does enormous amounts of research on his stories. He also puts a peace of himself in all his work.

How to review this book without saying to much?

It consists of the Presidents need for someone to work for him, without the drawbacks of all the other intel organizations getting involved.

There are other authors I think are just as good however;
they approach from a different stand point . They are W.W. Johnstone,
Vince Flynn,Brad Thor, Clive Cussler and last but certainly not least Don Pendleton .

Dick Hill reads the book and does a fantastic job.

The only thing that could make W.E.B. Griffin's books any better is to listen to them done in the GRAPHIC AUDIO format. Having audio actors preform each part and hearing the sound effects, truly does make it A MOVIE IN YOUR MIND.
I guess that is going to be on my wish list, out of the five listed above only two have their books preformed by Graphic Audio, WW Johnstone and Don Pendleton.
I would invite you to try out a Graphic Audio book and see what I am talking about. No I am not being paid by Graphic Audio or anyone else to say this. I just know the enjoyment I get from reading and listening to audio books. Check out GRAPICAUDIO.NET and download a sample of thier book. I have over 140 audio books, and the graphic audio format with audio actors beats them all. You can check out my site http://wwwtravelingaudio.com and link to all the above authors sites.

IF YOU READ MY BLOG PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT, EVEN IF TO SAY, HI
OR MAYBE TO TELL ME I AM WRONG YOUR PREVILAGE

Thanks for reading this remember IF YOU HAVE IT A TRUCK BROUGHT IT

HOW DRIVERS OPERATE

Today is Thursday, to bring this up to date I delivered my load to Shelbyville, Tn. Wednesday at 2:30 pm and was given another load. My next load picked up at 7:00 pm and delivered at 8:am Thursday.
Now to understand my situation, you need to know how the trucking industry works.

!. Drivers are given a set of rules they must follow( these are federal) very basically they are:
a. drivers can only work 14 hours without taking a 10 hour break
b. drivers can only drive 11 hours without taking a 10 hour break
c. drivers must maintain a written log showing their daily status both on and off duty
d. logs must show every change of duty status in excess of 15 minutes

2. Almost all drivers are paid by the mile; I make 42 cents per mile

Now my Wednesday work day started at 10:00 am -- plus 14 hours it will end at 12 midnight
(some factors can change this but as I said it is very basic)
I drove to my destination and unloaded at 2:30 pm then drove 15 minutes to get trailer washed
out and reload. I was not reloaded until 8:00 pm I still had 4 hours to drive before my 14 ran out.
Driving time to my destination was 7 hours----3 hours short
At midnight I sent a message (on quail com) to my night time dispatcher and informed him I was stopping to take a 10 hour break. (which means the load will not be delivered on time)

YES I SHOULD HAVE TOLD MY DISPATCHER WHEN I WAS PUT ON THIS LOAD THAT I COULD NOT MAKE IT ON TIME

However; I did not. Trucking company's have what they call planners--their job is to plan the use ofall assets (drivers and trucks) to get the most out of them. Can you see a lack of planning here?
Drivers are mostly responsible to regulate themselves as far as hours worked being logged properly.
When the freight gets slow and driver pay (remember paid by the mile) gets very low well!!!!!!!!
I was tired the roads were a little icy I obeyed the law, I got in trouble with my company.
You see truck drivers are put in a catch "22" situation---the need for income versus the DOT rules.
And planners and dispatchers know this as well. However; when a driver is caught in violation of DOT rules the driver is responsible to pay the penalty both in money$$$ and loss of time from work.
The company can also be fined so they do not get off scott free either.
Most planners and dispatchers don't realize we cannot put sleep in the bank and draw it out when we need it. If you look back at other entries you can see a drivers hours are not 9 to 5 but whatever is required to get the job done while staying with in DOT rules

BAD BEHAVIOR

Saturday afternoon I stoped at exit 26 on Interstate 70 in Ohio at the Wal-mart there. They allow trucks to park on the far side of thier lot. I parked next to a Celedon company truck, went in did my shopping and when I returned to my truck the Celedon truck driver was pulling out. He had thrown his trash out onto the parking lot, not just regular trash but a box of dirty pampers. This is part of what causes stores to refuse to let trucks onto thier property. I called his company and reported him. There is not reason for behavior like that.
Well I delivered my load in Bethleham, Pa. and reloaded at New Castle, De. This load delivers on the 4th in Shelbyville, Tn. I am parked at the Loves truck stop at Toms Brook, Va. tonight watching it snow again.

PEOPLE TRUCKERS HAVE TO DEAL WITH

Last night I was unloaded by 12:30 am. My next load was Smuckers in Cincinnati, Ohio. When I got there the shipping clerk at Excel (the people who run the trailer yard for Smuckers) was not really rude but very close to it. They have signs up that say DRIVER STOP HERE she had told me to stop 10 feet past that sign so she could see up in the trailer without getting out of her chair. It was to dark to see up in my trailer so she got mad at me. GO FIGURE. I dropped my empty trailer and picked up the loaded trailer it had 42987 pounds of product on it and the landing gear was cranked way to high, when I backed under it a large chunk of ice was knocked off the front of the trailer and blocked my king pin from locking; although it appeared to be locked (this caused a high hook --when the pin is on top of the lock instead of inside it) when I made a sharp turn to scale my load I lost the trailer no damage just a lot of work to crank the landing gear up high enough to get the tractor back under it. Easy for the spotter to use his truck as it has a lift on it. So I ask him to pick it up he told me he did not have time, and went back into the office to sit by the heater. Well I finally got it cranked up and got the fifth wheel lock reset, it was 05:00 am when I left.
We have to deal whith thes type people almost every day. THERE ARE HOWEVER A LOT OF VERY HELPFUL PEOPLE WE DEAL WITH ALSO. When it is 12 degrees and snowing a little help goes an aughful long way.

IN KENTUCKY

The snow is still falling and the tempature is 27 degrees here in north west Kentucky. My next load picks up in Cincinnati, Oh. tonight when I can get there(it is preloaded) and it delvers Friday afternoon in University Park, Il. (Chicago).

Pennsylvania uses cinders on their highways to help with traction on icy roads.
The problem with that is the cinders are black and blow in the wind and you cannot see anything at all. Last night I got behind a snow plow that was putting out said cinders, he did not have a tarp over his load so the wind was blowing them out and making visibility 0, I could not even see my mirrors. I was forced to stop in the middle of the interstate. Several cars had already stopped, it was a wonder there was not a collision. I let the plow get about a mile ahead and just followed carefully, he turned around at the Ohio line. Ohio uses salt but most times they do not plow the roads until the snow stops.

Tonight I rented the new W.E.B. Griffin book BLACK OPS. It just came out on Audio Adventures. I used the points I get on my Pilot card to pay for the rental. I truly wish GRAPHIC AUDIO and W.E.B. Griffin could get together that would be great.
This is the fourth book in the presidential agent series and it is great.

(SIDE NOTE): WHEN A DRIVER FUELS HIS TRUCK AT A TRUCK STOP HE IS GIVEN CREDIT OF 1 PENNY PER GALLON ON HIS CARD WHICH CAN BE USED AT THAT TRUCK STOP TO PAY FOR COFFEE, SCALES, OR JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE. EXCLUDING
LOTTERY AND LIQUOR

MORE TOMORROW, STAY SAFE

IN NEW YORK STATE IN THE SNOW

It is snowing here in New York state today, at least where I am. temp is 28 degrees. I am on my way to Hebron, Ky. Looks like I will be in bad weather all the way. I am due to unload at 23:30 Thursday night.
As usual in this kind of weather the interstate looks like a wreaking yard with all the accidents.

HOW DO TRUCK DRIVERS GET THIER LOADS?

Well today is Tuesday, I emptied out at about 10:30 this morning and by 10:35 I had recieved my next load. For those of you who do not know how this works I shall attempt to explane. Most trucking companys nowdays equip thier trucks with a Quail Com communication system. This system, to put it very simply, is like a dedicated E-Mail only it's limited to you and the company. (unless the driver wants to pay to have it opened as an e-mail account) They send me loads and the info I need to get the job done.
So I am empty and on my way to Waverly, NY to pickup to go to Hebron, Ky for Thursday night at 23:30 (11:30pm)
I is snowing and cold up here tonight, the prediction is for 3 to 6 inches of snow tonight.

JACKKNIFE

I am in the eastern part of our great nation today. As I write this I am parked at the TA truck stop at exit 7 on Interstate 78 in Bloomsburg, NJ. I have a load to take to Ballston Spa, NY. That's just north of Albany, NY. Or as they say up here, UP STATE NEW YORK.

Graphic Audio released a W.W. Johnstone book called JACK KNIFE just before Thanksgiving in 08 it is terrific.
No one captures the true spirit of America like William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone. Jackknife is their most pulse-pounding and timely thriller yet.

A sleeper cell of Middle Eastern terrorists are targeting the heartland: an all-American superstore on opening day, right outside of Fort Worth, Texas. The day after Thanksgiving. As insurance, the terrorists have also hidden a suitcase nuke somewhere in the store which they plan to detonate—a strike fifty times worse than 9/11 that will paralyze America.

The only thing stopping the kill-crazy terrorists is already inside the superstore—a truck-driving, former Special Forces op named John "Jackknife" McCabe. He's where the perfect terror plan is about to blow apart. Because Jackknife won't go down without a fight. And with this guy as leader, the terrorists will find their way to paradise a lot sooner than they think...

SMOKE JENSON (THE LAST MOUNTIAN MAN)

1: The Last Mountain Man

From his Missouri farm, the boy traveled west. In his hand was a Navy Colt given to him by Jesse James. By his side was the old mountain man named Preacher, who would teach young Smoke Jensen everything he needed to fight like the devil, and die like a man.

And in his heart...was vengeance.
His enemies destroyed everything he'd ever loved.
But they made one mistake.
They let Smoke Jensen live.

I listened to the first in a very well know series, The Last Mountian Man. The book is written by W.W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone, I have read the entire Last Mountian Man series, however listening to it in the GRAPHIC AUDIO format is like
reading it for the first time. I highly recommend both reading and listening to your favorite books, if they are available on audio. It is, as advertised, A MOVIE IN YOUR MIND in every seance of the word.
As a cross country truck driver there are many places mentioned in the story that I have seen, this adds tremendously to my enjoyment of the story.
The actors ,that do the characters, in the story bring it to life, you recognize their voice and know which character is speaking, before the narrator tells you.

UPDATE

Ok, well the problems with my truck seem to be fixed, for now. I put it in the Frieghtliner shop in Jackson, Ms. Monday. The first thing wrong, Dallas installed the wrong alternator. Second, the Texarkanna, Tx. Frieghtliner shop replaced the starter, before I got the truck, and wired it up backwards, which drove the whole eletronic system haywire. I got my truck out of the shop Wednesday about 09:00 am. I went to Collins, Ms. and picked up a load of fresh chicken, to delever in Houston, Tx. Thursday morning. After unloading Thursday morning I went to Sugarland, Tx and picked up a load for Scott, La, to be delivered Friday morning. Which catches up with today. I loaded in Saint Gaberial, La. and am currently bound for Mill City, Pa. for Monday morning delevery.

Back in the Shop

I am at Jackson, Ms. waiting for my truck to be repaired at Frieghtliner, again. The alternator that was installed at the Dallas Frieghtliner was the wrong one.

BAD LUCK OR JUST NO LUCK

Well I called the clinic where I was to go to get my mandatory drug test, of course they are closed on Saturday. So after much discussion and thought I was dispatched on a
load picking up in Ft. worth and going to Robert, La.
My alternator, on my new truck, is still not working properly.
I am at Robert, La. setting at a Wal-mart distribution center, waiting for my trailer to be unloaded. I do not have another load as yet, so finding a parking spot for the night will be a challenge to say the least.

BACK TO WORK

Well, I finally got a call Wednesday (1-14-09) afternoon from my dispatcher assigning me a new truck. Not brand new, it has 16,487 miles on it. My wife will take me to Seagoville, Texas to pick it up, Thursday morning.
I hate new trucks, they are always breaking down, when I cranked up, said new truck, the alternator was out and the batteries were dead. So I have been at the Freightliner shop since Thursday afternoon. The accessories still are not working, the shop says that it is because the batteries are to low so I should idle the truck all night. Well I got out of the shop at about 5 pm and am waiting for a load. I will pick-up here at the Dallas yard it is going to Roberts, La.

I was also selected for a(random computer selected) drug test, which I will get done Saturday morning. I will have no problem with the drug test.

But as you can see IF IT WAS NOT FOR BAD LUCK I WOULD HAVE NO LUCK AT ALL.

GRAPHIC AUDIO

Graphic Audio produces the best quality audio books in the industry, as far as I am concerned.
Each book has its own actors, and these actors become the voice of that character for the entire series. You come to know the character by voice, this adds a new aspect to audio books.

Also the sound effects used are just like what movies use. Shotguns, M-16s, Ak47s, bombs, cars, and everything sounds like it should. The narrator does not say "and then the phone rang"
you hear the phone ring. It really is a MOVIE IN YOUR MIND.

DON'T MISUNDERSTAND ME; There are a lot of very good narrators, who do all the parts of the book. Graphic Audio adds a new layer of listening enjoyment to the book.

On a personal note I am still at home waiting on KLLM to assign me a truck.

Just a little recent history

Ok,well I'm still at home waiting to be reassigned a truck. Maybe a little history is in order. On the 18th of December 08, I started to get out of bed and passed out. Approximately 2 hours later this happened again, on the third try I went a lot slower and was able to stand and go about my morning routine. Later that day I went to Russellville Ar. to pick up a load bound for Atlanta, Ga. I had attributed that mornings problem with bad Chinese take out from the night before. Got loaded very late.
At 3:00 am on Thursday the 18,I was finally loaded, I slept until 8:00 am and drove to a rest area 8 miles west of Jackson, Tn. When I started to get out of the truck, I almost passed out again. Then I called 911 and my wife. I also called my dispatcher. The ambulance arrived in about 10 minutes and took me to the hospital. After all day in emergency they still had not determined what had caused the problem. Because of previous heart problems (which were and still are under control) they did those kind of tests first, all showed no problems. Finally on the 22 of December 08, they released me. My son had driven my wife to Jackson, so we came home to East Texas. The final diagnosis
was a simple ear infection, however because of the holidays it took until the 8th of January 09, to get in to see an Ear specialist, in order to get a release to return to work. Which puts me at home waiting on a truck. Zero income is not a good feeling. Therefore I am very anxious
to get back to work.

Audio books make miles fly by.

I have been driving for the past 19.5 years steady for one company or another, from one state to another from the northern border to the east ,west, and southern borders.
I started listening to audio books in 1995, on cassette tape. I was immediately hooked.
I found that a driver can listen to an audio book without giving up any concentration
on the road or traffic.
An audio book is just like listening to your favorite music. The right books can entertain as well as educate the listener. Several authors reference actual location in the writings that you pass as you travel, adding a real seance of realism to the book.
Audio books are like a movie without the pictures, or as they say at GRAPHIC AUDIO
it's A MOVIE IN YOUR EARS.