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...