I love the Starbucks coffees, and hit them up as often as I see them, that I can park this bohemoth. Lot's of times they're in toll road rest areas, or in small, shopping plazas. I know that the survey conducted said McDonalds was rated best, But I definately don't agree. When I just want coffee, I always hit the T/A truck stops. I get a lot of lousy coffee out here, but theirs is the best if I can't get Starbuck's. I drink atleast a gallon, to a gallon and a half for every 24hrs though, and always have a cup within' arms length. I know it's really probably bad for me, but I don't always even have a choice.
There are a lot of truck drivers out here, taking drugs to stay awake, and things like that. These morons out here take Cocaine, Crack addicts, and reefer addicts(if there is such a thing). I don't want to be behind the wheel if I even take a sip of beer within 24hrs of it. These guys are getting caught all the time, losing their license, job, and family over this stuff. Never me, If coffee doesn't keep me going, i pull over, and hit the bunk for atleast a few hours. A lot of time, pure determination to get to my destination, is all I need to keep me going anyways. For this, I feel, I have more class than a lot of these other guys, because I don't stoop so low as they do.
No single load, or customer, is worth me losing everything over. If it means me losing a contract, taking a pay loss, or whatever, then so be it. As long as I get there safe, and in one piece. I've fallen asleep at the wheel before.

Let me tell you about what it's like to wake up doing 65mph through a corn field, and desperately searching for the road at three a.m. in the middle of Iowa...Not a fun experience, but it happened to me. I got lucky I didn't hit anything, or kill anyone, or myself. I ended up with nothing more than a very muddy, dirty truck. Good thing there were no ruts, or irrigation, or other farm impliments in the field also. It really could have been bad. I woke up, and headed for the truck stop for some sleep, and truck wash the next morning. Got lucky..Really lucky.

Man, Nick, what a life....I had no idea there was THAT much coffee involved in driving a truck. But then, I am not surprised...a long time ago I worked at a store and we went outside to help unload the trailer. We went and tried to talk to the driver, but something was wrong. His eyes were like saucers and he looked dazed and couldn't seem to talk well. He had just driven the big rig non stop from Indianaopolis to our store in Sacramento, I am sure he must have used some kind of drug to keep going. More than coffee.

I always try to never abuse truckers on the highway by cutting in front of them, always signaling well before changing lanes and try to keep well out of their blind spot. They can't stop on a dime or change direction quick like a car, and once they start to jack knife, there is big trouble. Years ago, one of the mbcoupesters, Ken Bucks, had his 560SEC destroyed by TWO jack knifed trailers up in Washington (he was unharmed)

Luckily, the majority of truckers are like you, VERY cautious and responsible, it is always the bad few that get the headlines. I can only imagine the view of the driving public that the long haul drivers must have. It must be utterly different than what we in cars can imagine

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Nick I am sure there are MANY here who'd enjoy your stories of life on the road. SO I wouold like to give one back.

I have finished a book called "Cola Cowboys" by Franklyn Wood about the long haul truck drivers who go from England to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iran.

Here is a passage that describes an incident an english truck driver experienced at the Saudi Arabian border:

"There is an incident whcih those who know but wish to be taken seriously are disinclined to recount.

A crate of rubber goods was broken open at customs and beneath the legitimate goods were three layers of life size blow-up sex dolls, which the cartons said came from Hong Kong. They would not have been noticed but for the design of the cartons which came well within the Saudi definition of pornography. It was explicit to the degree that it explained the dolls had pubic hair "so real you cannot tell the difference"

It was enough for the immediate confiscation of the whole cargo and the arrest of the stunned driver.

The dolls were inflated ---- andthe big joke for many who later retailed the story --- on the orders of the local Mullah, they were taken outside, stood against a wall and shot.

This was not so funny for the unfortunate driver who spent many a long week festering in a Saudi Arabian jail until it could be established that he could not possibly have known the contents of the crate and was an unwitting dupe in the whole affair"

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I'm going to try to find it on tape... I listen to a whole lot of books on tape. I've got atleast two hundred in my cabinets now and three times that many at home. If I can't find it on tape though, I'll just buy the regular book, and read it.
That whole story sounds extremely interesting, and has just made my list. I wonder, what happened to the driver in the end....but don't tell me. I'll find out the details and let you know what I think of it afterwards.

Yes, we have a very different oppinion of "four, six, and ten wheelers" out here than many people think. Most four wheelers especially are a big problem. They go either, too fast, too slow, or just do stupid, unsafe things. Not that I don't do 115 mph sometimes in the truck, but I still do it much more consiously, and safely than the four wheelers drive at 50 even.
Four days ago, I was stung three times, by a scorpion, and had to be rushed to the hospital. I've been there from late wednesday, till a few hours ago. I knew I couldn't drive though. In the Ambulance, all I could think about was "does this dude know how to drive?" I'd bet his siren is all that saved our asses on atleast three occasions in the ten miute drive to the E.R.
Whew...What an experience. I'm just happy the bastard stung me, instead of my seven lb. Miniature Dacshund "Josey Leigh" I was out letting her run around, and sat on a horrizontal piece of telephone pole, set up as a curb at the truck stop. I got stung on my hip. Guess I sat down right next to the bastard, and was apparently unwelcomed company. He stung me on the side of my left hip, and I stood up. I walked two/three more steps, and collapsed. Good thing I was on the edge of the open parking lot, in plain sight of everyone. Some dude came running up, and called 911.

wow, i wouldnt have guessed a scrorp would be so potent!

good stories.

that much coffee might cause some kidney stone problems, i think.

i once was hitchhiking when i was in college and was picked up in northern indiana at 2 am by a trucker from arkansas i think hauling unfinished telephone poles. he said he was nodding off and needed someone to talk to (no problem, i never stop). my buddy and i rode a couple of hours with him. i learned a lot about trucks.

peter builts and kenworthy (GOOD)

international....(not worth a damn). "why not?" "just not worth a damn".

it was a glimps into the life of a trucker.

most are fortunately like you consciencious and safe ,,,,,but there are some druggies out there and they are very scarey.

i have come up behind trucks before that the driver was obviously nodding off and honked them awake.....scarey.

try drinking more water and less coffee, man. you can't sleep if you have to pee!

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

If you are not a smoker, a few hits on a cigar will keep you wired-out for a good while in a pinch when the coffee is not enough.

Coffee is not good for you, marketing propaganda will tell you otherwise, big profit$.

Moderation in everything is a race to see what gets you first.

You guys see the size of those coffee mugs they sell at truck stops? They're at least a gallon!

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

Thanks, Truckinik. I feel a LOT safer on the highway now. Sheesh. Of course, this isn't news to me, but I prefer not to think about stuff like that. The thought of 40 tons of speeding steel with a drug-addled skipper at the helm makes me feel inclined to stay home.

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Sorry Dee,
Just telling it like it is. Truth of the matter is that there are a lot of fat, lazy ex-con, wife beaters out here who are hooked on drugs, alcohol, whatever. A lot of guys are oly getting home each week or month simply because they need to meet with their parole, or probation officer. If you buy a basic, cheap, run of the mill Radio Shack C.B. radio, and put it in your car, and just listen to some of the conversations they have, and things they say, you'd be amazed these guys even get out of bed in the morning, or how they can survive a day, never mind a lifetime.
You can get a C.B. pretty cheap. Listen around the truck stops especially. This is where the really ridiculous stuff hits the air-waves. You'll just want to go home, and not leave again, ever..

Fortunately, Truck, you're not the only one driving a truck who takes what they do seriously. I know what you mean, though. I've seen the results of some of the guys who act the way you describe. I hate getting in the lane between the jersey wall and a couple of semis doing about 75 mph. It is pretty claustraphobic.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles