Back in the saddle again....maybe!

I know this intro is long winded but some of you may find some of it interesting.

21 years ago I quite driving to be at home and help raise the children. I didn't know then that I'd spend 13 of the next 21 years as a single father. In all I have 5 children and 2 grand children. The kids are all grown and I'm considering going back to my first love, the open road. I loved to travel and get paid for it. I'm 52 now and have a lot of miles left in me.

I was in the Marine Corps in 74-75. I quit school and volunteered when I was 17. I've have a GED and went college. In fact I've returned and am taking classes now.

From 76-77 I traveled back and forth from Cleveland, Oh area to locations in N.C., S.C. and Fl. to visit friends. Most of it was by thumb including a cross country trip to California up the California coast. I remember when hitch hiking was safe. I'd get a lift from truckers and enjoyed sitting in the cab even if it was just riding shot gun. I helped keep many drivers awake so they could get to there destinations. It was during this time period I feel in love with traveling the country.

From 78-79 I drove 18ft. and 24ft. straight trucks from Woodstock IL. to Chicago IL. once a week. I made 3-5 stops each week in and around the city. There were many places a semi couldn't go and was difficult to maneuver a 24ft. truck. We had on stopped that the 24ft truck wouldn't work and we had to use the 18 footer those weeks.

From 80-81 I had driven straight truck - trailer combo for an amusement company. The straight truck was an old 18ft. Ford cab over with split shift (2 gear shifters). I pulled a 24 trailer. I think it was while driving this truck that I got the I pick up the fever to drive semi's.

From 82-83 I lived in Albuquerque N.M and helped my parents with a Mexican import store. We had a 16ft. step van and 24 ft wire mesh trailer. We'd go to Laredo, TX once a month and pick up a load of Mexican goods. We'd load the trailer with wrought iron plant stands, bakers racks, patio furniture. We sold most of the product at flea markets in N.M. We had others come down from states to the north and buy wholesale.

I purchased a van and mad many trips to Las Vegas to sell at the flea market there. We did really good with the product line we sold. I found I liked to drive at night. I'd leave out of Las Vegas, stop and eat and gamble a little then make the trip back to Albuquerque. I was young then and staying up for 24-36 hours wasn't a problem. I bought a CB and used it in the van for my long trips.

I stopped one night at the 76 truck stop in Kingman, AZ while heading home to Albuquerque from Las Vegas. I fueled and jumped on I-40 for the long ride home. Right away I sat back behind a car hauler. We must have been doing 85. I got on the radio and started talking to him. I wanted to make sure it was OK with him if I caught the draft from. He said he didn't mind as long as I'd talk to him and help keep him awake. He was heading to Albuquerque and had to get home for a wedding in the morning.

As we talked he asked me what my CB handle was. At the time I hadn't picked one yet and told him so. Because I was driving a white van, it was at night and I was helping him get to Albuquerque by morning he suggested, "White Knight". I been using it ever since.

In 85 i went to truck driving school to qualify to drive semi. It took about 3 months to get a job and I went to work driving for Hoosier Transportation which changed its name right away to Circle Van Express. I drove team-48 states for them for 1 1/2 years. I became a trainer after just a 1/2 months as I knew almost as much as those training me.

In November 87 I went to work for Special Service Transportation out of Medina Oh. I drove solo regional for them for 1 1/2 years. They were a good company to drive for. We covered Chicago to Maine down to Maryland.

21 years ago this month I stopped driving. 21 years ago the end of July I would have been grandfathered to the CDL if I was still driving semi. Sometimes I wished I had waited for another 4 months, other times I'm glad I didn't or I would've left the family for the road long before now.

As my post was titled, "Back in the saddle again....maybe!" I haven't made any final commitments. But I leaning toward it.