I64 West through WV KY IN MO at night?

When you get close to St Louis, be very careful minding as you go what lane you are in. If you consider I-70 crossing at the Arch you have a number of very tight ramps, like 15 mph tight to work through.

If you are coming up from 55 south, be prepared for a series of hills and a changing geometry of traffic in places. St Louis is a bit of a pain but not too bad. The biggest challenge is merging a mile or two prior to closed construction lanes and stay away from the walls.

If you are in KY you are probably going to cross into AR-MO or IL-MO for St Louis. I forget the exact details, but you are rolling on history dating back centuries as you cross over. Some of which is literally covered by the father of all waters.

I am happy your trip is successful thus far. But there will always be something. Be very careful at night in downtown core St Louis or particularly east South east st louis itself. It is not safe for outsiders at all in particular places such as Associated Grocers etc.

If you get there and need a spot, there is a exit 4 gateway racetrack truckstop there, I don't know if they are still in business but with the massive customer base on some days there is no excuse for them not to still be in business. It's east of St Louis about a half hour in Ill on 70. You cannot miss it. Don't go into Granite City. It's nothing but a steel mill and a somewhat run down poverty area.

 

Once you drop, Illinois has a nice welcome center. Stayed there Christmas of 2014.

 

Not sure where you are dropping but if it ia Hersheys in East St. Louis thry give free candy bars at the gate.

 

Your memory might be bad, but imagine mine. Half the things Ive considered part of trucking is buried in big box stores now. And most of the rest is literally history. I suppose I am some what careful in my posts with details because what I remember aint there anymore for the most part.

If you purchase the so called cheap fuel, check the cetane rating on the pump, it should be a yellow and black sticker for your fuel and have a decent rating on it hopefully. It's not difficult to crack desiel out of oil but it is harder and hotter to crack gasoline out of the same oil. You want truck fuel that will be strong in cetane and burn well inside your engine.

Good luck with you. Write when you can. I'll try to follow along especially when you get out towards the rockies. I can take a look at a picture and guess within maybe 200 miles where it is taken if not the actual spot. I remember that much anyhow of this great Nation. And what a Nation.

 

It's a device used by owner operators to save tractor brakes and use up companies trailer brakes!! Lol!

 

LOL is right, that was the one thing which motivates some fleets not to have them in the tractors. You can literally have the original brakes as a O/O a million miles when you ride the rent a trailer brakes and burn em out. What do you care? It's not your problem those trailer brakes.

I left that part out because people get confused easily. But I appreciate your reminder and remember that indeed if anyone is going to cook trailer brakes downhill it will be a O/O lol.... especially with a renta trailer or a seacan container.