On day five of their weeklong trek, Bert Johnson and Frank Merrill continue to meander across the Southeast, dropping off a load in McCrae, Ga., and picking one up with just a little time left to spare on their 14-hour clock.

June 13, 2013

At 12:32 a.m. we hear knocking on our door ... don't have tell you what they were looking for. Frank said get out of here. Up at 3:45 a.m. to get on the road ... this life is sure good. Go to use the facilities, brush teeth and get coffee, but the place is closed. No coffee for Frank who really needs it or for me either. We need to pick up fuel in 92 miles. Well, we made it about 800 ... everyone got their go-go juice ... Frank and I got our coffee and the truck got fuel and DEF.

Now we are in rush hour traffic in Jacksonville, Fla. We have about three hours to go 155 miles. Sam called Frank to tell him that he upgraded to an OTR driver. Frank congratulated Sam and continued to offer support … Frank told him “call me if you have any questions except judgment calls. You are a full-fledged driver now.” Now once again we are in bumper to bumper traffic. Two accidents on the south bound lanes of Interstate 95 in Jacksonville ... lots of rubberneckers. Free and clear now.

Agricultural inspection. Made it to consignee at the original delivery time. Directions to our delivery door are to turn at the Trucker's Lounge (we thought the Trucker's Lounge was the port-a-potty). Everyone (guards and us) got a good laugh over that. Frank backed the full trailer in and will pick up an empty. Just hooked to the new trailer ... 25471, completed an inspection, raised the legs, and did our Form 13. Waiting for next load assignment. We have a little under six hours left on our drive line. Going to McCrae, Ga. for our next pick up which is 129 miles away. Sliding the tandems up.

Just had a conversation with another Truckload driver, Aaron, a driver that went through our student program. Leaving customer after trailer check at the guard shack. Trying to shave off miles from out trip ... on U.S. Highway 280. Finally made it to customer early, once again. Still trying to figure out what's going on with this shipper. We had to take the empty up to an empty trailer lot. When we arrived, we noticed four other trailers. We took an inventory, checked the condition and sent it to Equipment Control. We then went back to the company lot and picked up our loaded trailer and over an hour later we are finally back on the road. Our 14-hour clock is now ticking down to 3 hours and 2 minutes ... how far will we get tonight? … the delivery must be made by 1 p.m. Friday.

We made it Exit 201 at the Flying J at 5:48, one of our earliest nights. Got to take my second shower ... feel like a new person. Then we ate at Denny's ... had some more healthy food. We drove 527 miles today in nine hours and 48 minutes with only 47 minutes left on our 14. Need to get up early to make it to Memphis tomorrow. Well we just had a big storm come through ... wind strong enough to make the truck move. We weathered the storm though. I realize that being in a truck when there is a severe storm is not a good place to be ... Frank was concerned.

Checked some emails and was exhausted ... for just sitting in a truck all day, I sure am tired.