300,000 Miles!

 June 17th, Butch passed another OTR milestone - 300,000 miles!  He accomplished those miles in 28.5 months from the first time he took the driver's seat February 1, 2022.  Maverick has been his steady ride since November 1st. of last year.  From then, until now, he's driven Maverick 81,231 miles.  It's taken from August 23rd of 2023 to accumulate his third 100,000.  This time, he's only driven two trucks, Traveler & now Maverick.

Butch & Maverick~

I've been keeping record of Butch's drives from the beginning.  I use Google maps & plot his dispatches from when he stops each day or night - as it may be - to the next.  When I realized how close he was getting, I reminded him to watch the odometer.  His GPS had stopped working for a few days earlier this year, then reset itself.  I was so happy he'd been taking photos of the odometers of the semi's both when he took keys & when he surrendered them.  Using Maverick's - we still had an accurate accounting of his miles.

6-17-2024 - 300,000 - Crossing the state line, Ohio to Indiana~

Nationwide Transportation in business since 1982, has been a solid company to drive for.  Based in Omaha, Butch gets more opportunities for overnight stops at home now.  Reminiscent of when he was driving for Blake Scott.  

6-14-2024 - Maverick, Near Pleasanton, KS

His routes now include SD, MI, MN, WI, OH, IL, IN, NE, MO, KS, AR, KY, TN, TX & of course IA.  

He carries the usual wide variety of items - from refrigerated loads of food products to massive rolls of colored paper!

6-13-2024 Colorful Delivery~

Life on the road hasn't become any easier.  Pulling in behind a truck at the fuel island, after quite a wait, Butch walked up to see what was going on, only to find the driver at his mid-day prayers.  Later, he came up on the same truck going 60-mph in a 70-mph zone.  As he passed, he could see the driver paying more attention to his cell phone than the road.  As he gave a short blast of Maverick's 130 decibel horn, the driver jumped in his seat!

6-15-2024 Loves Travel Stop, St. Joseph, MO

Mechanically, besides repairs to Maverick's AC the semi has been very reliable.  The truck also received a new set of tires!  Trailers too are kept in good repair & issue free.

3-8-2034 - The I-80 Slip & Slide through IA~

The weather was, as usual, weather.  Driving the central U.S. is as challenging as anywhere else & Butch witnessed the usual interstate mishaps.  He managed to skirt some of the worst of the storms that rolled through.

Maverick's favorite view~

Home Time happens regularly, usually about every three-weeks.  Butch has been able to get home for holidays & appointments.  Getting back on the road is always quick too, which he appreciates.  Soon, it will be three years since Butch left for Joplin.  

Traffic in the cities, long waits at some warehouses, lines at the fuel islands & the sometimes-impossible task of finding a place to park at the end of a drive are the main challenges.  I'm thankful every evening when the phone rings & I know my husband has stopped & safely completed another day's drive!   

First 100,000~

200,000 miles~