February of 2024 marked the start of Butch's Third year driving Over-the-Road. He was driving for Nationwide since the end of October 2023. With dispatches covering the mid-west, the driving was somewhat less challenging than the east or west coast.
In the last three years he's traveled 382,880 miles!
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| 2-16-2024 Hy-Vee, Cherokee, IA |
Butch & Maverick were putting on the miles. Dispatching was consistent, home time was roughly every three weeks & the semi had the largest cab of any he'd driven. It was always a bonus if a dispatch brought him within range of home with enough time for an overnight visit.
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| 2-16-2024 Speedway, Kingstown, IN |
Winter wasn't too bad, especially without the mountain passes or winds & ice of Wyoming. I-80 through Iowa though - kept its reputation for being as difficult - if not more so.
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| 3-8-2024 I-80 westbound~ |
The view above was the drive Butch made early March, as he was returning to Omaha for scheduled time at home. The biggest cause of the wrecks always seems to be the same, excessive speed.
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| 5-6-2024 Indianapolis, IN |
He became all too familiar with Indianapolis traffic. The roads were under construction & in many places' lanes were closed & traffic funneled down to two lanes.
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| 6-23-2024 Iowa 80 |
Iowa 80 became is
go to truck stop when crossing our state. So large there's always parking, plenty of indoor space to walk & the restaurant serves great coconut pie! Since we'd stopped there on our way to LeClair one year for our anniversary - I felt comfortable knowing he was there.
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| 7-27-2024 Wolverine Packing, Detroit, MI |
While I followed his routes on Google Maps, I would notice when he came close to the Great Lakes. I was tempted to ride along. Butch would remind me of my first & only OTR trip which convinced me to wait for a vacation in the car!
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| 8-30-2024 Walmart, Washington Court, OH |
Butch has done a great job of photo journalizing his time on the road. We still talk at least twice a day & I like seeing where he is & what he's doing when he's not driving. Sometimes the photos surprise me, like the one above. Nothing like advertising the load that's being hauled.
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| 9-4-2024 Kansas City, MO |
Kansas City both in MO & KS is a town Butch goes to & through often. The skyline at night is so beautiful.
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| 10-25-2024 Smithfield, Olathe, KS |
Smithfield is a large client to more than one trucking company. They have been one of Nationwide's since the company started in 1982. Butch has been to many of their locations both with picking up product & delivering.
October, he received the above award from Nationwide.
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| 11-7-2024 Smithfield, Greenfield, IN |
Greenfield, IN is another Smithfield location Butch travels to & from often. A town with the same name as my hometown. Busy places that supply a nation with packaged meat products.
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12-3-2024 On the way to Denison, IA
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December, Butch had left home in snow flurries. The weather deteriorated with each mile he traveled north. After picking up his loaded trailer at Farmland, he was heading east. By the time he reached his delivery in Ohio, the weather had improved.
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| 12-30-2024 Rest Area, Ladora, IA |
A beautiful Iowa sunrise.
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| 1-10-2025 Flying J, Springfield, MO |
With the first of the new year, came the worst of the winter storms which always make driving difficult. Butch was on his way to the Caves when the storm blew in. Trucks pulled off the interstate & the truck stops were soon full to overflowing.
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| 1-10-25 Entrance Road to the Caves, Independence, MO |
The following morning, he woke to 4-6" of snow & 28-degree temperatures. When he arrived at the Caves trucks were off the road everywhere. Even on the entry drive, a semi had slid off the shoulder.
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| 1-18-2025 Maverick II |
Butch was home overnight on the 17th. The following morning, he arrived at Nationwide to drop off Maverick & leave in his new semi - Maverick II. Driving the new tractor didn't last long though. February 5th, the engine failed & the Volvo was towed to a dealer for repair. Butch flew home, picked up his original Nationwide truck & was back on the road.
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| 2-24-25 Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO |
Butch finished out his third year of driving in his original Nationwide semi. This was the first time he's driven a full year with the same company. His mileage for the third year - 2/25/23 to 2/25/24 is 124,617.
This last year has been the smoothest for us so far. Driving for the same company & getting regular time at home has been great. We'll see what the coming year brings!
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