HAULIN' GRAVEL, MEMORIES, & GRIT
Following the legendary routes of Tricky Dick and honoring the hard-working men who kept the American highways rolling through the 70s and 80s.
Thornton Pit Run & Buddy's Choke & Puke
The alarm clock in Mundelein was still dark when the big Mack fired up. First stop: Buddy's Diner for two eggs over-easy and a side of burnt bacon before hitting the asphalt toward the pit...
Read Full Dispatch →The Man Behind The Wheel
This site is dedicated to my dad—a true road warrior who lived life in the fast lane and the passing lane all at once. He was well known in the area with all the other truckers. He was a CB warrior running local dump truck routes across Illinois. This is his fictional story with some true facts sprinkled in.
Explore Tribute Page →"Choke and Puke"
A classic truckers' term for a roadside diner known for fast, greasy, unforgettable comfort food. (Named in honor of Buddy's Diner in Mundelein, IL, where the coffee was burnt and the bacon was always crunchy, just right.)
Early Morning Fog on Route 83
A misty dawn run out of Mundelein with the Mack heavy on the throttle before the morning commuter rush hit.
Read Log →Weigh Station Blues Near Chicago
Dealing with scale lines, paper logbooks, and a chatty CB break about a mobile DOT unit parked near the split.
Read Log →Late Night Return to the Yard
Pulling back into Mundelein past 6 PM, bones aching, listening to local classic rock on the dash radio.
Read Log →