I woke up at 0300 to the screeching sound of my screaming meanie, wishing i never signed up for this.

It was a beer load and beer was the last thing from my mind right now – I needed a urgent shot of espresso.

I had to deliver the load to Long Island by 7am and I wanted to make it over the GW Bridge – a motorist nightmare, before rush hour. Good thing it’s a drop and hook, a new program from Convoy Go.

The day before I had called COMDATA to apply for a 24 hour alcohol permit. Luckily, New Jersey had no lead time while in New York I had to wait a few weeks.

I arrived at Anheuser-Busch promptly at 4 am, but to my dismay, there was a line as long as a conga line. It took over an hour to get to the gate only to be told that my trailer wasn’t ready.

Come back in a few hours. After waiting in line, I was displeased with the bad news. Security didn’t seem to care. I was just another number and they were sheepishly herding cattle.

To make matters worse, I had to queue back in line to get out of the facility – had to go through security twice.

When I finally pulled out, I snagged the first spot I could find to catch some ZZZs.

Finally by noon, my trailer was ready. Again the long lines to enter the brewery. Found my trailer but noticed that the load was not secured. I had to exit the grounds again to the nearest truck stop to purchase two load bars.

The staff at Anheuser-Busch were not the friendliest and were definitely some of the most anal.

By the time, my load was secured, it would be too late to head to Long Island. The traffic on the GW Bridge would be a nightmare and the distributor, Clare Rose would be closed.

So I found my favorite parking space again and hunkered down in the pelting rain. Would stay here for the night. Bu there was no food or restrooms – I had a solution.

I walked over to the Spot Airport Parking lot and caught a shuttle to Newark Airport, Terminal B. Then I strolled over to the second level to the USO where I could spend a few hours resting and relaxing and enjoying their snacks and soda.

There was a sparse crowd, but a couple of veterans had early morning flights and would be spending the nights on cots when the USO closed its doors.

Thankful, I headed back to my truck, catching once again the shuttle to the Spot Parking then walking a quarter of a mile to the Brewery.

Would be another early morning and would have to press on to Long Island in the persistent rain.

The drive to Shirley, NY was difficult even with the Saturday morning traffic. The roads over to the GW Bridge were rough and bumpy.

When I arrived at Clare Rose, I had to get a pair of bolt cutters to cut the seal. Then open the doors and remove the load bars. Then complete backing into the dock. With load bars in hand, I was ready to drop the trailer and head to my next load in the Bronx.