“After Dark” from the Sleeper Cab

In this late-night broadcast in Utah, Mike provide a candid and eclectic update on his life, his relationship, and his upcoming move to Portland. Hosting an informal "hangout" session, he blends logistical updates about truck driving with deep-dive conversations with friends and viewers.

Good evening, this is a special "After Dark" edition coming to you live from Utah. We are currently on I-80, heading eastbound toward Salt Lake City, running right along the Great Salt Lake. It’s a lot of nothing out there right now, but you can see the lights of the city in the distance.

Matt:
I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to pay the bills. Mike just woke up, but the work doesn't stop.

Mike:
I’m using the phone screen as a light so you can actually see us. Matthew, what’s the game plan for this run?

Matt:
We’re on a timed run to Boise. I have to pick something up from UPS and take it to another UPS, and then I’m picking up for Shopko. I try not to think too far ahead because I have to stay focused on what is right in front of me. After Boise, I’m hoping to see my cousin and my aunt — my Prima Sabina and my Dia — if there's enough time.

Mike:
And after that, we’re headed to Kennewick, WA, in the Tri-Cities area. Since it's a lonely road at night, let’s do a safety moment. Wear your seatbelt and please don’t cut off truck drivers. We can'stop as fast as a car, so if you want to live, give us some space.

Matt:
My tip is the three-point stance. You need three points of contact when entering or exiting the vehicle so you aren't jumping off. Also, don't distract your driver.

Mike:
Sarah is in the comments saying to give trucks several car lengths of room. Matthew says he needs at least eight seconds of following distance. Sarah also asked what we’re doing if I get that job. Sarah, we are moving to Portland! We already have a place lined up with some cool people. I’ve been getting a ton of calls from recruiters today.

Matt:
I’m not going to stop traveling in the near future. Mike will be settled in Portland, and I'll be on the road, and we'll stay in contact over the phone.

Mike:
I filed for unemployment, which requires a good faith effort to look for work. I’ve been applying to major utilities like Bonneville Power (BPA), Portland General Electric (PGE), PacificCorp, and the Army Corps of Engineers. I’m actually awaiting an interview from BPA.

Matt:
We are approaching a customer now to pick up a load for Boise. Once I pick this up, I have exactly seven hours and thirty minutes to get it there. It's a strict timed run.

Mike:
I’m going to head to the back of the cabin because we aren't allowed to record on the property. It’s staying just above freezing on I-84, so we have to watch for ice forming on bridges. While Matthew checks in with the client, I’ll keep the conversation going. We just came from a Walmart distribution center in Grantsville, Utah. It reminded me of the one back in my hometown area of Steubenville and Wintersville, Ohio. It was a big deal when Walmart came to town because the area had faced decades of economic decline after the steel jobs were outsourced.

(Johnny joins the livestream)

Johnny:
Hey girl, hey!

Mike:
Johnny! How has Amazon been treating you?

Johnny:
I’ve been working a lot of overtime—well, my friends say it’s not "overtime" because it’s under 40 hours, but it’s over my normal schedule! My bills are paid, so this is just "play money" for Black Friday. I want to buy a smart TV and a laptop.

Mike:
We are both Asian shoppers, so we have to make our money count!

Johnny:
Last night was crazy; there were 150 drivers at the warehouse, and we were way behind. I had to redirect cars and override computer questions. Today there were 200 routes, and I was power-walking everywhere to get them out before the next wave of cars arrived.

Mike:
I appreciate your service, Johnny. I’ve been living off Amazon gift cards lately because I have no income, so you're basically keeping me alive by packaging my products.

Johnny:
No problem! This is my boyfriend, Jay.

Mike:
Hi, Jay! Matthew is in the driver’s seat. We are having a "After Dark" chat—does anyone want to talk about kink? Back in grad school at McGill in Montreal, we had a "Kink Week" with workshops on BDSM and roleplaying.

Matt: (from the driver's seat)
Are you talking about Uber Lube? That stuff was amazing; it was silicone-based and stayed slick with no residue.

Johnny:(shouting)
Ow! Bitch, that hurt! My boyfriend just picked a scab on my foot. I got bit by a fire ant in Texas, and it got infected with pus and everything. It’s finally healing, but he keeps playing with it in his sleep and his nails scratched it.

Mike:
Oh god, I’m sorry! Well, look at my feet — they are just dry and need lotion. We are already in bed in the back of the truck, so we’re going to take a break and listen to some music.

Matt:
We’ll catch you guys again for the sunrise, probably around 8:00!

Mike:
Until then, bye-bye!