Is there a public transportation system that will get me to the cargo side or will i need an airport car? Are there lots of crashpads in a good area near food/stores and that type of thing?

Don't even think of using public trans to get to the cargo side. There is a bus that runs within a 1/4 mile of the UPS/FedEx ramps, but if you miss it,you're screwed. Also, if you are coming back in from SDF, the early AM flights will have you waiting for quite a while to get to your crashpad. Suck it up and buy a decent front wheel drive car and a spare set of studded snow tires and wheels for the winter. You WILL need them. Having a car up there is an absolute necessity. Beats sitting around the pad waiting for the call!

TH1