Friday, September 24, 2010

Drove down to Doral, FL and delivered the pipe.

While I was unloading my APU started acting up.  After I got empty I drove to Riviera Beach Thermo King and got it fixed.  The fuel pump went out so it was replaced.  Those things are expensive!!! Now it works great.

Monday morning I have an appointment in Orlando to have the trailer fixed.  There are very few truck stops in Orlando and the only one close to where I'm going charges to park there.  I am spending the weekend at the Flying J in Ft. Pierce.  I'll drive to Orlando Monday morning.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Drove down to Vero Beach to the TA Truck stop for the night.  Found another broken weld on the trailer.  Also noticed that the trailer has a bend in it where it is supposed to be straight.  In the photo of the trailer below, look along the side of the trailer.  That edge is supposed to be straight.  Have an appointment Monday in Orlando to have it re-welded and the trailer aligned.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Dropped off the fluid load this morning in Raceland, LA then went up to Port Allen, LA for my next load.

46,000 pounds of gas pipe going to Doral, FL.  That's in Miami. 

After I got loaded I drove to Robertsdale, AL and stopped at the Oasis Truck Stop for the night.  While there I got my oil changed.  While that was being done I found a chunk was out of one of my trailer tires.  The cords were visible.  Lucky that didn't blow on the road!!  Got that fixed too.

While that was being fixed there was a bit of excitement at the truck stop.

Don't know what happened except they took someone out of the sleeper of the black truck in front of the cop car and took him to the hospital.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Delivered the coal to a water treatment plant that is being built.  Apparently they use that stuff in the water filtration system.  After that went into Houston for my next load. 

Picked up 18 containers with some sort of fluid in them that is used in oil well drilling. Each container holds 265 gallons for a total of 4770 gallons.  There is a huge difference in transporting solid stiff that is tied down vs. liquid stuff.  The containers are tied down but the liquid still moves around while going down the road.  Every turn makes the truck want to roll over if you do it too fast (of course I don't) and when stopping that 40,000 pounds of fluid wants to keep going.  It feels totally different to drive this load.  Its interesting to watch the truck when I stop & get out.  The truck is still rocking back & forth a little.  This stuff is going to Raceland, LA.  Only drove 445 miles today.  Stopped at the Petro Truck Stop in Egan, LA for the night.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Spent a great weekend in Kingsland.  The time just flew by.  Got back on the road again early this morning.  Stopped in Gulfport, Mississippi to have my APU repaired.  It started acting up at 3:30 in the morning Saturday.  Just a broken wire.  Had it serviced too while I was there. After that I continued on to Lafayette, Louisiana to spend the night at the TA Truck Stop. Drove 716 miles today.