Thursday, December 27, 2012

Went over to Peterbilt this afternoon.  My truck is looking better.  It was in the paint booth.  Was painted this morning, now in the dryer.  The truck should be ready next week.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Stopped by Peterbilt this afternoon and checked on my truck. They have it all torn apart   I am surprised by how much they have done!!  They took off the damaged portions of the side of the truck, which I expected of course.  But what I didn't expect is that they took out the driver's seat and the inside cabinet.  They have all my stuff piled up on the floor outside the truck.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Took the truck to Peterbilt to have the repairs done to the side where that other truck backed into me.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Delivered the skidder this morning.  After that I drove home for the Holidays.  Sure is nice to be home.

Monday, December 17, 2012

The Georgia permit didn't get here until after 1 pm.  I finally got on the road.  On I-75 just before the Atlanta Bypass ( I-285) there was a huge crash.  They had the entire interstate shut down.  I heard about it on the CB radio.    I jumped off the interstate north of the traffic stoppage and took US-41 south.  That road paralleled the interstate.  I was not the only one with that idea, the road was jammed!! When I got down close to where the crash was I heard that they had three lanes open.  I got back on I-75 and continued on.  By the time I passed the crash most of it was cleared up.  The only thing left was the overhead road sign that was being loaded on a roll back wrecker.

Because of the delay in getting the Georgia permit and then the long delay in bumper to bumper traffic from the crash, I was unable to deliver today.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Hogansville, Georgia.  I'm about 10 miles from delivery.

Sunday, December 16,2012

All that rain that I drove through yesterday caught up with me today.  Started to rain just after breakfast and has rained all day.

Saturday, Devcember 15, 2012

Started off in the rain this morning.  Drove out of it after a few hours and it was sunny and clear for the rest of the day.  Drove to a truck stop in Ringgold, Georgia.  That's as far as I could go without a Georgia permit.   Hope it comes in early Monday.

Friday, December 14, 2012

Unloaded the excavator first thing this morning.  Next load is in Washington, Illinois.  That is just outside Peoria.  Drove down there to the Caterpillar Proving Grounds.  It is a place with a concrete race track for Caterpillar machines to run tests on.  The place is huge!  There are a lot of dirt areas for other machine testing as well.  It is in a very remote area.  I suppose to keep competitors from seeing their new stuff that is in development and testing.  Had to go a ways down a very windy two lane road to get there.  They told me they are getting a big machine next week that they are going to have to unload from the truck way down on the main road because it it is too big to bring up on the truck. They will have to drive it up from there. Anyway, I loaded a Caterpillar 545 Wheeled Skider.  It is used in logging to drag the cut trees out of the forest to the loading area.  It is a little heavier than it looks.  I gross out at about 91,000 pounds.

This thing is going to LaGrange, GA.  Got on the road and drove down to the Pilot truck stop in Okawville, Illinois.  Didn't get my Georgia permit today so I won't be able to get very far tomorrow.  Oh well.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Great day on the road today!!  Drove 682 miles stopping only at two weigh stations that wanted to see my permit.  Started just before sun up from Lebanon, Tennessee.  Stopped for the night at the John Deere plant in Dubuque, Iowa where I deliver in the morning.

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Loaded a John Deere 290 GL Excavator first thing this morning at the Plant in Kernersville, NC.  It is going to another John Deere plant in Dubuque, Iowa.

Scaled out at 106,740 pounds.  Was a little too heavy on the drive axles so I flipped the neck down and re-scaled.  Perfect!  Got on the road and drove until I ran out of daylight.  

Tennessee sunset:

Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Lebanon, Tennessee.  That is just east of Nashville on I-40.

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Went in to Ring Power in Ocala this morning and loaded a small Lee Boy 7000 Paver.  It is going up to Simpsonville, SC.

Got on the road and drove up to Simpsonville, SC and delivered the paver.  Next load is in Kernersville, NC.  Drove up to Kernersville and spent the night at the John Deere plant there.  692 miles today.  Not too shabby!!

Monday, December 10, 2012

This morning I still didn't have a load yet so I spent the morning at the Jacksonville Landing.

There was a middle school marching band there playing Christmas music.  For a middle school, they were pretty good.

The owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shahid Khan, has his yacht Kismet docked at the Landing. It is HUGE and GORGEOUS !  

Built in Germany in 2007, the yacht is 223 feet long and powered by three Caterpillar engines.  It can cruise at 42 knots.  He is selling it right now so, if you are interested, it is $112 million.  If that is a little steep you can charter it for a mere $600,000 a week PLUS expenses.

Finally got a load this afternoon.  It loads tomorrow morning in Ocala.  Drove to the Petro truck stop north of Ocala for the night.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Had some work done on the truck today.  New front breaks and drums.  All were bad and needed replacing.  The trailer will be getting work done on it tomorrow. Did a bunch more running around!  I need to go back to work to slow down!!

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Got on the road at sun up and drove in to the Port of Jacksonville and delivered the grader. BOY, those things are fun to drive!!  After that went to the Daily yard. Will be home for the weekend.  Took the truck over to Peterbilt and got an estimate on the damage from when that guy backed into me.  Will have it fixed when I'm home for Christmas break.  This morning my printer in the truck took a dump so I had to replace it.  Did a bunch more running around this afternoon.  Too much stuff to do when I am home!!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Got on the road at sun up and drove, stopping once to pee and once for fuel.  Ran out of daylight at Lake Park, Georgia.  Stopped at the TA truck stop on I-75 at exit 2.  Will deliver tomorrow morning and then be home for the weekend.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Loaded a Caterpillar 14M road grader this morning.  It is going to the Port in Blount Island, Jacksonville, Florida.  From there it is going on a boat to the United Arab Emirates.

Got on the road and quickly drove into a lot of rain.  Glad it waited until after I loaded, for a change.  It's a good thing I washed my truck last night, otherwise they never would have gotten this rain!  Drove to the Petro truck stop in West Memphis, Arkansas where I had to wait for my pole car to arrive.  Because I am 14'2" tall (13'6" is max legal height) I have to have a pole car east of the Mississippi River.  Three hours later the pole car arrived.

Got on the road and drove to the Pilot truck stop in New Albany, Mississippi to stop for the night because we ran out of daylight.

Monday, December 3, 2012

Delivered the excavator first thing this morning.  My next load is way up in North Little Rock, Arkansas.  Drove up there to the Petro truck stop for the night.  Load tomorrow morning.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Had to wait until 9 am for the fog to lift before I could get started today.  Louisiana routed me way down west of New Orleans and through the back roads around Baton Rouge.  Then back north along the Mississippi River through miles and miles of sugar cane fields.  

Then passed a sugar cane processing plant.  See all the trailers full of sugar cane fresh from the fields?

Here is the quick way to empty a semi trailer.

This plant is right next to the Mississippi River.  After the cane is processed it goes into barges on the river.

Stopped for the rest of the weekend at a Citgo station with truck parking in Sulphur, LA.  Deliver about 2 miles from here Monday morning.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Feeling better every day.  Still not 100% yet.  Working on getting my appetite back so I can get my energy back up.   Drove in to Calhoun, GA this morning and loaded a Kobelco SK 260 Excavator.  

It is going to Sulphur, Louisiana   Went to scale up and found out I was too heavy on the trailer axles so I had to unchain everything and move the machine.  Tie it back down and re-scale.  Fortunately I got it right the first time. I am just under 102,000 pounds. Finally got on the road and drove down to Gulfport, Mississippi to the Flying J truck stop for the night.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

After sleeping the second half of yesterday, last night, and half of today, I think I am feeling a little better. Not coughing or blowing my nose as much. That's a good thing!!   Next load is tomorrow morning in Calhoun, GA.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Cartersville, GA for the night. Calhoun is about 15 miles from here.

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Drove in to Panama City this morning and delivered the dozer.  Still don't have another load yet, that's probably not a bad thing.  Went to the Love's truck stop in Cottondale, FL and slept the rest of the day. 

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Got on the road just after sunrise.  Drove straight through stopping only once for fuel.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Marianna, Florida.  Deliver in Panama City in the morning. Don't have another load yet.  Hope something pops up soon!!  I have had a head cold since Sunday, boy am I draggin'!!

Monday, November 27, 2012

Drove in to Dundalk, MD to the Daily yard and loaded a John Deere 950 J Dozer. This machine was made in Austria.  It is going to Panama City, Florida.  It's not fat or tall, just a little heavy.  I'm at about 92,000 gross.

Got on the road and drove down to Dillon South Carolina and stopped at the Love's truck stop because I ran out of daylight.  When I was doing my post trip inspection I saw oil all over everything.  Opened the hood and saw that my oil filler cap was gone.  Fortunately a quick fix, when I can find a replacement.  Of course they didn't have one here.  I cleaned the spout and duct taped the hell out of it.  Fortunately I only lost a gallon of oil, which I replaced.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Yesterday I rented a tiny econo-box car and drove around this area.

Went to Hershey Park.  http://www.hersheypark.com/   Walked around a bit but didn't go in the park.  Didn't want to spend the money, so I did the free stuff and left.

Did some more riding around.  Last night a cold front came through and with it some very light rain and a lot of wind.  This morning still cold, windy, clearing, and just a few snow flurries.  Good sleepin' weather!!  BUT now it's football time!!  The last day of the College regular season.  Can't believe how fast it went!!  After today, all that's left are the bowl games.

What a great way to end the season!!!!!  Great job!!!!!

(4) Florida 37

(11-1, 7-1 SEC)

(10) Florida St 26

(10-2, 7-1 ACC)

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Didn't have to pick up the big excavator from the port this morning, it was already at the Daily yard in Baltimore.  So I picked up another small excavator and took it to the Daily yard in Carlisle, PA.

When I got empty I went a couple miles down the road to the Petro truck stop where I'll be until Monday.  HAPPY HAPPY, JOY JOY!!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

I got lucky!!   At the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD I picked up a small Hitachi 135 Excavator.  Took it up to the Daily Express yard in Carlisle, PA.   Then went back to Baltimore, MD.  Tomorrow I am going to the Port again and picking up a large excavator and taking it to the Daily Express yard in Baltimore.  Leaving it there.  Then back to the Port and picking up another small excavator going to Carlisle, PA again.

Monday, November 19, 2012

Nothing.  There is nothing moving before Thanksgiving.  There are a lot of empty flat bed and RGN ("low boy") trailers in here.  It is going to be very difficult getting anything before next Monday.  Sure hope I get lucky!!  Only time will tell.  Stay tuned.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Got up early this morning and dropped the trailer.  Went to a Sam's Club that was close by and a Wal-Mart that was right next to Sam's.  Re-stocked the truck.  After that went back to the truck stop and had routine maintenance done on the truck.  With that stuff all done, it's FOOTBALL TIME!!!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Got on the road at sun up. Drove to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD.  Got there just at the start of their lunch at 11:30.  They didn't get back until 1:00.  An hour and a half for lunch, totally ridiculous!!!  UNIONS!!  And they can't figure out why this country is going down the toilet!! When they got back I still had to wait another hour before they started.  Finally finished and went over to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the weekend.  Lots of stuff going into the Port but nothing going out.  Hopefully I'll get something Monday.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Left Racine, WI first thing this morning.  Wasn't as lucky going through Chicago today.  Got there in the middle of rush hour.  Lots of bumper to bumper traffic today.  Finally made it through and drove straight through, stopping once for fuel, to Verona, Pennsylvania at the Service Plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76 for the night.   Here is my load.  They are going to Venezuela.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Delivered the excavator first thing this morning.  Those things really drive funny without the boom and counterweight on.

Next load is a farm tractor that loads in Sturtevant, Wisconsin and going to the port in Baltimore, MD.   Drove over there.  On the way went through Chicago.  Amazingly, no bumper to bumper traffic!!  Crystal clear day so I was able to snap off a shot of the Chicago skyline as I went through on I-94, the Dan Ryan Expressway.

 Made it to Sturtevant and loaded.  Photos will be tomorrow.  Too dark, by the time I finished, to get any today.  Went to the Petro truck stop in Racine, WI for the night.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

It rained all night last night and stopped just before I got on the road this morning.  That worked out well, for a change.  A lot colder this morning.  Left Hagerstown, Maryland just after sun up and drove almost non stop today.  Ran out of daylight  so I had to stop for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Ottawa Lake, Michigan.  Will deliver tomorrow morning.  Don't have a load yet.  Hope something comes up.

Monday, November 12, 2012

After spending a great weekend with my brother and his family, I'm back to work.  Loaded a John Deere 470G Excavator this morning.  Couldn't drive very far today.  There are no permit loads allowed on I-70 between mile marker 24 and 18 on Mondays until February 2013 because of construction.  Had to stop in Hagerstown, Maryland for the rest of the day.  So, I'm at the Pilot truck stop until tomorrow morning.

I'm a little heavy with this one, 112,720 pounds.

Weather front coming through tonight.  Going to rain and drop the temperature 20-30 degrees.  Don't need a jacket today, but sure will tomorrow!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Nothing today.  Replaced the right front tire today.  It got chewed up pretty bad when the truck was out of alignment.  My next load is Monday in Dundalk, MD.  It is a big excavator going to Michigan.

Here is a better video of the guy backing into my truck the other night.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Left the Pilot  after sun up this morning and drove in to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD. My crane appointment was at 1 pm local time.  Don't have another load yet so after I got empty I went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the rest of the day and night.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Left Oakwood, IL just before sun up.  Started off in rain but it stopped after a while and cleared up.Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Grantsville, Maryland.  There is still snow on the ground here from Hurricane Sandy.  The photo below is in West Virginia.  Here at the Pilot the snow is still a foot deep and piled up all over.

While laying in bed watching TV, a truck backed into my truck.  Just great!!!  

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

I'll make a very long story short.  Finally got in and loaded late this afternoon.  A Caterpillar 777G Dump Truck chassis that is going to the port in Baltimore, MD.  Of course to make matters worse it started to rain just as I was about to load.  

When I finally got out of there I only had enough daylight to drive 79 miles to a small truck stop in Oakwood, Illinois for the night.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Went over to the John Deere plant in Dubuque, IA and delivered the excavator first thing this morning.  Next load is at the Caterpillar plant in Decatur, IL.  Went down there to load a Caterpillar 777G dump truck chassis.  Checked in at 1:25 pm local time.  They didn't have room there for all the trucks so they sent everyone to the Pilot truck stop to wait.  They were going to call on the phone when they were ready.  They didn't call today. Can't say that I am surprised.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Great day on the road!!  Left Nashville, TN just before sun up and drove all day, 648 miles, stopping only twice to water the grass on the side of the road.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend at a small convenience store with a few truck parking places in Dubuque, Iowa.  Deliver a few miles from here Monday morning.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Went back to John Deere in Kernersville this morning and loaded a John Deere 250G Excavator.  No problems today.  It is going to Dubuque, Iowa.

Drove to the TA truck stop in Nashville, Tennessee.  The one right next to the football stadium where the Tennessee Titans play.  Two years ago this place was flooded out and was under 6 feet of water.  It was closed for almost a year while they rebuilt it.  Much better now.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Got my paperwork signed first thing this morning and took off for Kernersville, North Carolina for my next load.  Things were going too smoothly and , as usual, it went downhill.  Arrived at the John Deere plant in Kernersville to load.  Separated the trailer and waited.  They came to load my machine.  He started to go up on the trailer and one of the blocks of wood used for a ramp somehow popped up and went through the lower glass on the machine.  Now the machine could not go.  They do not have glass there and had no idea when it would be fixed.  Just great!!  

After they cleaned up the glass, I put my trailer back together and went to the TA truck stop in Whitsett, NC (Greensboro).  Now my next load is tomorrow back at John Deere.  Hope this one goes better.