Friday, January 10, 2014

The weather timed it perfectly!!  As I was waiting for the Port to open this morning the freezing rain and sleet started.  Once I got in and starting to load the trailer was covered in wet ice.  Loaded another Caterpillar 324EL Excavator that is also going to Murrysville, PA.  Nothing like loading a large excavator in the freezing rain on a wet ice covered trailer.  Gross weight is just under 102,000 pounds.

By the time I finished the temperature had risen enough for it to be just rain.  Of course I was soaked through to the skin. Drove over to Murrysville, PA and delivered it.  Of course it rained all the way and was still raining when I unloaded. Next load is back in Baltimore again.  It is going to be an interesting one.  Probably won't load until Tuesday.  The only hint I'll give is that I have my West Virginia permit already and it says that I have to have three escorts. 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

My Maryland permit didn't arrive until after 10 this morning so I couldn't leave till then.  Finally got on the road and drove over to Murrysville, PA, that's north of Pittsburgh, and delivered the excavator.  Turned around and drove back to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.  I load another one at the Port in the morning.  Ice storm supposed to be here tomorrow morning too. May not be going anywhere.

Wednesday, Janbuary 8, 2014

They weren't as quick to unload as I had hoped.  But still got the thing off and I headed up to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD for my next load.  Loaded a Caterpillar 324EL Excavator that is taking a short ride over to Murrysville, PA.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get out of the port fast enough to beat the Baltimore curfew so I had to stop at the TA truck stop in Baltimore, MD for the night.  Can sleep in tomorrow, can't leave until 9 am.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

My escort arrived right on time this morning with a fresh, hot cup of coffee for me.  He did GOOD!!  Off we went right at sunrise.

Stopped at a rest area because my trailer lights quit working.  Fixed that problem but found another.  Had an air leak from what looks like a pop off valve.  Wasn't causing a problem as my compressor could keep up with it.

Continued on up to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC to get it fixed.  I checked it again and somehow it fixed itself.  Must have hit a bump or something.  Whatever happened, it worked.  We continued on.  Had to wait at the bridge over the river on I-295 (Richmond By-pass) for the State Police.  Had to shut down the interstate so that when I went over the bridge there were no other vehicles on it with me.  That didn't sit very well with all those that had to wait for me to cross the bridge.  Oh well.

Unbelievably we made it all the way up to I-495 almost to I-66 before we hit bumper to bumper traffic.  Fortunately there wasn't much of it. That too, is amazing!!  Picked up my front escort along I-66, now I have two.  Went the rest of the way in to Chantilly, VA to where I am delivering tomorrow morning.  They showed me where to park for the night.  Got stuff ready for the morning so I can (hopefully) get out of here quick.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Went into downtown Jacksonville this morning and loaded a Caterpillar generator that is inside an enclosure. As usual, as soon as we started to load it started to rain.  It stopped when I finished securing it to the trailer.  It is going up to Chantilly, Virginia.

Because I am 12 feet, 6 inches wide (I'm also 14 feet high) I have to have an escort in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.  My Florida escort arrived and off we went.  At Georgia he dropped off and I continued on.  Stopped for the night at the North Carolina Welcome Center Rest Area on I-95.  My next escort will meet me here at sunrise tomorrow morning.