Sunday, December 31, 2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Back to work, but only for today.  Took a trailer from the yard in Jacksonville up to Pembroke, Georgia and dropped it there for another driver.  

 Then went back to Jacksonville.  Traffic on the way up was fine, but not on the way back!  Just as soon as I got back on the Interstate got into bumper to bumper traffic.  Here was the culprit:

Finally made it past that mess and then to Jacksonville.  Will be off again until after New Year's Day.

Monday, December 25, 2017

Sunday, December 24, 2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

Left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Drove down to Lutz, Florida and delivered the Excavator.  From there drove home to Jacksonville, Florida.  Will be off for the Christmas holiday.  Won't be back until December 28th at the earliest.  Everyone have a Merry Christmas.  And to all of you that submitted comments, THANK YOU.  I enjoy getting them, keep them coming.  If there is anything you would like to see or hear about let me know.  Once again, thank you for your comments.

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Got up early again and went back to get my trailer. As soon as it was sunrise, I pulled out of there.  Had a very good and uneventful day on the road. Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Kingsland, Georgia.  It is 1 mile from the Florida state line.  Had to stop because Florida does not allow permit loads to be on the road after noon on Saturday or Sunday.  Another very STUPID and unnecessary Government regulation!!!   I'll just camp out here until Monday morning.  When I got here I saw that one of the blocks the machine is sitting on had shifted a little.  I took off the chains and had to lift the machine, then pull the block back into it's proper place.  Then put the machine back down and re-secured the machine.  Now it's all good again.

Friday, December 15, 2017

I left very early this morning.  In doing so I was able to get through Atlanta before all the really heavy rush hour traffic.  Got to Austell right when they opened and delivered the wheel loader.

My next load was to be Monday in Kernersville, North Carolina.  I headed that way.  I made such good time this morning that I was able to get to Kernersville 5 minutes before they stopped loading for the day.  Loaded a Hitachi 300ZX Excavator that is going to Lutz, Florida. 

By the time i finished loading and securing the machine, I was out of hours for the day.  I pulled outside the gate and dropped my trailer in an area across from the security guard.  I'll get it in the morning.  Then I went to the TA truck stop in Whitsett, NC for dinner, a much needed shower, and a good nights sleep.  Unloaded, Reloaded and drove 514 miles (827 km) today.  I'm tired.  Good night.

Thursday, December 14, 2017

This morning I drove the rest of the way back to Clayton, NC and loaded a Caterpillar 930M Wheel Loader.  It is also going to Austell, GA.  Stupid me, I forgot to take pictures!!  Oh well, I'll get them tomorrow.  This machine is smaller than the last two.  It is the first load I have had with this trailer that does not need permits!!  Drove to the Love's truck stop in Thompson, Georgia.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Left Spartenburg, SC just after sunrise this morning and drove in to Austell, GA.  LOTS of bumper to bumper traffic going around Atlanta.  Delivered the wheel loader.

Left there and headed back toward Clayton, NC for another one.  LOTS MORE bumper to bumper traffic going back around Atlanta.  Then more in Columbus, SC.  Finally made it to the Petro truck stop in Florence, SC for the night.

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Was over to load at 7:30 this morning.  Once again there were 12 trucks there, most came in after me.  They had 2 to load with a crane.  ALL those trucks were loaded before me.  I didn't get out of there until 11:30.  Loaded another Caterpillar 938M Wheel Loader that is going to Austell, Georgia again.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Spartanburg, South Carolina for the night.

Saturday, December 9, 2017

Last night the snow continued.

Didn't take long for the truck stop to be packed full.

At about 9 this morning the snow finally stopped.  The sun came out and a lot of the snow melted.  The Petro ran out of fuel this morning too.

Friday, December 8, 2017

Started off this morning in the rain.

Radar From This Morning

Had no problems until about 50 miles north of Atlanta on I-85.  It changes to snow.  Big flakes, heavy, wet snow.  It was not sticking to the roads - yet.  BUT the people that live here don't know how to drive in snow so when they get it, they panic!!  They also have very little snow removal equipment.  By the time I got to Atlanta things were moving very S-L-O-W-L-Y.

I-285 South Bound, West Side of Atlanta

I finally made it to the Caterpillar dealer in Austell to deliver.  They had let all their staff go because of the weather.  There was only a couple guys left and they were about to leave.  The snow was starting to accumulate on the roads, especially the side streets and everything in the Atlanta area was shutting down.  They had me drop my trailer there and would unload me Monday.  

Yancy Brothers Caterpillar, Austell, Georgia

Fortunately I was only a few miles from the Atlanta Petro truck stop.  They told me how to get there on the back roads - the Interstate was a parking lot.  The back roads were jammed up full too.

Back Roads En-route to the Petro Truck Stop

Made it to the Petro and found a place to park.  Glad I was bobtail, made parking a lot easier.  Will be here until Monday morning.  More snow predicted tonight.  Local news is wall-to-wall coverage.  

Thursday, December 7, 2017

Left this morning and got to Caterpillar in Clayton when they opened.  It took forever to get loaded this morning.  Of the 10 trucks in there today, I was the last one out.  Loaded a Caterpillar 938M wheel Loader that is going to Austell,  Georgia.  

Because it took so long to get out of there today, I didn't get anywhere near as far as I wanted to.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Blacksburg, South Carolina.  Weather is supposed to get bad here and all the way to Atlanta tonight and tomorrow.  Local weather reporters are saying snow and ice.  Oh goodie!!  

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove into West Columbia, South Carolina and delivered the excavator.  Next load is in Clayton, North Carolina tomorrow morning.  I drove over to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina for the night.  579 miles (932 km) and unloaded too.  Not a bad day.  

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

Started off in the fog this morning.  Fortunately it was not too heavy and after a few hours it was gone.  Things were just fine until this afternoon.  It rained. It rained very hard.  Of course when that happens the idiots really show themselves by crashing all over.  Traffic quickly became bumper to bumper.  It took me over 30 minutes to go 4 miles.  I decided to stop a little earlier than I had wanted to but it was better than sitting in that mess.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Shorter, Alabama.

Monday, December 4, 2017

Left San Antonio early this morning in the fog.  On my way to Victoria I passed (again) the Baptist church in Sutherland Springs that in the news for the mass shooting.  There was still a make shift memorial out front.  It was too dark to get any photos.  If it is still there next time I pass by, I'll try to get some.  Got to Victoria when they opened and loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going up to West Columbia, South Carolina.

Left there and got a lot further than I thought I would.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Egan, Louisiana. 

Saturday, December 2, 2017

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left.  Here is sunrise in New Mexico this morning.

Another really good day on the road.  Drove another 604 miles (972 km) today.

I love Texas !!!!

 Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the Petro truck stop in San Antonio, Texas.

Friday, December 1, 2017

Once again I timed it perfectly and got to Tucson right at 9 am.  Continued on up to Eloy, Arizona and delivered the wheel loader.   My next load is way back in Victoria, Texas.  I started back that way.  Passed a place that I always like to look at as I pass by on I-10 west of Tucson.  It is Pinal Air Park.  Click on the name to get more information on it.  It has a very interesting history.  I think it is pretty cool seeing all those 747s sitting in the middle of the desert.

Google Maps Satellite View

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Thursday, November 30, 2017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Another real good day on the road. Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Benson, Arizona.  Knocked off another 566 miles (910.8 km) today.  Will get a very late start tomorrow.  Can't go into Tuscon until after 9 am.

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Couldn't go into Houston until 9 am so I timed my departure so that I wouldn't.  As it turned out, I was perfect again.  Got to Houston right at 9 am.  Didn't have too much trouble getting around Houston.  A small amount of bumper to bumper traffic But it was not bad at all.  Once you get past San Antonio the speed limit goes up to 80 mph (128.7 kph).  I love Texas!!  Didn't quite make it as far as I wanted to today.  Ran out of daylight so I had to stop for the night at a rest area in Iraan, Texas.  Only 537 miles (864 km) today.

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Left Quincy, FL a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a great day on the road.  No traffic problems at all.  I stopped only twice all day.  Once at the weigh station in Pensacola, FL and the other time was for that stupid required 30 minute break.  That was all.  Stopped for the night, 638 miles (1026.76 km) later, at the Petro truck stop in Beaumont, Texas.

Monday, November 27, 2017

Yesterday morning I drove up to Savannah, Georgia to the TA truck stop.

This morning I went over to the Port and loaded a Caterpillar 980M Wheel Loader that is going out to Eloy, Arizona.

 I couldn't have loaded it any more perfectly.

Left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in Quincy, Florida.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Monday, November 20, 2017

Be patient, I'm still off on personal time with family and friends. Will be back Sunday, November 26, 2017 after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Drove home this morning.  Will be off work for a few days.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Drove straight through to Washington, North Carolina and delivered the skidder.  They had no trouble putting the wheels on and I was out of there pretty fast.  Stopped for the night at a very small truck stop in Greenville, NC.  

Monday, November 13, 2017

Went over first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 555D Skidder that is going up to Washington, North Carolina.  He had a very hard time getting the wheels off.  Finally did.

Left there but didn't get very far.  Ran out of hours.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Siloam, Georgia.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Left real early this morning.  Drove the rest of the way down to Georgia.  Stopped for the rest of the day at the Love's truck stop in Hogansville, Georgia.  Load a few miles from here in the morning.

Saturday, November 11, 2017

This morning I did laundry and got the truck a long overdue bath.  Then had the shop fix an air leak in the trailer.  When all that was done I started off toward Georgia.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Fort Chiswell, Virginia.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove up to Murrysville, Pennsylvania and delivered the excavator.  Here is the ridiculous route Pennsylvania sent us on.  100 miles out of the way!!!!  Also drove in our first snow fall of the season today.  

After that was done I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA for the night.  Next load is all the way down in La Grange, Georgia!!!  I'll head that way tomorrow after I do a few things here.

Thursday, November 9, 2017

Left real early this morning.  Great day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Hebron, Ohio.

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

We left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Good day on the road.  Nothing exciting.  I guess that is a good thing!!  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Denmark, Tennessee.  Will be starting early tomorrow morning. Can run at night in Tennessee.

Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Went in to Victoria, TX first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going up to Murrysville, Pennsylvania.  

Left there and had a good day on the road.  Caught up with another Daily truck that left Victoria before I did.  Turns out we are both going to the same place.  So we decided to stay together.  Stopped for the night at a very small truck stop in Carthage, Texas.

Monday, November 6, 2017

Left at 9 am when the Houston curfew was over.  Went in to Houston and delivered the crane.  Then went back to the Daily yard and re-applied all the chains to my original load, then dropped the other trailer and hooked back up to my trailer.  From there I went back into Houston, to a different location, and delivered the excavator.  My next load is down in Victoria so I started off that way.  Had to stop at the TA truck stop in Ganado, Texas for the night because I ran out of hours.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Had an unexpected very late start this morning.  Was fogged in until 10 am.  When I was finally able to go, I did.  Saw a couple weird things today.  The first one was a pick up truck with a car on a trailer.  It was parked on the side of the road and the occupants were doing something when the car rolled off the trailer and bounced a few times before it stopped moving.  Fortunately it all happened on the side of the road and it didn't hit anything.  The other weird thing I saw was just before I got to the truck stop.  There was a pick up truck with an ATV on a trailer.  While it was going down the interstate the ATV broke loose and rolled off the trailer into traffic.  Another pick up truck hit the ATV.   I went by shortly after it happened and they had moved everything off the road. I stopped for the rest of the weekend at the TA truck stop in Baytown, Texas.

I listened to this disaster on the radio.  The Gators were totally horrible!!!  Not too terribly surprising given all the problems they had off the field this week.

Florida vs Missouri

Today, 11:00 AM

Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri

Florida Gators (3-5)

 

16 - 45

Final

Missouri Tigers (4-5)

	1	2	3	4		Total
Florida	0	6	3	7		16
Missouri	7	21	7	10		45

Friday, November 3, 2017

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left and went to Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Got there and loaded a Grove RT650E Rough Terrain Crane that is going to Houston, Texas.

Left there and started back toward Houston.  Since I don't unload until Monday I decided to stop early.  I also would not have made the Beaumont, Texas curfew. So I stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Egan, Louisiana.

Thursday, November 2, 217

Got a late start this morning because I had to wait for my Mississippi permit to come in.  When it arrived, I left.  While on the way this afternoon I got a call and a change of plans.  

Instead of delivering tomorrow I'm going to the Daily yard in Houston and leaving my trailer and load there.  I'm getting a different trailer and going back to Baton Rouge, Louisiana to get a crane to bring back to Houston.  After that I go back to the Daily yard and get my trailer and load and deliver it.

I went to the Daily yard and dropped my trailer and picked up the other trailer.  The only problem was that I had to bring all the chains and binders with me.  So I had to take all the chains and binders off my load and put them on the other trailer.  I will spend the night in the yard and leave for Baton Rouge as soon as my 10 hours is up.  Good night!!

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

Went into Conyers, GA this morning early to beat the Atlanta rush hour traffic.  I got there early.  When they opened I loaded another Caterpillar 336E Excavator.  It is going to Houston. Texas.

I got out of there in good time this morning.  Got stuck in some bumper to bumper traffic going through Atlanta, but it wasn't too bad.  Aside from that, nothing else interesting today.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Grand Bay, Alabama.  Couldn't go any further because my Mississippi permit has not come in yet.  I'll get to sleep in tomorrow morning until it gets here.

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Went over to Ocala and delivered the excavator first thing this morning.  Next load is up in Conyers, Georgia tomorrow morning.  I drove up to the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA for the night.

Monday, October 30, 2017

Left at sunrise this morning.  Another uneventful day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Reddick, Florida.  Will deliver in the morning.

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Nothing exciting today.  At sunrise I drove over to the TA truck stop in Slidel, Louisiana.

Saturday, October 28, 2017

As soon as my 10 hours was up I was on the road heading for Victoria.  Got there and loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going to Ocala, Florida.

Left there and had a very good day on the road.  Some bumper to bumper traffic in Houston but not too bad.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Egan, Louisiana.  Tomorrow will be a very short day.  Can't drive in Mississippi or Alabama on Sunday.  I'll just drive to the other side of Louisiana tomorrow.

This was as bad as I thought it would be!!

Florida vs Georgia

Saturday, October 28, 2:30 PM

EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

Georgia Bulldogs (8-0)

 

42 - 7

Final

Florida Gators (3-4)

	1	2	3	4		Total
Georgia	21	0	14	7		42
Florida	0	0	0	7		7

Friday, October 27, 2017

Went back over to the landfill very early this morning.  Got there before they opened.  When they opened I went back in and hooked back up to my trailer.  Had to wait a couple hours for the crane to get there.  After they got there and set, up they took the machine off my trailer.  But they didn't have anything to put it on so they had to use my wood.  Then they started to put the wheels on.

It took F-O-R-E-V-E-R to put the wheels on.  At 2 pm they finally finished with the wheels and I got my wood back.  I was out of there as quick as possible.  My next load is in the morning down in Victoria, Texas.  That is about a 7 hour drive.  I started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in San Antonio.  As soon as my 10 hours is up, I'll finish the trip to Victoria.