Monday, December 30, 2019

Last Gator game of the season.  It goes by so fast!!!

Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Left a little before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Miami.  Unfortunately It was rush hour.  LOTS of bumper to bumper traffic from Lake Worth almost all the way to Miami.  Yuck!!  But I finally made it and delivered the dozer to a Caterpillar dealer just west of the Miami International Airport..  After that drove back to Jacksonville.  Of course I got to Jacksonville at rush hour and had a lot more bumper to bumper traffic on the beltway.  Was very glad to get to the Daily yard and park.  Home for Christmas.  Probably won't be back at it until after New Years.

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Got lucky and got one more load before Christmas.  Went over to the Port of Jacksonville and loaded a Caterpillar D8T Dozer that is going down to Miami, Florida.  It was tight loading because there was a super load in there with a couple flat tires.  The tire guy was there replacing them.  But my machine was partially blocked by it, also there was a grader parked in front of my machine.  Had to squeeze the grader out and around the super load truck then bring my machine out.  After that had to back the grader back into where it was.  

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Vero Beach for the night.

Saturday, December 14, 2019

Nothing exciting today.  Just drove home to Jacksonville.  Hope I get a couple local trip before Christmas.

Friday, December 13, 2019

Left early this morning and drove to the Port of Savannah and loaded (in the rain) a Caterpillar 725C Articulating Dump Truck that was going to Albany, Georgia.  A short trip with one of the smaller dump trucks..

Got out of there in real good time and drove to Albany and delivered the truck.  Don't have another load yet so I started off toward Jacksonville, FL.  They are going to try to find some local stuff for me next week.  Going to stay close to home so I can be home for Christmas.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Lake Park, Georgia.

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Austell, GA and delivered the excavator.  My next load is in Savannah.  Started that way.  Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Metter, GA.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Left at sunrise.  Small amount of bumper to bumper traffic in Baton Rouge.  The rest of the day went pretty good.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Shorter, Alabama.  Will deliver tomorrow before noon.

Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Got up early this morning and drove in to Houston.  Of course I went in at rush hour and in the rain.  LOTS of bumper to bumper traffic going in. Finally got there and loaded a Caterpillar 325FL Excavator, in the rain and mud, that is going to Austell, Georgia.  

Left there in good time.  Did a lot better getting out of Houston than I did going in.  But that's where it ended.  Between Baytown and Beaumount, TX there was a wreck.  It took 3 hours to go about 7 miles.  Sat totally still for an hour and a half.  Once I made it through that I continued on into Louisiana and stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Egan, Louisiana.

Monday, December 9, 2019

Went the rest of the way to Georgetown, TX and delivered the dozer first thing this morning.  Didn't have another load yet so I started off in the direction that most likely I would get one.  Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Shulenburg, TX. to wait.  This afternoon I got my next load.  It is tomorrow in Houston.  I'll be here for the night.  I'm only about an hour and a half from Houston.

Saturday, December 7, 2019

Left long before sunrise this morning.  Stopped in Dallas and got the truck washed.  Boy, did it need it!!!  Looks a lot better now.  Drove down to the Flying J truck stop in Jarrell, Texas for the rest of the weekend.  I deliver about 15 miles from here Monday morning.    Now it is time for College FOOTBALL !!!!!

First up is the SEC Championship game.

Then the Big 10 Championship game.

Friday, December 6, 2019

Left this morning a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a great day on the road.  No problems at all.  Drove 540 miles non-stop.  I didn't even have to stop for the restroom.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Rockwall, Texas.

Thursday, December 5, 2019

Left real early this morning and timed it so that I arrived at Creve Coeur, Illinois a little bit before they opened at 7 am CST.  Loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that is going to Georgetown, Texas.  

Left there and went over to a truck stop in Morton, IL across the street from a Wal Mart.  Got all my prescriptions refilled. Then hit the road.  Drove down to the TA truck stop in Matthews, Missouri for the night.

Wednesday, December 4, 2019

As soon as my ten hours was up at 1 am CST I left.  Drove to the Daily terminal in Bettendorf, Iowa.  Had several problems with my trailer fixed.  Then went to the tire shop and got two new tires for the truck.  After that, went back to the Daily terminal, stopping for lunch on the way.  I just got a load to pick up tomorrow so all is good.  

Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Left a little after sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to the job site just west of Highmore, SD.  It was about an hour from the truck stop.  Here is a time-lapse video of the last part of the journey...

After I got empty I started heading east.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Sioux Falls, SD.

Monday, December 2, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning.  My South Dakota permit expired yesterday.  Sent an email before I left telling my dispatcher that.  When I got to South Dakota I still didn't have my new permit.  I sent another email telling them I was at South Dakota.  I kept going anyway.  I saw on the Daily Express web site, where I can check the status of my permits, that my SD permit was not even ordered until 6 minutes AFTER I had entered South Dakota.  Fortunately I was not going to cross any State weigh stations.  Roads were not bad today.  The plows were out doing clean up work.  Glad I waited until today.  The worst road was the last one.  A little over 50 miles of mostly ice.  Here is a very short, edited video of part of it.

Stopped at a small truck stop in Wolsey, South Dakota for the night.  Still don't have my South Dakota permit.  This is what I look like now...

I deliver about an hour from here.  This is the closest place to park.  Still getting over this cold or flu so I'm going to take a nap.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

The rain changed to snow last night.  Maybe an inch or two fell.  When I got up it was still snowing but by the time I finished breakfast it had stopped.  I left a little after sunrise.  I started off west bound on I-90.  The winds changed direction from yesterday.  Very heavy wind from the north and blowing the snow that fell last night.  The plows were out and doing a pretty good job of keeping the road open.  I didn't get to where I wanted to today.  The wind and blowing snow were just too much.   I thought that if I continued on my permit might be in jeopardy due to the conditions.  Plus, I was at the point where my permit route took me off the Interstate and on back roads.  Wasn't sure how the road conditions were on them.  So I decided to give it another day for conditions to improve, and for me to feel better. The extra sleep I have been getting has really helped. I stopped at a small truck stop in Worthington, Minnesota.  There is a pretty good restaurant here.  Here is an edited time-lapse video of a little bit of the roads and where I stopped for the day.

                       

Saturday, November 30, 2019

The weather did get worse overnight.  This morning it was a little foggy and raining.  It got real windy too.  Waited a little for the fog to lift.  When it did I left.  It didn't take long for the wind to wreck havoc with that stupid tarp.  Before long I had a nice balloon back there that was flapping like a flag.  Wasn't a thing I could do about it.  I had used up all my bungee cords and it was impossible to throw another strap over it in the wind.  So I kept going.  Somewhere along the road today I lost a very expensive flag that fell off when a bolt loosened up on it's own.  I stopped for the rest of the day at the TA truck stop in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  It was cold and still raining but at least the wind had died down.  I started off by replacing the bracket that fell off with a spare that I had.  Of course, the way things were going today, the spare didn't fit.  Then it was time to try to do something with that stupid tarp.  When it ballooned up and started flapping it flung off about 1/4 of the bungee cords and tore off the "D" rings.  Then the ends of the tarp shredded.  Big mess.  I threw another strap over it all and tried my best to secure it.  That makes 5 straps I have on the damn thing trying to hold down the tarp.   I still have a long way to go too.  I am routed all over the place.  Not a straight shot to delivery.  It about doubles my mileage to get there from here.

Minnesota Route

South Dakota Route

Now I can try to relax and get over this cold or flu bug that I have.  Last weekend of regular season college football.  Rivalry Weekend !! 

Friday, November 29, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning.  Nice day driving under a heavy overcast sky.  Traffic was very light too.  Wish I could shake this cold or flu or whatever I've got.  Stopped a little early to get some rest at the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa.  Weather is supposed to deteriorate tonight into tomorrow.

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Left before sunrise this morning.  Met my Kentucky escort car at the Tennessee / Kentucky state line.  He fell in behind me and we continued on.  When we entered into Illinois he dropped off as I continued on.  Had to stop before noon today because of the Thanksgiving holiday travel restrictions.  I stopped at the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  Will be here until Friday morning.

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

After a full nights sleep my back felt a lot better, although not great.  I'm also getting the flu, it seems.  Going through facial tissue like crazy!!  I'm also eating Cold Eeze like candy to try to keep it from getting a good foothold on me.  Hope it works.  Left the Oasis a half hour before sunrise this morning with my escort car close behind.  When I crossed into Mississippi he dropped off as I continued on.  Stopped for the night at a crappy little Exon station in Friendship, Tennessee.  It is a convenience store with some truck parking.  The inside was disgusting!!  Fortunately there is a Dollar store right next to it.  I went there and bought stuff for dinner.  I'll get started early tomorrow morning.  I have another escort car meeting me at the Kentucky line.   Oh, by the way, here is a photo of the hub I have.

Going to sleep early again.  Sure hope I feel better tomorrow.  Good night.

Monday, November 25, 2019

Was at the GE plant in Pensacola early this morning. Didn't get loaded right away.  There were over 15 trucks there.  Finally got loaded with a wind energy hub that is going to South Dakota.  Tarped it and sent in my photos.  The tarp I used was not big enough for our people, even though every other truck in there used a tarp that was 1/10 the size of the one I used.  Had to take the tarp off and put on a bigger on to make everyone happy (except me, but I don't count). By the time I finished I could hardly move.  My back is in so much pain.  My escort car arrived and we left.   Didn't go very far.  Stopped for the night at the Oasis truck stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.  Had a long hot shower.  That helped, but not much.  Staying in bed the rest of the night.  Sure hope I feel better in the morning.  Back pain really sucks!!

Saturday, November 23, 2019

Left real early this morning and drove to the Oasis Truck Stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.  I'll be here until Sunday evening.

Now it is time for SEC football

Next week it's...

Friday, November 22, 2019

Delivered the excavator first thing this morning.  Next load is Monday in Pensacola, Florida.  Started that way.  Last night I got an email that said my truck was due for basic maintenance ( oil, filters, grease, etc.)  So on my way to Pensacola I stopped in Lafayette, Louisiana and had that done.  I was not as lucky going through Baton Rouge today as I was yesterday.  Lots of bumper to bumper traffic.  Got through that and continued to the Petro truck stop in Hammond, LA for the night.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Nothing exciting at all.  Surprisingly, I made it through Baton Rouge and Lake Charles without any bumper to bumper traffic.  That rarely happens.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Orange, Texas.  Deliver about 20 minutes from here in the morning.

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning.  Had to stop at the SC / NC state line to wait for my SC permit to come in.  I waited at the Pilot truck stop there.  It finally arrived at 11 am and I was back on the road.  Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Cusseta, Alabama.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left.  I was on the road at 2:15 am EST.  Drove the rest of the way to Kernersville, North Carolina and loaded a John Deere 300 Excavator that is going down to Beaumont, Texas.

Left there and drove to a small truck stop in Linwood, NC for the night.  Still do not have my South Carolina permit so I may stay here until it comes in. Phone is off.  Going to sleep now.  Good night.

Monday, November 18, 2019

Was at the Port of Savannah at 7 am this morning.  Loaded a Caterpillar 330 Excavator that went to Albany, Georgia.  

Had to wait for about 30 minutes for my Georgia permit to come it.  Even so, I was still out of there before 9 am.  Drove to Albany, GA and delivered the excavator.  Next load is in Kernersville, North Carolina.  Started that direction but didn't get very far.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Vienna, GA.  Going to sleep now so I can get started as soon as my 10 hours is up.  Good night.

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Finished up everything that needed to be done on the trailer this morning.  Then I drove to the TA in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  I load at the Port of Savannah tomorrow morning.

Saturday, November 16, 2019

Gators did good today!!

Didn't get a lot done yesterday because of the weather.  But so far a lot got done.  There is still more to do tomorrow.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left.  That was 3:15 am EST.  Drove to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville, FL.  Then was first in line at the Tag Office.  Got that fixed.  When our mechanic came in I had some problems fixed on the trailer.  There were quite a few.  Here are a few photos of some of them.

I finished putting together my new wide load mirrors.

Went past the Budweiser plant and saw the Budweiser Clydesdale horses were there.

The three trucks they ride in

Portable Stable

Getting a bath

Still more work to do on the trailer tomorrow - weather permitting.  Supposed to rain all day tomorrow.