Saturday, February 19, 2022

 This morning I loaded a JLG 660SJ Boom Lift that is going to Marianna, Florida.  

Glad I did it this morning.  It got very windy and cold this afternoon.  As soon as my reset is finished, I'll hit the road south.

Friday, February 18, 2022

 Left very early this morning, in the rain, and arrived at delivery in South Plainfield, NJ just after they opened.  Delivered the wheel loader.  Next load is waiting for me at the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  I drove back there.  I was out of hours for the week when I go there so I'll do a reset while I'm here.  Tomorrow I'll load my next machine.  When I got to Carlisle, I used the company pick-up truck and went to Walmart and spent too much money (as usual) restocking the truck.  Then went and did 3 loads of laundry.  Now it's time for some much-needed rest.

Thursday, February 17, 2022

 Left at 12:30 this morning.  Another nice day on the road.  Nothing exciting.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Greencastle, Pennsylvania after driving another 685 miles.  And I beat the rain!!  Didn't start raining until after I got here.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

 Left at about 2:30 this morning.  Only a few traffic back-ups today.  Other than that, after driving 690 miles I stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Fairview, Tennessee.  That is about a half-hour west of Nashville.  I'll get started again around midnight.  But for now, the phone is off and I'm going to sleep.  Good night.

Tuesday, February 15, 2022

 I drove the 245 miles over to San Antonio and got there as they opened this morning.  I took my trailer apart and got everything out in preparation for my machine.  The machine I was loading, a Caterpillar D6 Dozer, was not ready yet.  It had an air conditioning problem that was supposed to be fixed yesterday. They hadn't even started on it yet.  So I waited.  Helped another driver load a water tanker on his truck while I waited.  Also saw them take my machine into the shop.  

Yesterday I forgot to tell you that I passed one of those self driving trucks.  It had a human sitting in the driver's seat but he wasn't doing anything.  It was going slower that the traffic flow and while I was behind it the brake lights kept coming on.  When I went to pass him there was nothing in front of it to cause it to keep braking.  I must say, I'm not a fan.  There is no way that a self driving truck could do the oversized loads we do.  Impossible.

After a couple hours I was told it wouldn't be ready anytime soon.  They have to order parts.  I was given a different load that wasn't too far away.  I drove over to New Braunfels, TX and loaded a John Deere 544 Wheel loader with a bucket and forks that is going to South Plainfield, New Jersey.

Left there and started heading north.  Just north of Austin there was a lot of construction.  I-35 there was 3 lanes wide.  There was a semi truck on my right.  I could not see the signs that said his lane was ending. This was a close one.  

I stopped for my 10 hours at the Petro Truck Stop in Carl's Corner, Texas.  This is the place Willie Nelson was part owner until Petro bought it.

Monday, February 14, 2022

 Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Real good day on the road, for the most part.  Not too many traffic slow-downs going through Dallas.  My permit route going around Houston was a pain in the butt!!   Lots of construction and stop lights!!  Of course, I got only 3 green lights the whole way.  Being over-height I understand why I was routed that way.  There are a LOT of low bridges in Houston.  Still, it was a pain!!!  I finally made it down to Galveston.  There were a couple cruise ships in port today.  I delivered the tractor.  Being low on hours, I parked in the parking area across from the entrance to the Port for the night.  I load tomorrow morning in San Antonio.  I'll be there when they open.

Sunday, February 13, 2022

 Left 40 minutes before sunrise this morning. Great day on the road.  Saw a lot of brush fires in Oklahoma.  After driving 556 miles I stopped at a casino truck stop in Stringtown, Oklahoma for the night. So far the repairs that I made yesterday are holding fine.