Saturday, October 21, 2023

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning and had an uneventful drive down to the Petro truck stop in Reddick, Florida.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, October 20, 2023

 Left Baytown, TX a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Got stuck in some stop-n-go traffic in Beaumont, TX from a wreck.  Then some more in Baton Rouge, LA.  After that, no more problems.  Stopped for the night at the Oasis truck stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

 Left very early this morning.  Wanted to get through Houston before rush hour.  Didn't want a repeat of yesterday.  I got to Dickinson quite a bit before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a Caterpillar 966 Wheel Loader that is going to Ocala, Florida.

While loading, I noticed that a tire on my trailer had lost air.  After securing the load I left and drove to the TA Express truck stop in South Baytown, Texas.  They didn't have a repair shop there so road service was called.  The road service truck arrived and he got the stuff out of his truck to get started BUT one of the air lines from the compressor on his truck broke.  He had to pack up all his stuff and go back to his shop to repair it.  He'd come back when he fixed the hose. He didn't come back until about 4:30 PM CDT.  

Here is the nail in the tire.

I had run out of hours a long time ago so I stayed there for the night.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

 When my 10 hours were up I left.  Arrived in Dallas right at rush hour.  Dallas traffic was a total mess. The shortest way to my delivery location was shut down so I went around the south side of Dallas and then up.  It took an hour and a half longer than it should have to get to delivery.  But I finally made it and delivered the excavator. My next load is down between Galveston and Houston in Dickinson, Texas.  I started off that way.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Fairfield, Texas for the night.  While doing my post-trip inspection I found a nail in one of my tires.

Pulled it out and tested the tire for air leaks.  

Very glad that there were no air leaks!!  Here is the nail.

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  A wreck caused a huge traffic backup just south of Atlanta.  Was able to go around it.  Other than that, nice day on the road.  Stopped at the Love's truck stop in  Moody, Alabama, and got my oil changed. I continued to the Petro truck stop in Jackson, Mississippi for my 10.  615 miles today.

Monday, October 16, 2023

 Today was nothing but a frustrating day.  One frustrating thing after another!!  First off, the Port in Brunswick is not ready for the volume of heavy equipment that is starting to come in and go out of the Port.  With the Port of Savannah switching over to strictly containers, all the heavy machinery is moving to Brunswick.  Plus Case-IH has stopped shipping from the Port of Baltimore because too many parts came up missing from there.  They are now sending everything to Brunswick.  The Port of Brunswick does not allow anyone in before 8 AM, and not a minute before.  I left the truck stop at about 8:15 this morning and drove the three miles to the Port and got in line.  It took over a half hour just to get through the main gate.  Then once I got in and parked I went to check in.  I was 5th in line.  We stood there for over an hour and a half just to get checked in.  They finally unloaded the tires and boxes.  Then had to wait for an escort to another part of the Port to unload the tractor.  The escort came over eventually and took us to where we were to unload.  There were two other trucks waiting with me.  We went and unloaded.  Then I had to wait for my paperwork.  I didn't get out of there until after 11 AM.  My next load was at the Keen yard in Pooler, GA.  Had a 1:30 PM loading appointment.  Drove up there and arrived at 12:45.  Checked in and went around to get in line to load.  Fortunately, that didn't take too long.  Loaded a Volvo ECR145EL Excavator that is going to Carrollton, Texas.

I still have my machine driver. I got him a safety vest.

After loading went through the wash bay and they washed the mud off the machine.  Then to the check out line.  Sat there for over two hours waiting to check out.  This was what was in front of me waiting.

This is what was lined up behind me waiting.

I didn't get out of there until after 4:30.  I finally left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Ellabell, Georgia for my 10 hours.  After I got here I got an email that said my truck was due for an oil change.  Checked the shop here and they couldn't do it.  Went in for dinner at Arby's (the only food here) and they ran out of buns!  So, I didn't eat there.  Hope tomorrow is better.  Good night!!

Sunday, October 15, 2023

 Much to my surprise, the Gators pulled it off!!!

They have next week off, then it is the Georgia Bulldogs!!  Oh boy!  There is no doubt that they will lose, it is just how bad it will be.