Thursday, October 6, 2011

Went and got my trailer at the yard.  It is definitely not as nice as the JRC trailer.  48 foot step deck.  It is pretty beat up.  Oh well, it works.  Then went over and picked up my first Daily Express load.  I'm not sure what they are except the paperwork says that they are steel castings.  Doesn't tell you very much, does it?  Anyway, there are 44,700 pounds of them and they are going to Wisconsin.

Finally got on the road.  Sure feels good to be back on the road again.  Drove to Gary, Indiana and stopped at the TA truck stop for the night.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Last day of orientation!!  Its done!!  I'm an official Daily Express driver now.  LOL  So far I'm very impressed with the entire organization. Very professional.  Everyone here, from the guys in the shop to all the office staff, are very nice and pleasent to talk with.  They really make you feel welcomed.  

They finished with my truck in the shop.  Here is my new look:

They also finished putting on my new (used) headache rack.  Looks pretty good.

Then I got all my stuff put on it - chains and binders.

The trailer is still not ready yet.  They have one thing on it to fix.  The shop will do that tonight and I'll pick it up in the morning.  Then it is over to pick up my load.  I'll be VERY glad to get back on the road again. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Orientation day today.  Got a bunch done.  One more day of orientation tomorrow.  I have a load waiting for me when its done.  Thats a good thing!!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Pulled into the Daily Express yard in Carlisle, PA first thing this morning.  Glad I got here a day early.  Got a few things done already.  The truck is in the shop and has had their inspection done on it already.  I'm checked into the hotel.  Orientation starts tomorrow at 8 am. So far so good.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

I'm all moved in up in Jacksonville.  Really enjoyed having a few days off.  Especially spending them with loved ones!!  Back to the road today.  Drove bobtail from Jax up to Hagerstown, MD today.  On my way to Carlisle, PA to the "home office" of Daily Express. Have orientation Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

This morning took the blown tire off the RV.  Looked at the one on the opposite side and it too was ready to blow.  I took that one off and took them both to be replaced.  $400 later I had 2 new tires.  Went back and put them on. Now I'm broke again!! 

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Moved from Pierson today.  I now live in Jacksonville.  Made two trips.  First one taking the big truck up and Mom followed.  We then went back for my RV.  She went home and I went back to Jax with the RV.  Going through Jax I blew a tire on the RV.  Made it home and I'll fix it in the morning.  Its always something!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Drove down to Miami this morning and delivered first thing.  Then drove back home.  Stopped and got the truck washed on the way.  Nice to be home!!

After I was home a while I talked to my dispatcher and told him that I was terminating my lease with JRC Transportation.  I am transferring to a different trucking company.  My new company is Daily Express.  Their home office is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  They have an office in Jacksonville.  That's the one I'll work out of.  To see more info on it go to this web site:      http://www.dailyexp.com/index.html      It is a very good site with lots of info and photos.    I cleaned all of my stuff out of the trailer and dropped the trailer in the yard.  Boy do I have a lot of stuff!!   More details to come in the days ahead.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Got on the road very early today.  Drove home.  Was home and in bed by 8:30 this morning.  Will leave very early in the morning so I can deliver this thing first thing in Miami.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Very uneventful day on the road.  In and out of rain all day.  Stopped in Kenley, NC and had routine maintenance (oil change, etc.) done on the truck.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Manning, SC.

Friday, September 23,3011

Went over to Carneys Point, NJ and loaded my partial load.  What a pain in the butt this one is!!  Some kind of printer and parts.  Loaded in the pouring rain.

Of course it had to be tarped!  Still raining!!

Then I went to a nearby truck stop and waited to see if they could find something else.  Thought we had a load, so I started that way.  Then we didn't have the load.  So I went to the TA truck stop at exit 18 on I-295 and waited again. Nothing.  So I'll head south in the morning.  Not making any money on this load!!  Needless to say, I'm a bit pissed!!

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Went into Hammonton, NJ first thing this morning and delivered.  Didn't have another load yet so I went to a service plaza on the Atlantic City Expressway.  Finally got another load!  BUT it loads tomorrow in Carneys Point, NJ.  It is only a partial so I hope they find something else to fill up the trailer. This one is going to Miami.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Nothing exciting today.  Drove to a service plaza on the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) just outside Philadelphia.  Will deliver this load tomorrow morning in New Jersey in Hammonton.  That's about half way down to Atlantic City.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

No wild goose chases today.  Drove into Lisbon, IA for my next load.  Picked up 44,500 pounds of railroad grade crossing panels. They are the black things they put between the tracks that vehicles drive over at railroad crossings.  They are going to New Jersey.

Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Went to Waterloo and delivered the stands first thing this morning to a staging area for the wind blades.  There are 240 blades in there now with a lot more on the way.

This is what the stands look like when they are in use.

After that went on a wild goose chase.  Had a load and started off that way and it got canceled.  Then got another one and went that way and it too got canceled.  I ended up at a small truck stop in Independence, Iowa for the night.  Hope tomorrow goes better!!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Short day today.  Drove down to the Flying J truck stop in Evansdale, Iowa for the rest of the weekend.  Deliver Monday morning just down the road from here in Waterloo.  The trees are starting to change colors here.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Drove over to Aberdeen, South Dakota for my next load.  Went to a place that makes those huge blades that are on the towers that are part of that "green energy" crap.  Anyway, I picked up a bunch of metal stands that the blades sit on when they are on the ground.  They are going to Waterloo, Iowa for a Monday morning delivery.

Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Went over to Thermo King and had service done on my APU today.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Went up into Killdeer, North Dakota and delivered the panels to a school.  They are building an addition to it.  Now I'm on a reset.  Will be in Bismarck, ND until Friday.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Got on the road before sun up again.  Mostly back roads today. Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Belle Fourche, South Dakota.  Will deliver tomorrow morning up in North Dakota.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Got started early again. Drove into Tooele, UT (just west of Salt Lake City) and delivered the snow pushers.  Fortunately my next load was just around the corner from there. I wish that happened more often. Picked up a load of insulated panels. They are going to Killdeer, North Dakota. Yes, there really is a town named Killdeer.

Stopped at the TA truck stop in Salt Lake City for the night.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Started real early at 3:30 this morning and drove 768 miles stopping only to pee twice and fuel once.  Stopped for the night in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the TA truck stop.  Now its football time!!

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Another nice driving day on the road.  Drove from Harborcreek, PA to The World's Largest Truck Stop, Iowa 80 in Walcott, Iowa for the night.

Friday, September 9, 2011 Evening

Had no problems getting to Rochester for my next load.  Loaded 15 Snow Pushers.  They are the big snow plows that are used on front end loaders and skid steers to clear large areas of snow ie: mall parking lots and airport tarmacs. They are going out to Tooele, Utah.  Oh happy day!!  Getting out of the north east!!!!

Drove down to Harborcreek, PA to a real truck stop for the night.  Ate a real dinner and took a very long, hot, and well deserved shower.

Friday, September 9, 2011 Morning

The State Police came over to us this morning and escorted all of us out of the truck stop.  They took us west in the east bound lane in a long line.  All in all there was at least 100 trucks in the line.  I was up front and 15th in line. 

The water had gone down A LOT since yesterday.  Could easilly see where the road was flooded out yesterday.

We stopped for a few minutes while the cops got the trucks from another truck stop.

Here is some of the flooding we saw along the way.  Remember, the water had gone down a lot since yesterday.

The white dots are bales of hay floating.

This is where we crossed the Susquehanna River.

Then over the river again.

A little while later they put us back on the west bound lane and turned us loose. 

Went into Elmira, NY and delivered.  Now on my way to Rochester for my next load.

Thursday, September 8, 2011 Morning

Tried to get on the road to deliver this morning and didn't get very far.  The intersection of Rt. 17 at the west bound exit/enterance (exit 63) was flooded.  It wasn't last night when I stopped.  Rt. 17 is totally closed in both directions.  From what I hear, a lot of the back roads around here are flooded too.  Have no idea how long I'll be stuck here.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Finally got a load.  Went over to Palmer, Mass. and picked up a load of pipe.  Really great load!!  Only weighs 22,200 pounds.  Like driving with an empty trailer.  It is going to Elmira, NY.

It has been raining for the past three days.  The remnants of Tropical Storm Lee has caught up with me.  The flooding up here is amazing!!  Tried to take some photos of it but the stupid auto focus on the camera focused in on the rain on the window instead of what is outside!!  Oh well.  Had to take a detour off I-88 because of a mud slide across the road.  On a section of the detour the water was flooding across the road too.  The DOT was there with machinery and dump trucks trying desperately to keep the road open.  Went past a high school football field that was totally underwater. Could see the top half of the goal posts and the top few rows of the bleachers.  Along Rt. 17 the water was almost to the road in places. The little streams and creeks were raging rapids.  It was really cool to see.  Stopped for the night at a crappy truck stop in Nichols, NY.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Another dull day. Delivered first thing this morning in Athens, NY at the power plant.  Nothing lined up after that so I went to the closest service plaza on the NY Thruway (I-87) and that's where I stayed for the night.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Got on the road at 3:30 again this morning.  Nothing exciting today.  Nice drive today.  Stopped until Tuesday morning at the TA truck stop in Maybrook, NY.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Last night when I stopped in Hammond, LA I had already driven into Tropical Storm Lee. Rain, that's all.  This morning when I got on the road at 3:30 am it was still raining.  A bit breezy and raining harder than last night with periods of very heavy rain.  After about two hours I drove out of it. 

FOOTBALL IS FINALLY BACK!!!!!!!  I love this time of year!!! 

GO GATORS!!!!!

Passed a lot of Alabama fans on the way to Tuscaloosa for the game.  Later on passed a lot of Tennessee fans on their way to Knoxville. 

Stopped for the night at a TA truck stop in Baileyton, TN

Friday, September 2, 2011

Finally got another load.  Went into Houston and picked up four crates.  Each had a turbine blade in it.  They are going to a power plant in Athens, NY.



Thursday, September 1, 2011

Had a load to pick up in Houston.  Got on the road headed that way and the load got canceled so I stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Brookshire, TX to wait for another one.  Looks like I'll be here at least until tomorrow.

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Got on the road at 3 am this morning.  No problems from the fire on I-35.  Only a little bumper to bumper traffic in Fort Worth.  Went down to Harwood, TX and delivered the railroad ties to a job site where they are building a railroad yard or something.  Whatever they are doing, it is a big project.  After that went to a small truck stop in Flatonia, TX for the night.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Left Colman, SD early this morning and drove most of the morning in the rain.  It finally stopped and the sun came out.  The further south I went, the hotter it got.  Left South Dakota this morning in the low 60s and when I stopped for the night it was 104.  So far I have managed to dodge the scales.  No overweight tickets so far!  Hope I can make it all the way tomorrow with the same good luck.   Stopped at a small truck stop in Perry, Oklahoma for the night.  Huge brush fire just outside Oklahoma City to the east of I-35.  Several houses burned down and many people evacuated.  Hope they don't close I-35 tomorrow morning.

Monday, August 29, 2011

My next load was up in Solon, MN.  That is way up just a few miles from the Canadian border. Picked up a load of railroad ties.  Very heavy load.  Right at the max!  Too much fuel and I'm overweight. 

Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Colman, SD.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Left Omaha this morning and delivered the pipe in Devils Lake, ND.   Then drove back to Grand Forks, North Dakota to a truck stop there for the rest of the weekend.   Went past the Grand Forks Air Force Base.   http://www.grandforks.af.mil/   Saw a drone, the unmanned airplanes that they use for recon and to drop bombs in Afghanistan. It flew right over my head.  Really cool to see in person!!

Yesterday and today had to do a few detours because the Missouri River is still flooding some of the roads.  I-29 was closed in a few areas because of it. The water has gone down a lot but it is still way above flood stage.  In a couple places on I-29 the sand bag dams are still in place.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Went to Saginaw, Texas (basically, Ft. Worth) and picked up a section of pipe 44 feet long and weighing 31,130 pounds.  It is going to North Dakota.

After loading I drove 724 miles up to Omaha, Nebraska for the night.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Drove to Lewisville, TX and delivered the steel first thing this morning.  After that went into Dallas to the truck show at the convention center.     http://www.gatsonline.com      Then drove out to the Pilot truck stop in Ft. Worth.  Load some pipe tomorrow morning going to North Dakota.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Drove into Red Bud, Illinois for the second part of my load.  8,000 pounds of flat steel sheets.  That place was way out in the middle of nowhere!!  Laterally in the middle of a corn field.

Fought with the stupid tarps all day.  I hate those things!!!   Stopped for the night at a rest area on the Oklahoma Turnpike ( I-44 ) about 25 miles southwest of Tulsa or about 90 miles northeast of Oklahoma City.  Will deliver tomorrow in Lewisville, Texas (suburb of Dallas).  DANG it is hot down here!!!!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Went into Indianapolis this morning and got rid of the fork lift.  Then drove back up to Butler, IN and picked up the first half of my next load.  A steel coil weighing 35,600 pounds.

Drove down to Effingham, IL to the TA truck stop for the night.  Load the second half of this load in the morning just outside St. Louis.  Then off to Texas.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Delivered the structural braces first thing this morning at the Home Depot Distribution Center in Romulus, MI.  Then waited all day to see if there was another partial load that I could take down to Indianapolis. There wasn't anything so I drove down to the Petro truck stop in Gaston, IN for the night.  Will deliver the fork lift in the morning.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Pretty uneventful day on the road. Passed the clean up of a semi truck fire.

Drove up to Wapakoneta, Ohio.  Will get in a reset before delivering the first half of this load Monday morning.

Friday, August 19, 2011

Drove up to Jackson, MS and picked up a fork lift that is going to Indianapolis, IN.

After that went up to Byhalia, MS (that's just south of Memphis, TN) and picked up some "structural braces" that are going to Romulus, MI (that's just outside Detroit).

Stopped for the night in West Memphis, Arkansas.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Drove over to Inglis, FL and picked up a load of crane mats.

Took them over to Pearl River, LA and delivered them.  After that went to Slidell, LA for the night.  Had a hole in my exhaust fixed while there.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

So much for a nice relaxing day off.  The parts I needed to repair my truck arrived yesterday.  Today I changed out a defective motor in my satellite dish.  Then the mechanic at the shop replaced the lower coolant tube on the big truck.  Got a stainless steel one so this one won't ever rust out again.  Also used silicone hose for it. Meanwhile my blue truck was in the shop getting the AC fixed.  Needed a new fan clutch.  Boy! was that expensive!!  To make things worse, found a large hole in my big truck's exhaust.  Have to repair that real fast.  Will do that after I deliver my next load which I pick up in the morning in Inglis, FL.  I'm bleeding money!!!!!!

Monday, August 15, 2011

Delivered the transformers first thing this morning in West Palm Beach.  Drove up to Orlando and had the trailer looked at at the shop there.  Then drove home. Will be home for a couple days.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Nothing exciting today.  Got on the road early and drove home.  Got there and in my bed by 10 am.  Will deliver tomorrow morning in West Palm Beach.

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Left Mt. Vernon, Illinois this morning and had a nice relaxing day on the road.  Stopped and got the truck serviced - oil change, grease, and all the filters changed.  Even made it through Atlanta with NO bumper to bumper traffic.  Weekend driving is really nice.  Stopped for the night in Tifton, Georgia at the Pilot truck stop.