Thursday, March 15, 2012

Went in to Milwaukee and delivered the steel this morning.  After that went to the Daily yard just outside Milwaukee in Lannon and picked up a Case 290 Tractor.  It is going to Dillon, SC.

On the way out of Milwaukee went past the "home office" of Harley Davidson.  Also drove past Miller Park, where the Milwaukee Brewers play baseball.

Went back through Chicago but this time without bumper to bumper traffic. Drove down to the Petro truck stop in Greensburg, Indiana for the night.  That is south east of Indianapolis.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Left North Canton early this morning and drove up to Cleveland and picked up my next load.  It is 9 sheets of steel weighing 33500 pounds going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Believe it or not, this is an oversize load.  A few of the pieces hung over the side 3 inches.   After I got it all secured I got on the road and drove up to Milwaukee.  Made it through Chicago with some bumper to bumper traffic, but not as bad as it usually is.  The sun was in the right place and made the Chicago skyline beautiful!

Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Richfield, Wisconsin.  Will deliver in the morning.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Drove in to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 316 Excavator.

Finished with only 15 minutes to have to wait until curfew was over at 9 am. Got on the road and drove to Parkersburg, West Virginia and delivered the excavator this afternoon.

My next load is tomorrow morning in Cleveland, Ohio.  Drove to the TA truck stop in North Canton, Ohio and got the last parking spot there!  Went past the Pro Football Hall of Fame again.  They are building a large addition to the building.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Got all my little repair "chores" done this morning. Daily has a car we can use when we are there so I went to Chilli's for lunch.  It was really good to taste real food again!!  My next load is tomorrow morning at the port in Baltimore so I drove down to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Drove down to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA today.  Will spend the rest of the weekend here.  Monday I will have a small chip in my windshield repaired.  Found a problem with the ABS system in the trailer so that will get fixed Monday (hopefully) too.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Left Raphine, VA as soon as I could this morning which, in Virginia, was 1/2 hour after sunrise.  Drove straight through to Middletown, NY and delivered the dozer.  I love driving those things!!  Big boy toys!!  Had snow flurries on and off through Pennsylvania.  After I finished delivering in New York it snowed real hard but it didn't last long.  Then the sun came out. Went to the TA truck stop in Maybrook, NY for the night. Don't have another load lined up yet.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Left Manning, SC this morning and drove down to North Charleston, SC and loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer first thing this morning.  Just as I started to tie it down it started to rain.  It stopped raining when I finished.  Had to put it on the trailer a little bit crooked to minimize the width as much as possible.  Otherwise the blade on the front would have to come off.  The blade is 13 feet wide.  Had to get the width under 12 feet.  By removing a couple pins, angling the blade, and angling the dozer got the width down to 11 feet 6 inches.

I got my soaking wet and muddy self in the truck and down the road after I got it secured.  Had a great day on the road.  Drove to Raphine, VA to the Petro truck stop on I-81 for the night and a good scrubbing!!!!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Left Morehead, KY as soon as the sun came up.  Drove to the Charleston, WV area and waited for curfew to end.  At 9 am I was back on the road again.  Drove straight through to Wilson, NC and delivered the tractor this afternoon.  My next load is down in North Charleston, SC.  It is a heavy one!  I'll be overweight as well as over width.  Headed toward Charleston.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Manning, SC.  A very familiar truck stop.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Before I left Walcott, Iowa this morning I stopped and got the truck and trailer washed.  It was really filthy and I could not stand it any more!!  Now its all clean, at least for a few days.  Had a very nice and uneventful day on the road.  Made it past Cincinnati before curfew but didn't make it past Lexington, KY.  Stopped at a truck stop and had dinner.  When curfew was over at 6 I got back on the road and drove for another hour before I ran out of daylight.  Stopped for the night at a Small truck stop in Morehead, KY. 

Monday, March 5, 2012

Snowed all day yesterday but it didn't start to stick until about 4 pm.  Got about an inch on the grass but no accumulation on the roads.  Just made the roads very icy.  Delivered the generator first thing this morning.  Then drove up to Waterloo to John Deere and loaded another tractor. 

This one is going to Wilson, North Carolina.  Drove to Walcott, Iowa to spend the night at the world famous Iowa 80 truck stop.  Ran out of daylight.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Left Bloomington, IL early this morning and drove to Eddyville, Iowa.  I deliver Monday morning about a half mile from the convience store where I am parked. 

Drove through Ottumwa, Iowa on the way.  Ottumwa is the home of fictional character Corporal Walter Eugene "Radar" O'Reilly played by Gary Burghoff in the TV show M*A*S*H.

Friday, March 2, 2012

Left early this morning and had a pretty good day on the road.  Misty rain on and off most of the morning. 

East of Indianapolis the weather hit.  Had heavy rain and a short bit of pea sized hail.  Going around Indianapolis still had heavy rain.  Then had nickle sized hail.  I pulled off the road under an overpass to protect my windshield.  Several cars did too.  One IDIOT!!  - and I really would love to know what was going through this moron's mind - STOPPED right in the middle of the interstate under the overpass.  In the center lane!!   Just stopped and sat there.  A semi truck came up behind him and almost PLOWED that fool into next week.  He was so lucky that the driver of that truck was able to stop in time.  He was just inches - and I really do mean inches - from that idiots back bumper.  The hail didn't last long and I was back on my way again. 

West of Indianapolis it cleared up and the sun was out.  When I drove into Illinois the sun was gone again and it was very overcast.  The wind had picked up.  Misty rain returned for a little while.  But the cross wind was really something.  The National Weather Service said that it was 20 to 30 mph sustained with gusts up to 45 mph.  I was hit by a few of those gusts!!  Like getting hit broadside by a train!!. 

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Bloomington, Illinois.

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Delivered the excavator first thing this morning then headded for my next load in Newberry, SC.  On the way found out that my loading appointment was tomorrow morning at 8 am.  Since I had plenty of time I stopped at Thermo King in Charlotte, NC and had my APU fixed again!!  Another $200 but I think it is finally fixed right.  Back on the road to SC.  When I got down there I decided to stop in and see if I could get loaded today instead of in the morning.  Most of the time this does not work, this time it did!!  I got  loaded with a Caterpillar generator and some parts for it.

It is going to Eddyville, Iowa for a Monday delivery.  They have a crane scheduled.  Got back on the road and drove to Naples, North Carolina to a small truck stop there for the night.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Went over to the Daily yard in Baltimore this morning and loaded up a John Deere 225 Excavator without the boom.  They look so weird without the boom attached.  They drive real funny too.  Very light in the front, almost bouncy. 

As soon as 9 am arrived I left and headed for Kernersville, NC.  Could not go through the tunnel or over the bridge in Baltimore so I had to go about 40 + miles around on I-695.  It took an hour and fifteen minutes to get back to I-95 south of Baltimore.  A trip that would normally only take about ten minutes.  I also got lucky with the weather.  It started raining as soon as I pulled out of the yard in Baltimore.  Rained hard for about half the day, then cleared.  Drove down to John Deere in Kernersville, NC and spent the night there.  Unload in the morning.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Got on the road early this morning.  Drove pretty much non-stop to Dundalk, MD and delivered the tractor and stuff.  My next load is tomorrow morning.  It is at the Daily Express yard in Baltimore. I'll go get it in the morning.  Stayed the night at the TA truck stop in Baltimore.  Had a very nice visit with my brother and nephew too. 

Monday, February 27, 2012

Got over to John Deere in Waterloo early this morning to pick up my next load.  I was not early enough!  I was number 29 in line!!! It took forever to get loaded today.  I took a nice nap while waiting.  When I finally got loaded I got a John Deere tractor, four tires, hubs, and a light kit.

I'm taking these things to the port in Dundalk, MD.  The tractor is going to Germany and the tires and two crates of parts are going to St. Petersburg, Russia.

After I finally got that stuff on board and tied down I drove to the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio for the night.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Left Iowa 80 early and delivered the wheel loader first thing this morning in Cedar Rapids, IA.  My next load is Monday morning in Waterloo, IA.  Drove up there to the Pilot truck stop for the rest of the weekend.  Load just down the road from here.  I'm so glad to have my APU back again!!!

Friday, February 24, 2012

I get real lucky!!  There was about a half an inch of slush on the ground this morning.  I heard on the radio that at about mile marker 40 on I-94 in Michigan the roads got progressively worse.  I did good!!

Drove down to Thermo King in Portage, Indiana and had my APU fixed.  I have been without it for over two weeks and missed it real bad!!  $887 later I was out the door and on the road. 

Still snowing but not sticking, melting right away.  Drove to Walcott, Iowa to the Iowa 80 truck stop for the night. No more snow, just real windy and cold!!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Got on the road at sun up and drove up to Marion, Michigan.  Got there just before noon and unloaded the pipe layer.  Next load was in Novi, MI.  That is just outside of Detroit.  Drove down there and loaded a Caterpillar 924 Hz wheel loader.  It is going to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

The weather report is for 4 to 10 inches of snow north of I-80 and rain/snow in the I-80 area 1 to 4 inches possible.  It was supposed to start this afternoon.  I was flying to get my next load on and down the road before the weather got bad.  After loading in Novi the weather still had not gotten bad yet.  Just overcast.  Drove west on I-94 toward Lake Michigan.  I got rain about half way across.  In the Kalamazoo area there was heavy wet snow (more like slush) falling from the sky.  It soon changed back to rain.  Drove all the way to the TA truck stop in Sawyer, MI at exit 12.  623 miles today and all of it in Michigan.  So far it is still raining.  Tomorrow could be interesting.  Then again it might not.  We shall see.....

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Got on the road at 9 am today.  Got pulled in at a weigh station in Pennsylvania for a DOT inspection. Did just fine except my trailer had some mud on it.  OH HEAVENS!!!  Other than that a very uneventful and nice day out on the road.  Drove to the Pilot truck stop in Ottawa Lake, Michigan for the night.    It is raining now.  Supposed to have some snow tonight, but not much.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Went to Jersey Shore to deliver this morning.  Myself and another Daily truck were both delivering the same stuff to the same place.  We were to meet the guy in charge at a gas station north of Jersey Shore at 8 am.  We were both there at 7:30.  At 8 the crane arrived there too.  The guy in charge met us.  After the crane guys got some coffee from the store we all left and drove to where we were to unload.  We went three miles up a one lane paved road that was made just for what we were doing.  Very busy road.  Had people at either end directing traffic. This road went way up into the woods.  Up and down and along side of big drop offs with no guard rail.  After we went the three miles we turned down a gravel road and went in another 2 miles to the site.  Looks like a natural gas well.  While they set up the crane I untied everything.  It took them forever to unload me.  Thought I'd never get out of there. 

When empty and back on real roads again I headed for my next load.  Went past Penn State College on the way.

Drove to Murrysville, PA which is just outside Pittsburgh.  Loaded a Caterpillar PL61 Pipe Layer.  It is going to Marion, Michigan.  Was able to get some photos for you loading.  For a change, someone else loaded the machine for me.

After I finished securing it I could not go anywhere since it is an oversize load and curfew was in effect.  I spent the night in their parking lot.  Will be able to go again after 9 am tomorrow morning.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Went over to Mason, Ohio this morning and picked up my next load.  It is a generator and three pallets of parts going over to Jersey Shore, PA.  I have no idea why they named their town Jersey Shore. It is not in New Jersey and it is nowhere near the shore!  Its in the middle of Pennsylvania!!

Got on the road and drove to the TA truck stop in Lamar, PA.  It is about 10 miles from where I deliver in the morning.

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Weekends without football are really boring!!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

Drove up to Middletown, Ohio.  Not too far from where I load Monday.  Got a room for the weekend.  Went to Wally World (Wal-Mart) and restocked the truck.  Was almost out of Mt. Dew, crisis averted!!

Friday, February 17, 2012

While doing my pre-trip inspection this morning I noticed that I was again leaking coolant.  Fortunately it was a very quick fix.  When the guy put one of the new hoses on he didn't get one of the hose clamps tight enough.  I tightened it up and added a gallon of coolant back into the system.  It was fine after that.  Got on the road at sun up.  My next escort met me at the Kentucky state line.  Drove all the way to Diamond, WV and unloaded early this afternoon.  Next load isn't until Monday in Mason, Ohio.  That's just north of Cincinnati.  Drove to Florence, KY to the TA truck stop for the night.

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Left the Petro in West Memphis this morning at 9 am local time.  Had a great day on the road.  Drove almost all the way through Tennessee and stopped for the night in Pioneer, Tennessee on I-75 at the Pilot truck stop.  Talked to my Kentucky and West Virginia escort and he will meet me at the state line in the morning.  Since I made it past Knoxville I can start at sun up in the morning.  I'll deliver tomorrow in Diamond, WV.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Started off today in the fog.  Started to clear in the Dallas area.  Later on it rained off and on for the rest of the day.  Finally got a full day in on the road.  My Arkansas escort was waiting for me in Texarkana so I didn't have to stop.  Drove all the way through Arkansas to West Memphis, Arkansas five miles from Tennessee.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop. Here is what I look like from the front.  Real easy to hit stuff on the side of the road.  Not big enough!!  I want bigger!!!!

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Got on the road this morning as soon as I could and drove to the north side of San Antonio to a TA truck stop in New Braunfels, Texas and had the trailer electrical cable fixed.  Instead of splicing the old one back on he made a new cable for it.  Much better.  Works great now.  Got back on the road again and drove as far as I could today.  Didn't make Dallas curfew so I stopped for the night at a Petro truck stop in Carl's Corner, Texas.  This place used to be Willie Nelson's truck stop.  When Willie had his tax issues the place was sold.  It is now a Petro.  A thousand times better than it used to be.  Have to wait until 9 am to get started again in the morning.  I talked to my Arkansas escort and he will be waiting for me at the state line in Texarkana tomorrow when I get there.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Late this morning I went over and picked up my next load.  It is a dump bed from a Caterpillar 777 Dump Truck.  Here is a photo of it that I got from the Internet.

It is 12 feet, 6 inches wide.  Hangs out more on the passenger side than it does on the drivers side.

Didn't get very far today.  Had to stop on the south side of San Antonio because of curfew.  While doing my post trip inspection found all of my trailer lights from the goose neck back didn't work.  Found the problem.  The main wiring harness somehow came down and drug on the ground severing it in two.  Here is the front half after I pulled it out.  Judging from all the electrical tape on it, this is not the first time that this has happened.

Here is the section under the trailer.

So tomorrow I will have to stop and get that fixed.  There is a TA truck stop on the other side of San Antonio that I will stop at.  Tonight I am at a truck stop in Von Ormy, Texas. Have to wait till 9 am local time to start in the morning.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Good news and bad news.  The good news is that I finally got a load. The bad news is that it is way down in Laredo and it loads Monday.  I drove down to the TA truck stop in Laredo, TX for the rest of the weekend.  This load should be interesting.  It is the widest that I have had so far.  Looking forward to it. 

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Nothing.  There are an awful lot of empty flat bed, step deck, and RGN trailers sitting here at this truck stop. Oh yes Mr. Obama, the economy is improving!  You friggin idiot!!!

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Last night had a small leak in another coolant line.  It was right at the clamp on the smaller hose in the photo below.

The hose had a small cut in it at the clamp.  Crawled under there and repositioned the clamp to seal it off temporally.  In the process dumped some antifreeze out and got it all over my jacket.  But at least the problem was solved, for now. 

This morning drove to Houston and delivered the crane stuff.  After that went to Peterbilt and bought the parts to repair the hose and also got another hose to change out at the same time.

Then went over to the Daily yard in Houston and dropped off the step deck trailer and picked up my new trailer.  I like it very much!  Nice trailer.  A lot better than the other one.

Then went to the TA truck stop in Baytown, TX and had the coolant hoses fixed.  Stayed there for the night.  Washed my jacket, ate dinner, and took a long hot shower!!  Still don't have a load yet.  Hope I get one tomorrow!!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Nothing very exciting today.  Got on the road this morning and drove down to Egan, LA to the Petro truck stop for the night.  Will deliver tomorrow in Houston.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Got on the road as soon as the sun came up.  Started off in a bit of fog but it cleared up pretty quick. Here are some photos of what this crane looks like all put together.  I got them from the Internet.

Its a biggie!!  Now here are some photos of the parts I have. Just what I have weighs over 40,000 pounds. Can you imagine how much the whole thing weighs? 

Drove down to Gadsden, Alabama to the Petro truck stop for the night.

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Well this day didn't go like I had hoped!!  Left the truck stop this morning and drove to McLean, VA for my load.  I arrived at 6:30 and was the 4th truck in line.  Found out that there were a total of 10 trucks for this crane.  The construction guys came to work at 7am.  I sat there until a little after 1pm before I started to get loaded.  Oh yes, the wood I had to bring was not even used!!  They took it off my truck and piled it off to the side.  Of the 10 trucks to be loaded, I was the 7th.  Here is a photo of the crane and the piece (still attached) that was loaded on my truck.

It is the visible section of boom attached to the crane.  It weighs over 23,000 pounds.  I also got a counter weight.   It weighs 20,000 pounds.   Finally got loaded and out of there at 2:45.  Since this is an oversize load I could only drive until sundown.  Didn't get too far.  Stopped at a truck stop in Harrisonburg, VA on I-81.  Walked across the street and splurged for a hotel room.

Friday, February 3, 2012

Picked up the lumber this afternoon and drove to the TA truck stop in Jessup, MD for the night.  There are 6 trucks loading parts of this crane tomorrow morning.

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Delivered the wheel loader at the port this morning.  Those things are really fun to drive!! My next load picks up on Saturday morning over near Dulles Airport.  Picking up some crane parts going to Houston. Tomorrow I'll be picking up some wood to take over to the job site.  They use the wood to set the pieces on when they load the trailers.  I'll take that with me when I go.  They have to disassemble the crane for transport. Hope to have some interesting photos for you.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Got on the road at 3:30 am again.  Went to Clayton, NC and got there at 7 am.  had to wait for office staff to start work at 7:30.  Then found out that I didn't have the serial number for the equipment that I was picking up.  Had every other number but that one.  At 8:30 I finally got the serial number.  Went back in and then they told me that they don't have the release paperwork for that machine yet.  I had to wait for them to get it.  Just great!!  At 10 They finally got the paperwork straightened out and I got loaded with a Caterpillar 924H Wheel Loader. 

I was hoping to deliver it today but because of all their snafus I'll have to deliver it in the morning.  It is going to Dundalk, MD.  It is being shipped to Mombasa.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Baltimore, MD for the night.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Left Baltimore at 3:30 this morning and drove to Parkersberg, WV and delivered the little excavator and dozer.  Next load is in Clayton, NC.  Drove down to Mt. Airy, NC to the "Mayberry" area truck stop for the night.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Left Flatwoods, WV first thing this morning and drove to Belle, WV and delivered the excavator.  Then drove back to Baltimore for my next load.  Picked up a small excavator and a buldozer.  They are going to Parkersburg, WV. 

Then drove over to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.