Saturday, February 16, 2013

Had a very light dusting of snow last night.  Nothing stuck to the roads.  Left Hurricane, WV just after sun up this morning.  Drove into some heavy snow on the West Virginia Turnpike.  Fortunately it didn't stick to the roads.  About 2 inches fell.  Took some photos of it for you.

`The road crews were out doing a good job sanding / salting the roads.

After a while drove out of it.  New fallen snow on the trees is always pretty.

Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the TA truck stop just north of Richmond, Virginia.  It had started snowing again when I arrived.  Still not sticking to the roads.  It is a very wet snow, basically melts on contact.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Got on the road at sun up this morning.  Didn't get as far as I wanted to today.  Another driver that had the same dozer I have and who is going to the same place had stopped in Hurricane, West Virginia at the TA truck stop.  He had to move his machine back on the trailer to get the weight right for Virginia.  He didn't know how to drive the machine and asked if I would stop there and move the machine for him.  Which I did.  

I didn't have my Virginia permit yet.  They permitted mine differently than his.  My load was permitted as a "super load" because of the weight.  They take longer to get back so I waited at the TA for it to come in.  In order to get to Virginia we have to go down the West Virginia Turnpike.  Over sized loads are not allowed to stop for the night at the service plazas on the Turnpike so once you start on it you have to get off it before sun down.  By the time my Virginia permit arrived there was not enough time to get down the Turnpike before sun down so I stayed the night at the TA truck stop in Hurricane, West Virginia.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Drove the rest of the way in to Morton, Illinois and loaded a Caterpillar D7 Dozer.  It is going down to Fort Pickett, Virginia.  Gross weight is just under 107,000 pounds.

Dumb question - Why is the machine painted so it will blend in to the desert scenery so that it won't be easily seen by the "enemy" but then they put two red reflectors on the back of it to make it more visible? 

Had to stop a little early today.  Stopped for the night in Memphis, Indiana at the Love's truck stop.  Didn't make the Louisville, Kentucky curfew.  Can sleep in tomorrow, can't go into Kentucky until 9 am.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Drove in to Memphis, TN this morning and delivered the wheel loader.  Didn't have another load yet so I went back to the truck stop in West Memphis, Arkansas.  Was parked and back in bed before 8 am local time.

At 2 pm local time I finally got another load.  It is tomorrow morning in Morton, Illinois.  Got on the road and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Lincoln, Illinois for the night.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Drove the rest of the way in to Kansas City, Kansas to a small recycling place.  The company was bought out by a larger company and the new owners were closing the Kansas City place and relocating the equipment.  Loaded a John Deere 444 wheel loader.  It is going to Memphis, Tennessee.

Got on the road and drove down to the Petro truck stop in West Memphis, Arkansas.  Will deliver in the morning.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Just as I figured, we (there were four of us with hubs) were the last to be unloaded this morning.  They unloaded 12 other trucks first.  Finally got unloaded.  Next load is tomorrow morning in Kansas City, Kansas.  Drove to the service plaza on the Kansas Turnpike (I-70) for the night.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

After dinner this evening I went back and hooked back to my trailer.  The wind died down enough to take the tarps off.  I hate those things!!  There are a lot of trucks here.  It may be a while before I get empty tomorrow.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Didn't sleep very well last night.  Then I woke up at 3 am wide awake.  Hate it when that happens!!  Left Denton, TX just before sun up and drove up to Garden City, Kansas.  Dropped my trailer at the place where they are unloading Monday and went over to the truck stop for the rest of the weekend.  It is very windy here.  This truck is really rocking!!  Going to bed early tonight!!  I'm very tired.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Left Hattiesburg, MS at sun up this morning.  Really nice day on the road until I got to Dallas.  I hit Dallas right at rush hour.  Bumper to bumper from south west of Dallas all the way up to Denton which is north of Dallas.  I really earned my money this evening!!  A large portion of that was under construction and the lanes were narrowed.  There were many, many times were there was less than an inch clearance between me and the traffic on either side.  Countless more times where I was cut off from the left and right.  If any of you were with me, you would have had a heart attack.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Denton, Texas.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Drove the rest of the way to the GE plant in Pensacola, FL.  Arrived at 11:15 am local time.  I was shocked when they called me to go in at 1 pm local time.  Loaded a wind energy hub that is going to Garden City, Kansas.

Then had to tarp the damn thing.

After all that I drove up to a small truck stop in Hattiesburg, Mississippi for the night.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Left Mariana, Fl  just before sun up this morning.  Had to wait in Pensacola for an hour and fifteen minutes for my Alabama permit.  Got back on the road and drove to Westlake, LA.  That is on the west side of Lake Charles, hence the name.  Started raining when I got to Louisiana and was pouring (of course) while unloading in Westlake.  Next load is tomorrow back in Pensacola.  Started back that way.  Ran out of hours so I stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Lafayette, LA.  Its still raining!!

Tuesday,February 5, 2013

Drove to the Port of Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, FL this morning and loaded a Mammoet trailer.  It is going to Westlake, LA.  This is a lot heavier than it looks, I'm at 103,000 pounds.

Got on the road and drove all the way up to Mariana, FL to the TA Truck Stop for the night.

Monday, February 4, 2013

Left Florence, SC just before sun up and drove to the Port of Jacksonville.  Arrived at noon - lunch time!  So I had to wait until they came back from lunch.  At 1 pm I went in to unload.  Got the machine off and parked.  Then drove to the Daily yard in Jacksonville and did some errands.  Next load is tomorrow morning at the Port of West Palm Beach.  Drove down to the Rest Area on I-95 at mile marker 106 for the night.

Had a triple today.  Thought you would like to see this one. It's a doozie!!

Sunday, February 3, 2013

There is a Blue Beacon Truck Wash here so I went over and had the truck and trailer washed this morning. It really needed it after driving in all that snow.  The entire truck and trailer were just covered in road salt and crap!!. Remember the tractor?  Here is a refresher photo.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Couldn't start this morning until after curfew ended at 9 am.  In Maryland the curfew applies to Saturday too.  Got on the road and drove down past Washington DC when I started to have an air leak somewhere in the trailer.  Could see it in the gauges.  Could also tell it was not major.  When I stopped for fuel in Richmond, VA I found the leak. After I finished fueling I went over to the shop there at the Travel America truck stop and had it fixed, along with 3 marker lights that were out too.  Here is the piece of air line that he cut out that had the leak.

Fortunately that delay only took an hour.  Got back on the road and drove down to the Petro truck stop in Florence, South Carolina for the rest of the weekend.  In spite of the delay I still drove 492 miles before I ran out of sunlight.

Friday, February 1, 2013

Went over to the Port of Baltimore first thing this morning. While I was there waiting to get unloaded it snowed.  Started off as flurries.  Then it snowed real hard for about 10 minutes. It was coming down so hard that I couldn't see the other end of the building. Then, just as fast as it started, it stopped.  Only about a quarter of an inch of snow stuck to the ground.  Went back to get unloaded and waited.  45 minutes after I was in, they told me that their lift was broken and that the mechanic was working on it.  "...it will be a while."   Fortunately, it didn't take as long as I thought it would to get unloaded.  

Went to the daily yard and got rid of the step deck trailer and got my trailer back.  Went back to the Port of Baltimore for my next load.  It is sunny, cold, and windy now.  No more snow. Most of what fell this morning was either blown away or melted.  Didn't have the correct paperwork so I had to wait for that!  Nothing goes smooth anymore!!  Four and a half hours later I was loaded with a Caterpillar 324EL Excavator that is going to the Port of Jacksonville.

Because of all the needless delays today I didn't make Baltimore curfew so all I could do was go back to the TA truck stop for the night.  I'll get started tomorrow morning.

Thursday, January 31, 2013

The storm last night was a dud.  Nothing like what ripped up north Georgia.  Had a bunch of rain and it was (and still is) windy, but that's all.

Got up early this morning and was at the place where I was loading in Winston-Salem, NC before they opened.  Loaded an axle for a Caterpillar 785 C Dump Truck. It weighs 36,700 pounds.  It is going to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD then going on a boat to Puerto Rico.

This is what the Caterpillar 785 C looks like all put together.  I got the photo from the internet.

Got on the road and drove up to the TA in Baltimore, MD for the night.  More idiots on the road today.  I was cut off four times.  I'll deliver in the morning then go get my trailer back and go back to the Port for my next load.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Was at the repair shop at 5:30 this morning to get the trailer lights fixed.  The weather was deteriorating and had gotten very windy.  While the truck was inside I put the tarps on the load.  

Once the lights were fixed I got on the road.  Good thing I tarped, I went through some rain on the way.  Drove down to Kings Mountain, NC and delivered.  Then drove back up to Greensboro, NC for the night.  Tomorrow I load in Winston-Salem, NC.  I am so stiff and sore tonight!!!  The wind is blowing and I'm all settled in waiting for the big storm to get here.  This truck is already rockin' !! This could be a very interesting night!!

Yesterday while I had the big green tractor on the back with a gross weight of 92,600 pounds, this idiot woman cut me off and then hit the breaks just so she could get off at the next exit.  THIS is one of the main reasons big trucks crash.  It is usually not the trucks fault. To view the video in full screen, click in the small box in the lower right corner of the video.  When finished, hit the escape ( Esc ) key on your keyboard and it will return to this screen.

Now here is one from today!  This is EXACTLY why you DO NOT EVER ride in a big trucks blind spot.  Speed up or slow down, but don't just sit there!!! This truck driver never knew she (yes, another woman) was there.  Notice how long she is in his blind spot totally oblivious to the danger she is putting herself in.  Also, she was there a lot longer than I show in the video.  And she will blame the truck driver.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Got on the road a half hour after sun up and drove in to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD and delivered the tractor.  Boy that thing really was fun to drive!!!!  After that I went to the Daily yard in Baltimore and dropped my trailer and picked up a step deck trailer.  When checking out the trailer found that 5 of the 9 marker lights didn't work.  Goodie!!   Haven't pulled one of those in a year, felt weird!  Then went over to Elkridge, MD and loaded 9 boxes of generator parts that are going to Kings Mountain, NC. 

 Got on the road and drove down to the Petro truck stop in Mebane, NC for the night.  I'll have the shop fix the trailer lights first thing in the morning, early morning!!

Monday, January 28, 2013

The Snow Emergency Plan ( SEP ) was still in effect in two Maryland Counties this morning, Garrett and Allegany.  At 11:30, as soon as I sat down to have lunch, the SEP was lifted for Garrett County.  That is the westernmost county in Maryland.  When I finished lunch I drove 33 miles to another truck stop in Grantsville, Maryland.  There is only one SEP in effect in Maryland and it is in Allegany County.  That is the next county east of here.  

At 2 pm they finally lifted the SEP in Allegany County.  Unfortunately it was too late to make it in to Baltimore. Drove to the Pilot truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland for the night.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

It had snowed a little more last night.  When I woke up it was snowing a little bit, more than flurries but not what you would really call snowing.  Got on the road at sun up. A little while later it started to snow harder.

And harder....

And harder......

The plows were out trying to keep up.....

......but the snow was getting the upper hand.

The "Snow Emergency Plan" was in effect in the two western most counties in Maryland so I couldn't go into Maryland.  Didn't matter though, I had to stop because of the road conditions anyway.  I was already in violation of my West Virginia permit. Fortunately the cops were nowhere in site - a very good thing!!!  I got off  I-68 to go to the last truck stop in West Virginia.

I stopped for the rest of the weekend in Bruceton Mills, WV at a small truck stop. No over-the-air TV. So glad I have satellite TV. Internet access here is very poor.  Was lucky to get the blog updated.

The weather report for tomorrow is good.  BUT, permit loads can't move on Sundays!!  More stupid, unnecessary regulations!!!!  Monday we are supposed to get an ice storm.  I may be here for a while.  The saga continues....

Friday, January 25, 2013

It started to snow about a half hour before I could start for the day.  At a half hour before sun up (when I could start driving) the road conditions were fine.  It was not snowing very much so I left.  In no time did conditions deteriorate and the snow was starting to accumulate on the road.  I decided that it was better to stop rather than get a ticket and have my permit revoked.  I only made it 23 miles this morning and stopped at 8:15 am in Brookville, Ohio.  When I stopped they were already plowing I-70.  Here is what it looked like when I stopped.  Maybe 2 inches of snow so far. Glad my APU is working good again!!

I could have driven all day in this but, unfortunately, with permit loads I don't have that option.  More updates as the day progresses.

Here in my truck at 9 am. Still snowing hard.

Weather radar at 10 am.  Still snowing.

After a nice little nap I awoke to it not snowing anymore.  There was 4 inches of nice white power snow all over.  The kind of snow that you can't make a snowball out of and that skiers love.  I went and had lunch and got back on the road.  The road was clear and just wet with a little slush.  

The plows were out in force and doing a very good job.  

Made it through Ohio and around Wheeling, West Virginia then into Pennsylvania.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Claysville.  I-70, exit 6.  This is what my trailer and nice new tractor looked like after driving today.

Noticed that I had a flat Tire on the trailer.  

Had that fixed at the shop at the Petro truck stop.

Thursday, January 24, 2013

It was 8 degrees this morning when I left to go to Thermo King.  Was at Thermo King when they opened at 8 local time.  Glad I chose to have the work done there!!  They were not busy and I got in right away.  They were honest, and did a very good job.  Best part was that they didn't charge me an arm and a leg to do what needed to be done.  The did routine maintenance and also found that I had a glow plug that was not working and another that was about to go bad.  Was out of there at 11 local time.  

On I-70 just west of the Ohio state line in Indiana is a candle shop that looks so cool.  Doesn't the appearance of this place make you want to go in?

Drove down to the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio for the night.  The weather report is calling for snow tonight.  If that's the case, I may be here for a few days.  Permit (oversize) loads can not move in snow or bad weather.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Even though I was 24th in line this morning it went pretty fast.  By 8:45 local time I was in getting loaded.  Picked up a John Deere 9460 TPC Tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  From there it is going on a boat to Melbourne, Australia.  Eventually it will end up at the Wickham Flower Company in Bordertown, Australia. 

After I got loaded I drove down to Morton, Illinois to the Daily Express Terminal and spent the night there in the yard.  Tomorrow morning I will be at Thermo King to get my APU fixed. It is only a couple blocks from the Daily yard.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Nothing all day!!  Finally at about 4 pm I got a load BUT I was nowhere near it.  The load is up in Waterloo, Iowa.  After eating dinner and getting fuel I drove up to Waterloo and got there at about 1:30 am local time.   I checked in at the security office.  I was 24th in line for loading tomorrow morning.  Then my APU wouldn't start.  JUST GREAT!!  Being that it was only 10 degrees outside, snowing, and that I was tired, I idled the truck while I went to bed. 

Monday, January 21, 2013

Went down the road a few miles and delivered first thing this morning.  No load lined up yet so I went back to the Petro truck stop in Salina, KS to wait.  This bus was getting fuel here this evening.