Wednesday, April 8, 2015

First thing this morning went to Bossier City, LA and loaded a Caterpillar 279D skid steer.  Have 2 more stops to make.

Left there and drove down to Lafayette, LA and picked up another one.

Left there and headed for the third one.  On the way got stuck in traffic from the rubber neckers looking at a bad crash on the other side of I-10 on the Basin Bridge in Louisiana at the 121 mile marker.  Three semi trucks (one was a double) and a pick up truck.  Fatality involved.  They closed the west bound side of I-10 all the way back in Port Allen, LA at exit 151.  Glad I was going the other way.

If you look real close you will see that the entire front of the blue semi from the windshield forward is gone.

Took forever to get past that.  Then I got to New Orleans right at rush hour.  Lots more bumper to bumper traffic.

Finally made it to Belle Chasse for my last one.

Aren't they pretty?  All my little ducks in a row.  They are all going to the same place in Austell, GA.

Then I left there and got back into a lot more bumper to bumper traffic getting out of New Orleans.

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Slidel, LA.

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Finally got another load.  It is up in Bossier City, LA.  Drove up there to the Petro truck stop in Shreveport, LA for the night.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Nothin'.

Saturday, April 4, 2015

I got up at 4 am CDT and went over and got the truck washed.  During the day the line is usually 6 trucks long.  That's why I get up early and go, no line.  Then went over to Walmart and restocked with food.  I like to go there early in the morning because it is easier to get a big truck in and out before the parking lot fills up. Then to Shipley's Donuts, of course. Now I can sit back, relax, and enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Friday, April 3, 2015

Got on the road at 1:30 am CDT and drove for a while.  Had to stop and take a nap on the way.  Then finished the trip on into the Daily terminal in Houston, TX and dropped the trailer. I stopped on the scale and weighed just out of curiosity.  I was 74,000 pounds (33,565 kg).   Since I didn't have another load yet, I left my trailer there and drove to the TA truck stop in Baytown.  Checked in the the shop at 1 pm CDT to have a few things done.  I didn't get out of there until 7:30 pm CDT.  I had the oil and all the filters changed, chassis greased, wipers changed, tires checked, coolant checked, and a 3 axle alignment done.  It has been a very long day!!  Gonna eat something and go to bed. Night Y'all!!!

Thursday, April 2, 2015

Went the rest of the way up to Denver City, TX and swapped out trailers with the other truck.

I'm bringing it back to the Houston terminal.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Big Spring, TX.  I'll get an early start in the morning.

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

After getting my Shipley's donuts I went to the Daily yard in Houston and dropped my trailer.  Picked up a 4 axle stretch flat bed, with a flip neck, trailer that had a jeep on top.  Taking it out to Denver City, Texas to a power plant.  Another driver is dropping his trailer and using this one for his load there.  I'm bringing his trailer back to the Houston terminal.  

Left there and drove out to Big Spring, Texas and stopped for the night at the TA truck stop.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Left this morning just before sunrise and drove the rest of the way in to Cypress, TX and delivered the D6.   Tomorrow I will be dropping my trailer at the Houston terminal and taking a different trailer someplace and swapping it out with another truck.  Then I'll bring the other trailer back to the Houston terminal,  I'll get the details in the morning after I go to Shipley's donuts, of course.

Monday, March 30, 2015

Went a couple miles down the road this morning and delivered the wheel loader.  Then drove down to Kermit, TX and loaded a Caterpillar D6 Track Rig (I have no idea what it does) that is going over to Cypress, TX.  That is just north west of Houston.

After loading that drove to San Antonio.  Had to wait a half hour for the curfew to get over before I could continue.  Made it around San Antonio and stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Seguin, Texas. Drove 573 miles plus unloading and reloading.  Not too shabby!!

Saturday, March 28, 2015

Right at midnight the truck next to me pulled out of the parking space and hit my truck.  Another driver that saw it chased him and so did I.  He came back.  Cops came.  Just great!!!  At least it is still drive-able. 

After very little sleep, I left at sunrise this morning, after straightening out my bumper.  Drove the rest of the way to Lubbock, TX.  I'll deliver a mile or two from the truck stop I am in Monday morning.

Friday, March 27, 2015

Started at sunrise this morning.  Nice day on the road.  Nothing exciting or interesting.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Prescott, Arkansas.  Did 634 miles today.

Thursday, March 26, 2015

This morning went in to Clayton, NC and loaded a Caterpillar 938K Wheel Loader that is going to Lubbock, Texas.  Of course it was raining.

When I stopped for lunch there were a couple NASCAR trucks there too.  Number 55, Brian Vickers and Number 15, Clint Bowyer.  They are on their way to Martinsville, VA for the next race.  Passed a few more on the road too.

Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

This afternoon I finally got a load for tomorrow.  Its way down in Clayton, North Carolina. So I drove down there.  Hit Washington DC right at the peek of rush hour.  Took over an hour to go 20 miles.  Of course it started to rain 10 miles before I stopped for the night.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC.  Parked in the back of the lot and walked, in the rain, to go have dinner.  Fortunately it had stopped when I came out to go back to the truck.

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Was offered several loads that didn't pay squat, so I rejected them.  Don't know how they expect us to earn a living on such ridiculously low rates.  I love this job, but I'm not gonna do it for free!!!  We will see what tomorrow brings.

Monday, March 23, 2015

Got started at sunrise this morning an drove to the Daily yard in Carlisle.  Had to have a few things fixed on the trailer.  Had a flat tire, a broken shock, and another light fixed.  After that was all fixed I continued on up to Hazleton to a huge coal mine and delivered the dump truck chassis.  Don't have another load yet so I went back to the Daily yard in Carlisle. I can plug in there.

Saturday, March 21, 2015

Easy day today.  Started at sunrise and drove up to the TA truck stop in Greencastle, Pennsylvania.  Had to stop because of the stupid "nanny state" laws.  In Maryland and Pennsylvania I can't drive past noon on Saturdays.  Will get started again Monday morning.

Friday, March 20, 2015

Went into Pooler, GA this morning and loaded a Komatsu 785 Dump Truck chassis.  They used two cranes to load it.  Took forever to get out of there.

I am 102,200 pounds.  When I got to South Carolina it took an hour and a half to go 25 miles.  Bumper to bumper.  After that cleared up the traffic was fairly heavy all day.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Stony Creek, Virginia.  463 miles today.  Feels good to be "back in the saddle" again.

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Well, after taking way too much time off I am finally back at it again.  I load tomorrow morning up in Pooler, Georgia.  This evening drove to the TA truck stop in Savannah, GA.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Was on the road at 3 am today.  Delivered the first batch in Summerville, SC when they opened this morning.  Then on to the next one.  Stopped in Savannah, GA for fuel, food, and a shower.  Then on into Jacksonville, FL and delivered the rest of the load at the port.  Then went home. Will be there for a little bit.  Have lots to do!!

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

The day started off real good.  Drove in rain until about 15 miles north of Knoxville, TN.  Then I broke through the front and the sky slowly cleared up.  In North Carolina about 5 miles north of South Carolina I got stopped by the cops.  Apparently there is a sign somewhere behind me that said "No Trucks Left Lane".  I never saw it and was in the left lane, there were only two lanes.  Got another roadside inspection, which was fine.  Also got a ticket for being in the left lane.  Stopped at a small truck stop in Inman, South Carolina for the night.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Early this morning we got some snow that changed to ice, and by mid morning changed to rain.  Glad I didn't have to go anywhere this morning.  At about 9 am local time I got my load. It was down in East Peoria, IL. Drove down there to the Caterpillar plant and loaded two loads. One going to Summerville, SC and the other going to Blount Island, FL.

From there I drove to a truck stop in Crawfordsville, Indiana for the night.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Went in to Burr Ridge, IL and delivered the Gradall.  Pulled in and all the way around the building where they said to unload.  After unloading I started to leave but couldn't get out.  The exit was too small for my truck.  I had to back all the way around the building  and back out the way I came in.

In the photo below, the blue arrows show the way I went in.  The blue "X" is where I unloaded.  The red arrow shows where I tried to go out but couldn't.  I backed out the way I went in.

Also remember that the entire area was snow covered and the driveway was packed snow, which was really ice.  There were snow/ice banks all around and on the sides of the road and driveway.  There were also a lot more machines in there than what is pictured.  It was cramped in there.  I did not have anyone behind me guiding me either.

I don't have another load yet so I went to the TA truck stop in Morris, Illinois to wait.  More weather is on the way.  Supposed to get rain/ice mess tonight.  They are saying that tomorrow morning rush hour is going to be a real mess.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

They got it right for a change.  We got about an inch of snow. Here is an edited time lapse video of it.

Sorry, its not very exciting.

Saturday, February 28, 2015

Got started real early this morning.  Drove to the Petro truck stop in Gary, Indiana for the rest of the weekend.  Supposed to get a little snow tonight.  They say about an inch.

Friday, February 27, 2015

As usual, things were going too smoothly.  There was another truck that loaded right after I did yesterday.  He brought another tank just like mine.  When the cranes got here this morning they decided that they wanted to unload the other one first.  I had to pull out and park on the road while he backed in where I was to unload.  Of course, once they unloaded the other truck it was break time!!  So I sat some more. Didn't get out of there until 11 am.

Next load is in New Philadelphia, Ohio.  Went down there and loaded a Gradall XL4100 Excavator that is going to Burr Ridge, Illinois.  That's a Chicago suburb.  

Didn't feel like going any further today so I stopped at a small truck stop just down the road.  I'll start real early in the morning.

Thursday, February 26, 2015

This morning loaded a mixer tank that is going over to Hillsville, PA.

As you can see in the photo it was snowing.  It snowed all the way to Hillsville, PA.  Back roads were a mess, but the interstate was fine.  This is where I parked for the night at the job site in Hillsville.  Backed in off the road.

Here is what the tank looked like after traveling in the snow.

Crane will be here in the morning.

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Much to my surprise they finished everything on my list of things to fix last night.  That was fantastic!!  ARI has unbelievably good customer service!!!  

My next load is in the morning in Sandusky, Ohio.  I drove over there to a small convenience store with truck parking for the night.  Load 7 miles from here in the morning.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Left just before sunrise this morning and drove up to Pontiac to deliver.  I forgot how slow things move in a "union shop"  I arrived at 8:45 this morning.  Backed into position and waited.  Then they took their break.  Most places get a 15 minute break.  Not in a "union shop", they get 30 minute break.  After their break was over it was another 45 minutes before any activity was around my truck.  It is amazing that any work is ever done at all!!  And they just don't understand why big companies are  moving to right to work states.  Finally got finished at 1 pm.  Then I had to wait at the gate to get out for security to come unlock it.  That took another 30 minutes!!

Then I drove to the Petro truck stop in Angola, Indiana for fuel, dinner and a long hot shower. After that drove over to ARI in Shipshewana, Indiana to get some work done on the truck.  Have an appointment for tomorrow morning but they are going to start on it tonight. Great!!!

Monday, February 23, 2015

After a good breakfast I drove to the TA truck stop in Monroe, Michigan.  I deliver tomorrow morning up in Pontiac, MI. 

It is friggin' cold up here!!!!    5 degrees when I came back from dinner!!  And it is still early!!!

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Here is a time lapse video of me plowing the TA parking lot yesterday.

Spent the afternoon plowing again.  Here are a couple pictures I took while stacking snow.  You can see my big truck in the background.

I also shot a video for you from today.  This one is not time lapse.

Saturday, February 21, 2015

Well, we got about 3 inches of snow.  No ice or rain.  This morning I went over to the TA and asked them if I could plow their parking lot.  Much to my surprise they said yes and gave me the keys to the truck.  I spent the entire day plowing snow.  Started at about 8 this morning and finished at 5:30 this afternoon.  I had a blast!!!   Here was my ride for the day.  You can see a little of my handy work in the background.

Friday, February 20, 2015

Another great day on the road.  Pretty uneventful except for a little bit on I-75 north of Dayton, Ohio.  A Ohio Highway Patrol Trooper had pulled a car over.  As you will see in the video below, it got interesting.

I changed lanes and passed them.  A minute or two later the car passed me, and the chase was on!  I was doing 55 MPH at the time.   After they went by I never saw them again so I have no idea what the outcome was.

I stopped for the night, and probably the weekend, at the TA truck stop in Wapakoneta, Ohio.  After dinner I had four new drive tires put on.  The weather is supposed to get bad tonight.  They say that sometime around midnight we are supposed to get 4 to 6 inches of snow, and freezing rain. Then tomorrow afternoon it is supposed to change over to all rain.  If is is anything to look at I'll have some pictures and maybe some video tomorrow.  Stay tuned....

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Pretty uneventful day on the road.  So far the weather has been great but it has gotten a LOT colder up north!!  There is "weather" on the way.  Hope I can keep ahead of it until I stop for the weekend.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Denmark, Tennessee.

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Finally got word that my next load was ready up in San Antonio.  So off I went.  Got there and loaded a Chiller that is going up to Pontiac, Michigan.

It weighs about 52,000 pounds.  Left there and drove to a very small convenience store with a few truck parking spaces in Canton, Texas.  My light bar had gotten out of synchronization. So when I stopped tonight I tore the whole thing apart, took 4 links out of one of the chains, lubricated it, put it back in sync, then put it all back together.  Good as new!!  I don't have my Arkansas permit yet so I can't go into Arkansas until it comes in.  I'm still at least 2 hours from there so hopefully it will come in first thing in the morning before I get there so I don't have to stop and wait for it.

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Nothing yet.

Monday, February 16, 2015

This morning took the truck across the parking lot to the repair shop.  Had the truck greased.  That's all the excitement for today.  *yawn*  No load yet.

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Finally got the truck and trailer washed!!  I was 8th in line but I didn't care.  Cleaned the inside too.  Then fixed a mud flap.  Looks good when it's clean.

Friday, February 13, 2015

Went first thing this morning to deliver.  The address we had on our paperwork was wrong.  Finally got the correct one and went there.  They unloaded the machine using two fork lifts.  One on each side, lifted it up, and I drove out from under it.  Don't have another load yet so I went back to the TA truck stop in Laredo. Had three lights quit working so I fixed those.  I'll be here all weekend.

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Got started just before sunrise this morning.  Pushed it very hard all day today.  Stopped only once for the required 30 minute break.  Drove 666 (gosh, I hope that is not a bad sign) miles to the TA truck stop in Laredo, Texas.  I'm exhausted!!  Gonna shower, eat and drop in bed!!

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Left this morning after the St. Louis curfew was over at 9 am.  Drove all day and stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Eufaula, Oklahoma.

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

My load this morning was over in Oswego, Illinois at the Caterpillar plant.  They build the larger wheel loaders there.  They have a test track next to where we load.  It is kinda funny to see these big wheel loaders racing around the oval track. This morning I loaded a Caterpillar 815F Compactor that is going to Laredo, Texas.

Left there and drove down to the Flying J truck stop in Alorton (East St. Louis), Illinois.  Couldn't beat the St. Lewis curfew so I had to stop early.  Did a load of laundry and a long hot shower!  Can sleep in tomorrow morning because I can't go into St. Louis until after 9 am local time.

Monday, February 9, 2015

Went over to Davenport and delivered the excavator first thing.  Then back over to the Daily yard in Bettendorf to get some things fixed on the trailer.  Had a few lights out.  They had to re-wire a lot of the trailer due to corrosion.  Took all day!!  Finished at 9:30.  Tired and going to bed!!

Friday, February 6, 2015

Left this morning just before sunrise and drove to the Daily terminal in Bettendorf, Iowa.  I'll be here for the weekend.  Will deliver first thing Monday morning.

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Left at sunrise this morning.  Drove all day stopping only once for the required 30 minute break.  Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Metropolis, Illinois.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Started early this morning and drove to Christiansburg, Virginia and delivered the mine detector.  But it took a while to do that.  Once again the batteries were dead.  After trying to jump start it unsuccessfully, they changed the batteries.  Then it started and they unloaded the thing.  Next load was in Kernersville, NC.  Drove down there and loaded a Hitachi Z290G Excavator that is going to Davenport, Iowa.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Mocksville, NC to scale.  I had to re-position the machine again.  I'm still a bit heavy on my drive axles but I'm gonna "wing it".  Stayed there for the night.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

They lifted the SEP at about 8:30 this morning.  By 9 I was on the road.  Drove in to the Port of Baltimore and delivered the Dozer.  Then I was re-loading a military mine detector that is going to Christiansburg, VA.  Once I figured out how to get in the thing, to make a VERY long story short, the batteries were dead!  Got it jump started from the guys that work at the port.  He also loaded it for me as I guided him up on the trailer. It took three hours for all this.  

Then I went over to the TA in Baltimore and got fuel.  Was going to spend the night there but it was too busy and packed.  I then went down to the TA in Jessup, MD.  That is just south of Baltimore.  It took an hour and fifteen minutes to go from exit 57 to exit 41.  That's because it costs $40 to go through the Ft. McHenry tunnel so I had to go around Baltimore at rush hour.  43 miles to go 16 miles.

Monday, February 2, 2015

Well, that was quite a game last night!!  What a way to close out the football season.  Katy Perry was good, but Bruno Mars still reigns supreme!! 

1. NFL Super Bowl XLIX

   Final - Yesterday, 6:30 PM

   University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

   New England Patriots (15-4) 28 Seattle Seahawks (14-5) 24 Recap

   4:39

   All times are in Eastern Time

 This morning my Ohio permit came in at about 9 am. so I hit the road.  It snowed all day.  No accumulation other than a light dusting.  I made it as far as Bruceton Mills, West Virginia.  Couldn't go into Maryland because of weather.  The Snow Emergency Plan (SEP) went into effect for the western most county in Maryland at noon today. Can't move until that is lifted.  

Sunday, February 1, 2015

The snow we were supposed to get didn't come.  Got a light dusting and some rain.   The "weather weenies" got it wrong again,

Now it's time for...

And we will see if Katy Perry's halftime performance is as good as Bruno Mars was last year.  

That will be very hard to top.  Best halftime show EVER!!!!