Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Drove the rest of the way in to Cranberry, PA and loaded a Trimac TML300 Excavator.  It is driven by remote control.

Left there and drove to the scales and found out that I was too heavy on the trailer axles so I had to untie it and move it forward.  Then tie it back down again.  Finally got it right and took off.  Was having a good day going up and down the Appalachian mountains until just before Virginia on I-77.  Looked in the mirror and saw that my trailer breaks were smoking a lot.  Pulled over an let them cool.  Fortunately they were not on fire.  Not really sure why they did that because I wasn't even using the breaks.  Stopped a bit early tonight to get them checked.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Wytheville, VA and went straight to the shop.  

Monday, May 11, 2015

No live streaming video tonight.  No internet coverage from Sprint where I am.  Having to use Verizon for internet.  Left Carlisle this morning and drove over to the Pilot truck stop in Porterville, PA for the night.  I load tomorrow morning about 10 miles from here.

Friday, May 8, 2015

Nothing today.  BUT I do have another load.  It is Tuesday so I'll be here all weekend.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

After the crane arrived this morning they unloaded me.

Since I didn't have another load yet I drove down to the "Home Office" in Carlisle, PA to wait it out.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Left at 4 am this morning.  It rained most of the way.  Drove to the job site where I am delivering tomorrow. They had cleared off space for all the trucks coming in with the rest of this crane.  I got there at 10:30 this morning.  Much to my surprise, I was the first one there.  That means I'll probably be the last unloaded tomorrow.  We shall see.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

They were real fast unloading me this morning.  Then I left for my next load.  It was up in Harrison, Ohio.  Got there in pretty good time.  Here is where I loaded.  This is the lower part.  There is another section of this place. 

And this is what I loaded.

This stuff is going to Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.  Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Lodi, Ohio for the night.

Monday, May 4, 2015

Went the rest of the way into Manchester, TN to load.  Arrived at 6 am local time.  It was not ready yet.  Sat there till 9:30 local time and found out that the crane broke.  They had to move the tank from one building to another that had a gantry crane that worked so they could lift it up high enough to put on my trailer. Finally got loaded.  Doesn't look it from the photos, but I am 14 feet 6 inches wide.  That's about a lane and a quarter wide.

Had two escort cars.  One in front is the white van on the left.  One in the back was the white van on the right. The middle one was for the other truck.  He is taking the other half of this tank.

Left there and had a pretty good day on the road.  No problems going around Nashville. Then when we got south of Louisville they had two of the three lanes blocked for construction.  It took an hour and a half to go eight miles.  Finally made it past that mess.  Had to stop for about an hour and wait for the Louisville curfew to get over.  At 6 pm we were back on the road.  Drove into the job site in Jeffersonville, Indiana.  Will be here for the night.  Unload here first thing in the morning.

Saturday, May 2, 2015

This morning finished "buttoning up" the RV and put it away.  Then went to the store and restockerd the big truck.  After that was all done and put away I swapped from my normal trailer to a 53 foot step deck trailer.  

Just before noon I left for Tennessee.  It didn't take long to get cut off. After I blasted him with the air horn, I got a nice little wave.  Dumb ass!!

 Atlanta was a pain.  Two lanes shut down for construction that created a lot of bumper to bumper traffic.  That was the only mess along the way.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the Wilco-Hess truck stop in Monteagle, Tennessee. 

Friday, May 1, 2015

FINALLY got my truck back from the body shop this afternoon.  It is all fixed and looking GREAT!!  New hood, a new bumper, some new chrome, and the paint matches.  I am so happy to have it back.

 Have two loads lined up already. Tomorrow I'll head toward the first one that loads Monday.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Left Atlanta at 11:30 Friday night to avoid all the traffic.  Drove home to Jacksonville, FL so I can get the truck fixed.  Got home at about 5:30 this morning.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Drove the rest of the way to Austell, Georgia and delivered the three skid steers.  Don't have another load yet so I went to the Petro truck stop in Atlanta to wait.

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.