Friday, March 18, 2016

This morning drove over to Oswego, Illinois to the Caterpillar plant and loaded a Caterpillar 972K Wheel Loader that is going to the Port of Savannah.

Left there and had an uneventful ride down to the Pilot truck stop in Lincoln, Illinois.  There is a Cracker Barrel across the street from here.  Boy!  that was delicious!!!!  Don't get that luxury very often.

Thursday, March 17, 2016

At 6 am today I went over to the shop here at the TA and had my generator serviced, chassis lubed and a few other things.  While the mechanic was under the truck he saw that a part of my right side front drive break system was broken.  Actually, two parts were broken.  

Here is one of the broken things.

Here is the new one.

Here is the other broken part.

To make a very long story short and another $2000 later everything was fixed.  Got out of there at 4 pm.  LONG day.  I'm just glad he spotted those broken things before they made things a lot worse and a lot more expensive!!

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove up to the John Deere plant in Dubuque, Iowa.  Fought a strong heavy cross wind most of the day.  While I was standing next to my truck at John Deere the wind blew a 3 foot by 3 foot 1/4 inch piece of plywood off the roof striking my truck and landing right next to me.  Fortunately no damage to the truck or me. After I got empty I didn't have another load yet so I went back down to the world famous Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa.

Here is a You Tube video, shot by a storm chaser, of a tornado that was about 70 miles north west from where I was last night.  The video is amazing!!!   Shows beautifully the beginning of a huge tornado.  This is what the hook echos on radar look like.

Tonight there is still the slight possibility of storms.  The wind is still blowing hard.  This truck is really rockin'.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Left this morning as soon as it was legal for me to do so.  Very good day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Lincoln, Illinois.  

Got pretty interesting tonight so far.  Big storm heading this way. Tornado reported in Springfield, Illinois.  TV is wall-to-wall weather coverage.

In the photo below the arrows point to hook echos on the radar.  They indicate rotation and possible tornadoes.

UPDATE:

Looks like I dodge it again!!  Storms on both sides of me and the Springfield storm passed by just to the south of me.  I was thinking about stopping for the night at the Daily yard in Morton.  Very glad I stopped here in Lincoln.

Monday, March 14, 2016

This morning went over to the John Deere dealer in Jacksonville and loaded a John Deere 310E Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Dubuque, Iowa.  

My trailer ABS light was on ever since I left the Daily yard this morning so after I loaded I went back to the Daily yard so the mechanic could fix it.  Here was the culprit!!

As soon as I pulled out of the yard my truck blew a break chamber.  Had to go to the end of the road to turn around.  Went back to the yard again and had the break chamber replaced.  We are so lucky to have one of the best mechanics working for us.  He really is good.  Finally everything was working again and off I went again.  

A little south of the Macon bypass on I-75 had a little pick up cut me off right in front of a cop.  And you know what he did?

NOTHING.  Now if I had done that he would have had an orgasm pulling me over!!!  

Had some bumper to bumper traffic on the north side of Atlanta.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Cartersville, Georgia.  Got here with only 4 minutes to spare.  Barely got a parking place.

Sunday, March 13, 2016

My trailer was due for inspection so I had it done while I was here.  Good thing I was here!!  Found a few things to be repaired.  Had two leaking air chambers and the other air tank was leaking too.  Also found a crack that needed to be welded.

Glad that is all fixed.  Now I'm good to go tomorrow morning.

Thursday, March 10, 2016

My next load isn't until Monday in Jacksonville, Florida. I got up very early and drove home.  I'll be here until Monday.

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Went over to the Port of Savannah, GA and loaded a Caterpillar 316EL Excavator that was going to Montgomery, Alabama.  

Got on the road in good time and drove to Montgomery and delivered the excavator.  After that went a few miles down the road to the Petro truck stop in Shorter, Alabama for the night.

Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Made a round trip today.  Left the TA and drove to Albany, GA and delivered the excavator. Then drove back to the TA truck stop for the night.  Load in the morning back at the Port in Savannah.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Got a load late this morning.  It was up at the Port of Savannah, Georgia.  I left and drove up there and loaded a Caterpillar 326FL Excavator that is going on a short ride over to Albany, Georgia.

Nice photo with the bridge in the background

Left there and drove a few miles to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, Georgia for the night.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Drove the rest of the way to Ocala and delivered the wheel loader.  Since I didn't have another load lined up I drove home to Jacksonville.

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Left the rest area this morning at sunrise.  Just a few sprinkles of rain.  Just south of The Grand Ole Opry in Nashville it started to rain.  Fortunately traffic was not bad going through Nashville.  I stopped for fuel just south of Nashville and it was a combination of rain, sleet and snow.  Stayed that way on and off until Monteagle.  There it was snowing hard.  The road was a bit slushy.  Once I got over the mountain it changed back to rain.  Atlanta was a different story.  Rain, sleet, snow mix going around Atlanta.  Traffic was as I expected, miserable!  Somewhere around Macon the rain stopped.  I stopped for the night at a truck stop in Unadilla, Georgia. I'll deliver tomorrow.

This morning was at Caterpillar in Oswego, Illinois first thing and was first to load.  Loaded a Caterpillar 966M Wheel Loader that is going to Ocala, Florida.

Left there in pretty good time.  Drove down to the Tennessee Welcome Center on I-24 just south of the Kentucky state line.  Was hoping to deliver tomorrow, but that's not gonna happen.  Going to be in rain most of the day tomorrow.  That will make Nashville and Atlanta traffic miserable!!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

This morning I went into Oakland City, Indiana and delivered the coil.  Here is how they unloaded it.

After that headed north for my next load.  Load in the morning in Oswego, Illinois.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Morris, Illinois.

Monday, February 29, 2016 Leap Year!!

Still had to wait for my West Virginia permit.  When doing my pre-trip inspection this morning I found another air leak.  This was the culprit!

And here is the new one.

Even when the trailer was fixed I still had to wait.  Finally the permit arrived and off I went.

Here is one of the hundreds of coal mines in West Virginia.

Here is the Capitol of West Virginia in Charleston.

Stopped for the night at the west bound rest area in I-64 in Lanesville, Indiana.  Deliver in the morning.  Crane will be there at 10 am CST.

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Having a serious football withdrawal!!!!!

Look what is parked next to me.  I'm well protected.

Saturday, February 27, 2016

Had an air leak in my trailer.  Temporally fixed it with some super glue and duct tape.  It worked pretty good.  Drove only 69 miles today.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia to get the trailer fixed.  I also don't have a West Virginia permit so I'll have to wait here until Monday.  Not what I had planned.

Friday, February 26, 2016

This morning went to the port on Norfolk, VA.  Sat there until after lunch before I got loaded with a 66,000 pound (29,937 kg) wire rope coil that is going to Oakland City, Indiana.  Used 12 grade 80, 1/2 inch chains to secure it.  That thing aint goin' nowhere!!!

Norfolk, VA is weird!!  They required an escort from the port to the interstate which was about a mile away.  So, he followed me to the Interstate and then dropped off.  I continued on my merry way.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Zions Crossing, Virginia.

Thursday, February 25, 2016

This morning I drove in to Leesburg, VA to a power plant that is under construction.  It was very tight in there.  Not an easy place to deliver in.  To make a long story short (because I'm really tired), ended up dropping my trailer and a yard truck took it back in to unload.  Here is what a yard truck looks like.  Much more maneuverable in tight spaces.

Internet Photo

I wouldn't fit in there with my truck.  If you were watching on the cam you would know what I'm talking about.  After unloading I got my trailer back and started off heading back to Norfolk for my next load.  Of course I hit rush hour traffic going back through Washington DC.  Stopped for the night at the south bound rest area on I-95 just north of Richmond.  

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

This morning went over to the Virginia International Gateway Port in Portsmouth, Virginia. Only saw one aircraft carrier in port today.  Too hazy to get a photo for you.  It took quite a while to load, but finally loaded a Transformer that is going up to a power plant that is being constructed in Leesburg, Virginia.  I am 115,760 pounds (52,507.8 kg).

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.  LOTS of severe weather around me.  Tornado WARNINGS here at the time I'm writing this.  Heavy rain and wind now.  Here is the radar at 6 pm. EST  Local TV is nonstop (no commercials) weather and radar right now.  Multiple tornadoes in the area. Power is out at the truck stop.

Fast moving storm.  Radar at 6:20 pm EST

The worst has past me now.  But it was an interesting evening.

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

At about 1 am I drove down to Virginia Beach to a truck stop there.  Wanted to beat the rush hour traffic from Baltimore and Washington D.C., which I did.  No problems all the way.  Load tomorrow morning at the port.

Monday, February 22, 2016

This morning I drove in to Baltimore and delivered the dump truck.  After that went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore to wait for another load.

Sunday, February 21, 2016

FLASHBACK

A year ago today...

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Easy day today.  Left a half hour before sunrise and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Haggerstown, Maryland for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, February 19, 2016

Left this morning half hour before sunrise.   Had a great day on the road.  No problems for a change.  Was good to be back at it again!!   Stopped for the night when I ran out of daylight at the east bound rest area on I-70 in Belmont, Ohio.

Thursday, February 18, 2016

Well, the truck is finally fixed.  Went back to the Daily yard in Bettendorf to get my trailer and spend the night.  Will be back on the road in the morning.

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Truck should be ready tomorrow afternoon.

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

This morning got my annual inspection done at the Daily shop in Bettendorf, IA.  Then went over to John Deere in Davenport, IA and loaded a John Deere 250 Dump Truck that is going to Baltimore, Maryland.  

Left there and got 4 miles into Illinois when I lost all my oil pressure.  I pulled off to the shoulder and checked out the truck.  Have no idea what is wrong.  To make a long story short, they came over from Daily's yard in Bettendorf and took my trailer back to the yard.  I got towed to the Kenworth shop in Rock Island, Illinois.  

I am at the Hotel Davenport in Davenport, Iowa.  Have no idea what is wrong yet.  But with the way things have been going, I'm sure it won't be easy or cheap.  Also the camera will be off until the truck is fixed.

Monday, February 15, 2016

This morning I found another coolant leak.  I went over and delivered the engine then drove around the building and had the shop fix the leak.  Replaced my thermostat too, it was bad.  After that was done I drove to the Daily terminal in Bettendorf, Iowa to get my annual inspection done.  Got there too late today to have it done so they will do it in the morning.  

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Left the truck stop in Kuttawa, Kentucky at 3:15 EST this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Altoona, Iowa.  613 miles (986.5 km).  Will be at the Flying J truck stop for the rest of the weekend.  Deliver a couple blocks from here Monday morning.

Supposed to snow 3 to 5 inches (7.62 to 12.8 cm) here tonight and into Sunday morning.  The video might look cool.

Friday, February 12, 2016

Left Orange Lake, FL this morning at 4:15 and drove up to Griffin, Georgia and loaded a Caterpillar C27 Engine and a parts box that is going to Altoona, Iowa.  

Left there in real good time.  Had no problems with traffic going around Atlanta or Nashville.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Kuttawa, Kentucky.

There was a nice looking steak house right across the street so I walked over there for dinner.  Once again the service for a single person in a restaurant was pathetic!!  I was seated right away and my server came right over and brought my water glass and took my order.  That was the last I saw of her until I was ready to leave.  I sat there for an eternity waiting for my meal.  I also noticed that all the other tables in there were brought a small basket of rolls.  I was the only single person and the only one without rolls.  Finally my dinner arrived by a different server.  I ate it.  Still no server.  When I was ready to go I had to go find someone to get my check and who to pay.  By now I was pretty pissed off.  After driving 727 miles (1,170 km), I was in no mood for this crap.  She got no tip!!! Unfortunately, this happens all the time.  OK, I'm done ranting now.

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Left Dunn, North Carolina right at sunrise this morning. Pushed it real hard all day.  Made it to Ocala, Florida and delivered the excavator.  Then drove up to the Petro truck stop in Orange Lake, Florida for the night. 587 miles (944.6 km) today AND delivered!!  Not too shabby!!   Next load is tomorrow up in Griffin, Georgia.

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Was at the Port of Baltimore first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 320ELRR Excavator that is going to Ocala, Florida.  

Had to wait for the Baltimore curfew to get over before I could leave.  Once 9 am arrived I left.  Didn't have much traffic issues all day.  That was a huge and welcomed surprise!!  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Dunn North Carolina.

Forgot to tell you yesterday, I passed Presidential candidate John Kasich's bus on I-95.  It was on it's way to South Carolina.

Internet Photo

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Finally got another load.  It is way up in Baltimore, Maryland.  Drove up there and stopped at the TA truck stop in Baltimore.  Had a little weather on the way.  Some rain snow mix around Fredericksburg, Virginia.  Lasted up to Quantico.  From there on it was just wet.

Monday, February 8, 2016

Thought I had my next load but after I got about 30 miles down the road found out that it would't work on my truck.  So I stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Dunn, NC to wait some more.  This sucks!!!!

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Half time show was excellent!!!!

Congratulations Denver Broncos!!!!

Super Bowl 50

NFL Super Bowl 

Sunday, February 7, 6:30 PM

Levi's Stadium

Carolina Panthers (17-2)

 

10 - 24

Final

Denver Broncos (15-4)

	1	2	3	4		Total
Panthers	0	7	0	3		10
Broncos	10	3	3	8		24

Now we have to wait until September for next season.

Friday, February 5, 2016

Nothing!!!!    So I'll be here all weekend.  The other Daily trucks are still here too.  Not good!!!

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Left at sunrise and drove down to Raleigh and delivered the dozer. I really love driving those things!!!  The power they have is amazing!!!  Can feel it.  Anyway, I didn't have another load yet so I drove over to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC to wait for my next one. Sure hope it is soon.  There are several other Daily trucks here waiting too.  That's a bad sign.

Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Went over to the rest area in West Virginia and met the Bridge Monitor (white pick up in the photo below), and the escort (parked behind the Bridge Monitor in the photo below).

We left and went across the bridge at 30 mph (48 kph) with no problems.  Once we were across they took the exit and went back for the next one.  I kept on going.  Overcast and some rain most of the day.  Other than that, no problems today.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Mebane, North Carolina. Will deliver tomorrow morning.  Don't have another load yet.

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Timed it perfectly this morning and entered Kentucky at Louisville right at 9 am. Had a short day today.  There is a bridge 17 miles in West Virginia that the State is requiring a "Bridge Monitor" and an escort car when I go over it.  I have to go over it at 30 mph (48 kph).  I'm assuming that the escort car will do a rolling road block and slow traffic behind me while I go across the bridge by myself.  I assume the Bridge Monitor is there to make sure that we actually do it.  There are 4 of us going over tomorrow morning. I'm the first.  We will be meeting everyone at the rest area at mile marker 10 in the morning. I stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Catlettsburg, KY. I'm about 20 minutes from the rest area.   Can't park at the rest area overnight in West Virginia.  They do not allow "Oversize Loads" to park in the rest areas overnight.

Monday, February 1, 2016

Went across the street first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar D7R Dozer that is going to Raleigh, North Carolina.  As soon as I started I knew my front brakes were not good.  So I stopped back at the TA truck stop in Bloomington, IL and got them replaced.  Thought it might be a good idea to have good brakes when I'm 111,000 pounds (50349 kg).

When that was fixed I left.  Didn't get too far today.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Austin, Indiana when I ran out of daylight.  Can't start too early tomorrow because I can't go through Louisville, KY until after 9 am.

Sunday, January 31, 2016

This morning I went over to the repair shop at the TA and had routine maintenance done on the truck and generator.  When that was done I drove over to the Daily yard in Morton, Illinois. It is right across the street from where I load in the morning.  

I really hate it when football season is over!!!!!

Friday, January 29, 2016

VERY early I left and drove up to Milwaukee, WI.  My plan worked again.  Hardly any traffic through Chicago and Milwaukee at 3 am.  When I got there I took a nap until they came to work.  I was empty in a matter of minutes and on my way toward my next load.  It is Monday morning in Morton, Illinois.  I drove down to the TA truck stop in Bloomington, IL.  Sunday I'll go over to the Daily yard in Morton.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

My plan worked.  I got up at 3 am and was on the road by 3:30.  Made it around Atlanta, Georgia without any problems.  Had a little bit of bumper to bumper traffic in Nashville, Tennessee.  Continued the rest of the day with no problems.  Stopped for the night because I ran out of hours, at the Pilot truck stop in Gilman, Illinois.  Drove 726 miles (1168 km) today.  Will get up real early again and try to beat the Chicago rush hour tomorrow.

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Yesterday morning I took the truck over to Caterpillar for repair.  Number two fuel injector was not working so it was replaced.  At the same time my trailer was getting a few things fixed too.  Got two new tires, had a rusted and leaking air tank replaced, and two new shocks.

He finished my trailer yesterday.  My truck was ready this morning.  Picked it up, got my trailer and headed out for my return trip to Milwaukee to return the rack.

Didn't want to deal with Atlanta rush hour traffic so I stopped at the TA truck stop in Jackson, Georgia for the night. Will leave very early in the morning to hopefully try to beat the traffic.

Monday, January 25, 2016

This morning went the couple miles down the road to the Port of Brunswick and delivered the swing gear.  Now I have to take the rack back to Milwaukee.

But before I go to Milwaukee I went down to Jacksonville and had some work done on the trailer.  Also getting some engine work done to the truck.  So I'll be home for a couple days.