Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Left this morning just before sunrise this morning.  Today it was ALL up and down through the mountains.  Went past Devil's Tower (sort of).  Can see it from I-90 off in the distance.  Here are a few pictures of the view in Wyoming.  If you want to look it up, I was on I-90 west bound.

Only saw one Pronghorn today.  last time I came through here they were all over the place.

Internet Photo

Then in Wyoming went up a little higher and the views were even better.  Unfortunately the photos don't do it justice, but here are some anyway. 

 And through Bozemam Pass.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Whitehall, Montana.  While doing my post trip inspection I found that I had  flat tire on the truck.  Went next door to a repair shop and they came over and fixed it.

Here is where the leak was.  This view is the inside of the tire.

And here is the culprit!

It is all fixed and I'm ready to go tomorrow morning.  I should be able to deliver tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

The generator ran perfectly all night last night.  FANTASTIC!!  Had a mild thunderstorm during the night but it sure didn't live up to its billing.  Left this morning just before sunrise.  Had a great day on the road.  Weather was perfect, and the traffic was light.  Went past the Corn Palace, Wall Drug, and the Badlands again today.  Had a wolf cross the road in front of me.  Had to change lanes to keep from hitting him. As I passed him he turned and looked at me.  Pretty cool.  Later on, just east of Rapid City, South Dakota an Air Force B-1 Bomber flew over me.  It was from Ellswoth Air Force Base that is in Rapid City.  Was coming in for a landing.  Went by too quick for me to get a picture of it so I "borrowed" one from the internet.

Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Monday, July 11, 2016

The part came in today.  After he put it in and all back together he started it and it did the exact same thing again!!  So, he took it apart again and did something else (don't ask me what, I have no idea), then ran it again.  This time it worked right.  Then it was shift change,  So the guy from the next shift put it all back in my truck.  By the time I got out of there it was 6:30 pm local time.  I drove a whopping 13 miles to the Love's truck stop in Clive, Iowa on the other side of Des Moines for the night.  So far the generator is running perfectly.  I'll be sleeping with one ear on the generator tonight. Heavy thunderstorms expected later on.  Radar right now shows them building just west of here.   

Friday, July 8, 2016

It happened again....

The part that they ordered yesterday did not get here today.  They don't know why.  SO, I'm stuck here over the weekend.  The other guy that I was running with continued on today.  I went back to the campground until Monday. 

Thursday, July 7, 2016

Thought my generator was fixed but as it turns out, it isn't.  They put in a brand new inverter in  the thing and as things go for me, it was defective.  So they had to order another one that will be here tomorrow. I'm still at the campground for at least another day.

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Yesterday while going over my trailer found a few problems.  So this morning the tire guy came over and replaced six tires.  As for my generator, the closest place that could see me before next week was the Cummins shop in Des Moines, Iowa.  So, after he was finished with the trailer we left and drove to the Cummins shop and left the trailers there.  Then went to a campground for the night.  That way I'll be able to plug in and cook dinner and have A/C. Will be back at the shop first thing in the morning.

Friday, July 1, 2016

Spent most of the day setting up the new computer.  I think I have most of it done now.  This evening my generator quit working again. Same exact problem.  Needless to say, I am really pissed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Fortunately I can plug in here.  Will stop probably at Cummins in Davenport, Iowa Tuesday to get it fixed again

Thursday, June 30, 2016

I'm a little late with this post because my computer took a dump.  Thursday was  pretty uneventful other that my computer problems.  Drove to the Daily terminal in Morton, Illinois.  Will be here until Tuesday because of the holiday.  When I got to Morton I dropped my trailer and went and bought a new computer.

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Alabama rejected my permit so it had to be re-submitted.  That is the "Readers Digest" version of what went on.  It finally arrived and off we went.  Because we got such a late start we only went 384 miles (671.988 km) today.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop just inside Tennessee on I-65.  Tried to plug into Shore Power that is available here - it didn't work.  Went to the restaurant for dinner - the service was horrible!!  Ordered hot apple pie and ice cream for desert.  After waiting over 20 minutes it still didn't arrive.  I told the server to cancel the pie and I left.  She got no tip at all.  Needless to say, I am in a horrible mood tonight!!

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Drove the rest of the way to Tallahassee (actually it was really Midway, Florida) and delivered the tractor. Then drove over to Pensacola, Florida for my next load.  Was lucky and was able to load today - a day early!!!  Another GE Wind Energy Hub that is going out to Greenfield, Montana.

But since I was a day early I didn't have any of my permits yet.  The only one I had was Florida.  So I went across the street and parked in the truck staging area to wait for at least Alabama's permit.. Will be here overnight.  It didn't come in today.

Monday, June 27, 2016

Left just before sunrise this morning and had a very good day on the road.  Nothing exciting at all.   Even made it around Atlanta with no problems.  Slight back up south of Atlanta but it didn't last long.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Tifton, Georgia.  Will deliver tomorrow morning.

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Easy day today.  Left at sunrise and drove down to the Pilot truck stop in Hayti, Missouri.  Can't go into Tennessee until Monday.

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Left this morning at sunrise.  Nice day on the road except for an idiot that I almost creamed.

I had nowhere to go.  There was a car camped out right next to my trailer on the left.  The video does not show how hard I stomped on the breaks to keep him out from under my truck.

Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Foristell, Missouri.  Tomorrow will be a short day.  I can only drive in Missouri on Sunday so I'l have to stop before I get to Tennessee.

Friday, June 24, 2016

This morning went back to the Cummins shop.  Parked in front of it on a dead end road was this super load.  They were preparing to leave.

They left the Port of Houston, Texas on June 4th. and will deliver it in Canada.  They say it has something to do with water purification.  It is 21 feet tall and 18 feet, 6 inches wide and weighs half a million pounds.    They had a push truck, six escorts, and six power company bucket trucks with them.  I watched as they left.  Here is some video I shot for you as they pulled out.

My generator was finished and I left there at 12:30 local time.  I passed the super load on my way to Yuma, Colorado.  They had stopped in a truck stop for the weekend.  They were only able to go 80 miles today.

Got back to Yuma and loaded a Caterpillar Challenger MT865C Tractor that is going to Tallahassee, Florida. My gross weight is 106,000 pounds.

Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Colby, Kansas for the night.  Sorry about the camera being down,  Sprint SUCKS!!!!

Thursday, June 23, 2016

Well everything he tests turns out fine.  But when he runs it the damn thing still does the same thing.  Still trying to figure out why.  So here I sit for another day!!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Yesterday was not a good day.

I decided to go horseback riding something I haven't done in over 20 yrs. It turned out to be a big mistake! I got on the horse and started out slow but then we went a little faster and before I knew it we were going as fast as the horse could go. I couldn't take the pace and fell off but caught my foot in the stirrup with the horse dragging me. It wouldn't stop it just kept going around and around in a circle.

Thank goodness the store manager at Wal-Mart came out and unplugged the machine.

Thought you would like that. I copied it from the internet.  OK, now back to reality.

I left Garden City, KS at about 3 am and drove up to Yuma, Colorado.  Stopped along the way and had routine maintenance done on the truck.  When I got to Yuma to load they said that the machine was not ready yet and it would be about 4 or 5 hours. I went  back to the truck to take a nap.  Started the generator  and it happened again!

The generator started, ran for a few seconds and shut off.  Same exact thing as before!!  So, after a LOT of phone calls I ended up dropping my trailer there and going back to Garden City, Kansas to the Cummins shop.  500 miles (804.67 km) round trip!!  They were the only ones anywhere close by that could see me today.  Everyone else was booked up through next week.  When I got to Garden City they took my generator totally out of the truck so I could have the truck to sleep in.

There was a campground right next door so I went there for the night so I could plug in.  

Monday, June 20, 2016

Left this morning at sunrise.  Drove the rest of the way to Garden City.  Much to my surprise, I didn't have to wait all day to get empty!!! After that I went to the truck stop in Garden City, Kansas since I didn't have another load yet.   I was done for the day before noon.  I'll do my reset here and get that out of the way.  Also gives them some time to find a load for me.

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Got started at sunrise this morning.  Great day on the road.  No traffic issues today at all.  The State routed me all over the place today in Texas.  Dumb!!  Kansas is doing the same thing! Anyway, stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Meade, Kansas. The home of the Dalton Gang Hideout.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Left this morning at sunrise and after a good nights sleep.  Pretty uneventful day until the last part of Louisiana on I-20. There was a crash which caused a long back up. About 2 miles past that another huge back up.  Traffic was at a complete stop. A thunderstorm went through about 4 miles ahead and blew several trees across the Interstate.  Sat there for about a half hour while crews cleared the road. After I got past that there was construction 4 miles past that.  Down to one lane and more bumper to bumper traffic!!  Finally made it out of Louisiana!!  Stopped for the night, when I ran out of hours, at a truck stop in Willis Point, Texas.  I can drive in Texas on Sunday, so I will.  Want to get past Dallas - Fort Worth area on Sunday.  Hopefully the traffic won't be as bad.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Another very warm night.  Didn't sleep well again.  Yuck!!!

This morning loaded a GE Wind Energy Hub that is going out to Garden City, Kansas.  This one is one of their bigger ones.  My gross weight is about 116,000 pounds (52,616.7 kg).

After that was loaded I drove to the Cummins shop in Mobile, Alabama and got my generator fixed.  I'll be able to sleep tonight!!!!!!!!  Because we didn't know how long I was going to be getting repaired, didn't start my Mississippi permit until tomorrow.  About a mile from Cummins was a Love's Truck Stop and that is where I went to spend the night.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Well...I knew things were going a little to smooth.  Then....

At about 11 pm last night my generator quit.  So, I had to run the truck all night.  Had very little air conditioning.  Didn't sleep very well.  

This morning I delivered the excavator. Then tried to get the generator fixed.  Cummins in Atlanta was booked until next week.  He suggested that I have it serviced - oil, oil filter, fuel filter, and air filter changed. Sometimes that resolves the problem. He checked the Montgomery, Alabama Cummins for me.  They were also booked through next week too.  

My next load is down in Pensacola, Florida. I headed that way.  I stopped at the TA truck stop in Montgomery, Alabama and had the generator serviced.  No change.  Still not running right and shuts itself off.  I talked to the Cummins shop in Mobile, Alabama.  They said that they could see me after lunch tomorrow.  GREAT!!  I continued on down to the GE Wind Energy plant in Pensacola, checked in and will spend another miserable night in my truck in the truck staging area there.  I'm number 2 in line to load in the morning.  Fortunately I'm routed right past the Cummins shop in Mobile.  Sure hope they can fix it tomorrow.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Delivered the grader first thing this morning.  Next load was in Savannah, Georgia.  Drove down there and loaded a Sany 235C Excavator that is going to Peachtree City, Georgia.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA for the night.  Will deliver in the morning.

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Finally got another load.  At about noon went over to the Port of Jacksonville and loaded a Caterpillar 120M Motor Grader that is going up to Florence, South Carolina. I love driving these things!!

Left there and got started north.  Very shortly after I got into Georgia the rains came.  It rained heavy with thunder and lightening almost the whole way north through Georgia. South Carolina was sunny.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Florence, SC.  Deliver almost across the street from here in the morning.

Saturday, June 11, 2016

Went back home again this morning.  When I got here I took my lightbar apart and cleaned it.  Polished the lenses with a high speed buffer to get a lot of the oxidation off.  Looks a lot better. Polished the headlights on my pick up truck too.

Friday, June 10, 2016

Back at it again.  Left Jacksonville real early this morning and drove down to Ring Power (Caterpiller dealer) in Ocala, Florida.  Loaded a Caterpillar 730C Articulating Dump Truck that is going up to Valdosta, Georgia.

Left there in good time this morning and drove to Valdosta and delivered it before noon. Still do not have another load so I went to the TA truck stop in Lake Park, GA to wait.  I think I'll go back home tomorrow to wait for my next load.  The food is better there.

Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Went over and got my windshield replaced.  No more crack to look at. Will still be home until at least Sunday or Monday.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left.  Stopped in Brunswick, Georgia and got the truck washed and the APU serviced.  It looks so darned good when its clean. Then finished my trip home.  I'll be home for a little while.  Going to get my windshield replaced next week.  My next load is June 9th in Pensacola.

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Friday, May 27, 2016

Didn't oversleep today and got on the road just before sunrise.  Made it to Knoxville, Tennessee and delivered the excavator.  Didn't have another load, and I didn't want to sit in Knoxville for the holiday weekend, so I started for home.  Traffic was horrible!!  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in St. George, South Carolina.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

I overslept this morning and got a late start.  Fortunately with the longer daylight hours, it didn't matter.  Got on the road and first thing I was cut off again.  Happens every day to almost every truck on the road.  

Even so, had a great day on the road.  As I went over the Mississippi River into Iowa came upon a crash that just occurred.  Not sure how it happened but a pick up truck with a trailer was jack knifed and pointed the wrong way on the east side of the bridge.  Here is the video as I passed it.

That is all the interesting stuff from today.  Made it all the way to the Pilot truck stop in Paducah, Kentucky.  Didn't plan on it at all, but I may be able to deliver tomorrow.  Hope so!!  we shall see.

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Left just before sunrise this morning.  Nothing exciting today.  Took another picture of Wyoming for my sister.

Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Avoca, Iowa.

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Well it seemed like it took forever to get my Montana permit today.  But it did arrive.  So at 11 am local time I hit the road.  Here is a picture of a mountain in Wyoming.  This is for my sister, she likes mountain pictures.

And here is a weather picture from Wyoming.

Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Caspar, Wyoming.

Monday, May 23, 2016

This morning went about 12 miles down the road and delivered the mini excavators.  Didn't have another load so I went back to the truck stop.  Took a shower, had breakfast, and did 3 loads of wash.  Finished just as I got my next load.  So I left and drove west to Belgrade, MT to a Richie Brothers Auction and loaded a John Deere 200DX Excavator that is going to Knoxville, Tennessee.  For an auction machine, this one is in pretty good shape.

Don't have any permits yet so I'll be at the Flying J truck stop in Belgrade, MT until Montana's permit gets here sometime tomorrow morning.

Saturday, May 21, 2016

Left at 1 am local time.  Drove up to the Pilot truck stop in Billings, Montana.  Got here before 9 am local time.  Now I can catch up on my sleep.

Friday, May 20, 2016

Got started at 1 am local time this morning.  Pushed it real hard today.  South Dakota speed limit is 80 (128.7 kph).  Went past the Corn Palace, and Wall Drug.  Also went through the Badlands. Made it to the Flying J truck stop in Rapid City, South Dakota.  804 miles (1293.21 km) today.  Not too shabby!!

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Left real early this morning. Very good day on the road.  No problems anywhere.  Drove from Cartersville, Georgia to Boonville, Missouri almost non-stop.  Pretty tired so I'm going to bed.  I'll hit the road early again tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Left Cartersville TA truck stop this morning and drove down to Caterpillar in Athens, GA.  Loaded two Caterpillar 305E Mini Excavators that are going out to Billings, Montana.

Left there and got in tons and tons of traffic!!  Took forever just to get back to the TA in Cartersville, right where I started this morning.  Will get an early start in tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Had a few nibbles but nothing worth moving for.  Hope tomorrow is better.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Nashville didn't happen so here I sit.

Saturday, May 14, 2016

This morning I moved up to the TA truck stop in Cartersville, Georgia.  Might have a load in Nashville, Tennessee.  Don't know yet. The financial transactions have not all been completed. But just in case, I wanted to be on the north side of Atlanta so that I would not have to deal with all that traffic next week.

Friday, May 13, 2016

Nothing today.  All I did today was get the truck washed.

Thursday, May 12, 2016

Left at sunrise this morning and drove in to McDonough, Georgia.  Wasn't very lucky today.  LOTS of bumper to bumper traffic going through Atlanta. Finally made it and delivered the excavator.  When I got there I saw that the amber beacon on the drivers side of the trailer was missing.  When I went back there to see what happened I saw that it had broken at the base and was hanging by the wires.  I cut the wires and put the beacon in the cab to fix later.  Since I didn't have another load yet I went over to the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA.  Both my truck and trailer were due for inspection so I took it to the shop and had that done.  Had them also grease both of them too.  While they were doing that I replaced the beacon on the trailer and also did some preventive maintenance on the two beacons on the back of the truck.  All working as they should now.

Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Left this morning and drove nonstop, except for that required stupid 30 minute "rest" break.  Here is a video of something that happens all too frequently to everyone in a big truck.  I was doing 70 MPH (112.6 kph) when this idiot did this.

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Meridian, Mississippi.

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

My Texas permit arrived at the perfect time, just when the Beaumont curfew was ending this morning.  So I went on in to Houston and delivered the excavator.  Next load was also in Houston but at a different location.  Went over there and loaded a Caterpillar 329EL Excavator that is going to McDonough, Georgia.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Baytown, Texas.  Scaled up and found I had guessed wrong.  My weights were a bit off.  

So I pulled around and took off all the chains, moved the machine a bit, put some of the chains back on and got on the scale again.  Perfect this time.  

Found a parking place for the night and finished securing the machine.  I was exhausted!!!  Took a very long shower and went to bed.  I'll eat dinner later.

Monday, May 9, 2016

This morning went over to the Caterpillar dealer in Austin, Texas and loaded a Caterpillar 326FL Excavator that is going to Houston, TX.

Left there and drove to Houston and delivered it.  Next load is in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  Drove over there and loaded another Caterpillar 326FL Excavator that is also going to Houston.  

Left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in Orange, Texas for the night.  Had to stop because I don't have my Texas permit for this load. Have to wait here in the morning until it comes in.

Saturday, May 7, 2016

Got up real early this morning and did some minor repairs to the truck.  Then off to Wally World (Wal-mart) to restock.  After that stopped at Shipley's Donuts!!!  Warm and delicious!!!!

Friday, May 6, 2016

Left Slidell, LA this morning at sunrise.  Delivered the excavator in Houston, Texas.  Next load is Monday in Austin, Texas.  Another short trip.  I drove over to the TA truck stop in New Braunfels, TX for the rest of the weekend.

Thursday, May 5, 2016

Another very uneventful day on the road.  Drove 644 miles (1036.42 km) today.  Ran out of hours and stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Slidell, Louisiana.

Wednesday, May 4, 2015

Went back to the port this morning and picked up my trailer.  As soon as the Baltimore curfew was over at 9 AM I left.  Had no problems going around Baltimore or Washington DC.  The rest of the day was pretty uneventful too.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Greeneville, Tennessee.

Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Yesterday late afternoon a car carrier went to back into a parking spot but didn't see the truck behind him.  He backed right into it knocking off part of the bumper and putting a hole in the radiator.  Antifreeze was all over the place.  Kinda made it difficult for everyone else getting in or out.

The driver of the truck that got hit is the guy walking in the photo.

Took over an hour for the wonderful Baltimore police to show up. Then when he got there the dumb ass parked right in the middle of the only way in or out!!  Eventually he moved when trucks started lining up to get in and out.

After they finished with the cop, it took another four hours for the wrecker to show up.  Of course by then it was raining.  I felt really bad for that driver.

Nothing all morning!!  Then finally this afternoon got a load.  Went back to the port and loaded a Caterpillar 323FL Excavator that is going to Houston, Texas.  

Maryland permit didn't come in until it was too late to go anywhere today because of the Baltimore curfew.  I left my trailer there and went back to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.

Monday, May 2, 2016

This morning went over to the Port of Baltimore and delivered the tractor.  I made a video of it for you.

Didn't have another load lined up so I went back to the TA in Baltimore to wait.

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way into Baltimore, Maryland.  Had to get there before noon because in Maryland permit loads can not operate after noon. Got to the TA truck stop at 11 am.  Will deliver Monday morning.

Friday, April 29, 2016

Left first thing this morning.  Nice easy day on the road.  Nothing exciting or interesting today. Stopped for the night at a truck stop at the Pennsylvania / West Virginia line on I-79.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Drove the rest of the way into Waterloo and loaded a John Deere 9620RX Tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore.

Had to wait for a few hours for permits. but after things got straightened out I left and drove down to the Pilot truck stop in Covington, Indiana for the night.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

I decided that I was not going to wait there any longer so at midnight local time I left and headed back east.  Developed a problem with my generator so I stopped at Cummins in Des Moines, Iowa and had it fixed. After that went over to the Flying J truck stop in Altoona, Iowa for the night.  I load tomorrow morning in Waterloo, Iowa.  

Tornado watch in effect here until 9 pm local time.  They are expecting some weather tonight.  I love a good thunder storm.  Just don't like the hail that usually comes with it out here.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

We got about 2 inches of wet slushy snow this morning.  By this afternoon it was all gone.  Still don't have a load.

Monday, April 25, 2016

First thing this morning went to Denver and delivered the first excavator.  Then drove up to Cheyenne, Wyoming and delivered the other excavator.  Don't have another load yet so I went to the TA truck stop in Cheyenne to wait.

I love it out west!!

128.7 kmh

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Left very early this morning.  No problems at all going through Kansas City.  About half way though Kansas drove through a cold front.  Sky looked real nasty!  Lots of lightening.  Wasn't worried about it at all.  It was still very early in the morning, as you can tell from my long shadow.  Big storms that produce tornadoes very rarely occur in the early morning.  They need the heat of the day to get them fired up.

Made it through the storm rather quickly and continued on into Colorado.

Went past this town...

Interesting little town. There is only one place in town to drink alcohol, the Bar BQ.   The politics there are a little different.  The town's Mayor, Patty Cow, is quite a heifer!  She likes to keep things stable.  But when someone does have a beef, she corrals everyone because they all have a steak in the outcome.  It is very rare that there is not a lot of bull argued although no one gets slaughtered.  But she does not let anyone horn in and add hot coals to the fire.  Don't get me wrong, she will tan someones hide if she has to.  In the end everyone congratulates her on a job well done!!  As you know by now that this whole thing is udderly ridiculous!!  I won't milk any more out of it and return to the blog.

Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Aurora, Colorado.  This place is jammed packed!!!  I was lucky to get a spot to park.  Trucks are packed in here like sardines!!!  Hope I don't get hit and can get out in the morning.