Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Left this morning to time it to get to St. Louis at 9 am when the curfew ends.  I was off by about 10 minutes.  Met my escort at the Missouri state line.  He will be with me until I get to Texas. 

Had a very good day on the road.  Missouri took us on a long detour.  Thought we would never get out of Missouri.  But we finally did.  Stopped for the night at the Woodshed Truck Stop in Big Cabin, Oklahoma.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Went back over and picked up my trailer this morning and sat there and waited for the "go ahead".  It finally came at 1 this afternoon.  I was very glad to get moving again.  Didn't get too far.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Lincoln, Illinois.  Will meet my Missouri escort at the State line in the morning at 9 am when the St. Louis curfew is over.

Friday, October 20, 2017

Went over to the Caterpillar plant in Montgomery, Illinois first thing this morning.  Loaded a Caterpillar 826K Compactor that is going to Snyder, Texas.  This one had "utility wheels" on it.  I like it when they have those on.  It makes it much easier to load because the machine sits higher.

After securing it to the trailer I go over and weigh the truck.  If everything is good, they take the wheels off and do a few other things.  Then I'm good to go.

As I left there I sent an email to my dispatcher with my scale ticket, dimensions, and told him that I was on the road. A few minutes later he called and said "...don't leave..."  Too late, I was already on the road.  He said that they did not have any way to unload me in Texas and that Caterpillar was saying to stay there until they figure it out. Oh goodie !!!!  So now I had to find a place to turn around.  Easy to do in a car, but not quite so easy with 113,000 pounds (51,256 kg) of truck.  I did and returned.  I sat there the rest of the day.  At quitin' time my dispatcher called and said that they still have not got it figured out yet and to stay there for the weekend.   I backed the trailer in a spot in the back of the yard and dropped it there.

Drove back to the TA truck stop in Morris, Illinois for the rest of the weekend.  It is the closest truck stop and it is 45 minutes away.  

Now it's FOOTBALL TIME!!!!!  Except the Gators are off this week.  Still have the rest of the SEC to watch.

Thursday, October 19, 2017

This afternoon I got my next load.  It is tomorrow in Montgomery, Illinois.  I drove over to the TA truck stop in Morris, Illinois for the night.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left.  Drove straight through to Bellevue, Iowa.  When I got there they told me that it was a Caterpillar 730 dump truck that had been stretched 12 feet and modified a bit.  Well, all kinds of alarms went off in my head. I know how a 730 fits on my trailer and an extra 12 feet just wouldn't do well back there.  So, before I disassembled too much of my trailer, I had him bring the machine around and park it next to my trailer. 

Just as I suspected, It didn't fit.  It was 6 feet too long.  Not even Vaseline and KY Jelly would squeeze it onto my trailer.  After a few phone calls, I ended up leaving it there.  I drove down to the world famous Iowa 80 Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa for the night.

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

My escort arrived right on time this morning and we left. Great day on the road.  Perfect weather ad light traffic. Delivered the dump truck this afternoon in Louis, Kentucky.  Next load is tomorrow in Bellevue, Iowa.  Started that direction.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Waddy, Kentucky.  Will get going again as soon as my 10 hours is up.

Monday, October 16, 2017

Nothing special today.  Left this morning and had a good day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Franklin, Kentucky.  Have to have an escort in KY.  He will meet me here in the morning.

Saturday, October 14, 2017

My friend and I went back and finished securing his machine on his trailer.  Then we left.  Had a good day on the road.  Stopped for lunch and had some good Texas bar-b-q. Of course, I had ribs!!  Stopped for the night and until Monday at the TA truck stop in Prescott, Arkansas.  

Now it's FOOTBALL TIME!!!!

Gators are wearing their new uniforms tonight. 

I still like the blue.

But even the new uniforms couldn't get them a win.

Florida vs Texas A&M

Saturday, October 14, 6:00 PM

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

Texas A&M Aggies (5-2)

 

19 - 17

Final

Florida Gators (3-3)

	1	2	3	4		Total
Texas A&M	3	0	7	9		19
Florida	3	7	0	7		17

Friday, October 13, 2017

Found out last night that a friend was loading at the same place.  I met up with him there first thing this morning.  He loaded a large excavator.  I loaded a John Deere 400 Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Louisa, Kentucky.

I finished mine but he still has more to do.  We were both totally exhausted.  The heat took its toll on both of us.  We decided to leave our trailers there for the night, go to the truck stop for the night, then return in the morning and finish his, and then hit the road.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Left a little before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way into Waxahachie and delivered the drill.  It was at a job site along side of the Interstate highway.  Once I finished I had to back out.  Was about a quarter mile down a dirt road.  Next load is tomorrow in Texas City, Texas.  I drove tot the TA truck stop in Baytown for the night.

Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Nothing real exciting today.  Left at sunrise this morning.  Had a very good day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Tyler, Texas.  Will deliver tomorrow morning. 

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Went over to Pembroke, GA first thing this morning and loaded a drill that is going to Waxahachie, Texas to a job site.

Had a good day on the road.  Didn't even have any problems going around Atlanta!!  Amazing!!  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop McCalla, Alabama.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Load tomorrow instead of today.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, Georgia for the night.

Drove home as soon as my 10 hours was up.  Got home at 8 am.  Ran a few errands then settled in for  football for the rest of the day.

Gators didn't do so well today.

Florida vs LSU

Saturday, October 7, 3:30 PM

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

LSU Tigers (4-2)

 

17 - 16

Final

Florida Gators (3-2)

	1	2	3	4		Total
LSU	7	3	7	0		17
Florida	0	3	13	0		16

Friday, October 6, 2017

We left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Had no problems on the road today.  Drove all the way down to Okeechobee, Florida to a huge land fill.  Went back in there and unloaded the compactor after they put the wheels back on.

Went to the Pilot truck stop in Fort Pierce, Florida for a much needed shower, dinner, and a good nights sleep.  My next load is up in Georgia Monday morning, however I'm going to spend the weekend at home.

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Started at sunrise this morning.  LOTS of bumper to bumper traffic in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Took forever to get through there.  Finally did.  At the Louisiana / Mississippi state line my pole car was waiting for me.  She took the lead and we continued on.  Had a very good day on the road until Florida.  That's when we found one of those total dick head troopers.  As you watch the video you will see a trooper on the right shoulder with his lights on.  My pole car was behind another semi truck.  Just prior to this she told me she was going to go around it when she could.  As we approached the trooper, she could not see him, as she was behind a truck!  Then when she could see him, there was another semi truck to her left next to her.  She slowed and passed the trooper.  Apparently that pissed off "Barney Fife" and he took off after us.  He pulled her over and I pulled in behind them.  He proceeded to chew her out, but did not write her a ticket.   When it was over we continued on to the Flying J truck stop in Quincy, Florida for the night.  It was about 20 miles from where the trooper pulled her over.  We were in the parking lot for at least a half hour before she left for her hotel.  The trooper followed her into the hotel parking lot.  He did not talk to her, just followed her in an obvious attempt to intimidate her.  She was furious! And I don't blame her.  Cops like this are the reason people hate cops and do not trust them.  

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Left this morning after the San Antonio curfew was over at 9 am.  Had a very good day on the road except for some bumper to bumper traffic in Houston.  Didn't get nearly as far as I wanted to get today.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Lafayette, Louisiana.  Tomorrow I'll get a pole car when I get to Mississippi.

Too those of you leaving me such nice comments, thank you.  I appreciate all your comments. I also welcome any suggestions.  Thank you.

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Felt a lot better today.  Left real early this morning and drove in to the Caterpillar dealer in San Antonio, Texas.  Loaded a Caterpillar 836 Compactor that is going to Okeechobee, Florida.  Once It was on the trailer they came and too off the wheels.  The blade was already off.  

Left there and went to the scale.  That was good, but I am 14 feet 4 inches tall.  My permit is only for 14 feet.  So I found a parking place to wait.  Will be here at the Petro in San Antonio for the night.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Woke up this morning feeling bad again.  Went over to the port and unloaded the dozer.  After that went over to the Daily terminal in Houston.  Had a bad tire on the trailer that I needed to have replaced.

After that was done, I started off for San Antonio.  My next load is there tomorrow morning.  I stopped very early at the TA truck stop in Bernardo, TX because I was still feeling bad.  Going to sleep very soon.  Hopefully I'll feel better in the morning, I have to.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

There are several off shore oil rigs in here.  I think they build them over there.  Tried to get a photo for you but there is too much "stuff" in the way.  Here is the best one I could get.

Carnival Freedom was in port yesterday and left yesterday afternoon.

Another Carnival ship and a Royal Caribbean ship are in today.

Saturday, September 30, 1017

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way into Galveston. Parked in a dirt lot down the road from the port.  Dropped the trailer there and went to Shipley's Do Nuts.  They are sooooo good when they are hot!!!   Then back to the trailer.  Settled in for the rest of the weekend for FOOTBALL!!!!!

Florida vs Vanderbilt

Today, 11:00 AM

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

Vanderbilt Commodores (3-2)

 

24 - 38

Final

Florida Gators (3-1)

	1	2	3	4		Total
Vanderbilt	7	10	0	7		24
Florida	7	10	7	14		38

Friday, September 29, 2017

Left this morning to time the Little Rock curfew.  Got o LR just after the curfew ended.  Felt a lot better today and had a nice day on the road.  Drove to the Pilot truck stop in Huntsville, Texas for the night.

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Got started at sunrise and timed it perfectly to enter Missouri right at 9 am when the St. Louis curfew ended.  Had a bad headache this morning.  Fortunately, it went away by noon. Still didn't feel very well all day.  Other than that, no other problems on the road today.  Stopped a little early tonight at the TA truck stop in Earle, Arkansas since I would not make the Little Rock curfew and still not feeling well.  Hopefully I'll feel better tomorrow.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Got off to a slow start this morning.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Troy, IL and had a damaged mud flap replaced and had breakfast.  Then on up to the Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, IL and loaded a Caterpillar D9R Dozer that is going to the port in Galveston, Texas.

Left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Lincoln, Illinois for the night.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Went to a large landfill that is across from the Gateway Motorsports Park.  That is one of the NASCAR tracks.  Took all morning to load a Caterpillar 836 Compactor.  These things can be very difficult to load.

Went a few blocks down the road to the Pilot truck stop and scaled.  Turns out that I was WAY too heavy.  I need at least two more axles to take this machine anywhere.  I went back to the land fill and explained the situation.  Also tried to call Daily.  When it rains, it pours!!  All the phone lines and internet were down at all the Daily terminals!!  Finally got hold of someone on his cell phone.  To make a very long story short, I ended up unloading the machine and leaving it there.  I went back to the Pilot truck stop for the night.  Have another load tomorrow up in East Peoria, IL.  I'm too exhausted to go anywhere today.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Went back to the Caterpillar dealer first thing this morning and took care of the delivery paperwork for the dump truck.  Then headed toward East St. Louis, Illinois for my next load.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Troy, Illinois.