Tuesday, March 20, 2018

First thing this morning I was over at Caterpillar to deliver the crate. After that was done I drove down to Decatur, Illinois and loaded a Caterpillar 773F Dump Truck Axle.  It's nickname is a generic term we use for all the different axles that are transported. It is called a "banjo".  I know that this one doesn't look like a banjo, but trust me, some of them really do.  It is going to Houston, Texas to go on a long ocean cruise.

This axle alone weighs over 56,000 pounds (25,401 kg).  You can only imagine how big the rest of the truck is.  Here is a picture of one all put together.

Internet Photo

I left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Effingham, Illinois for the night.

Monday, March 19, 2018

Drove the rest of the way into West Allis, Wisconsin and delivered the material handler.  From there I drove to a Caterpillar parts manufacturing plant in South Milwaukee.  Loaded a crate with a hoist gear (whatever that is) in it.  It is going to the Caterpillar plant in Morton, Illinois.  

Left there and drove to the Daily yard in Morton, Illinois for the night.  Deliver just across the Interstate highway from here in the morning.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Went up to the Petro truck stop in Rochelle, Illinois for the rest of the day.

Saturday, March 17, 2018

The weather that was supposed to start at 3 am didn't arrive until I started doing my pre-trip.  Fortunately it was still just warm enough that it was all rain.  It rained all the rest of the way through West Virginia and into Kentucky.  By the time I got to Louisville it had stopped.  The rest of the day was uneventful.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Oakwood, Illinois.  Tomorrow will be a short day.  There isn't any place for me to park in Wisconsin along my permit route so I'll be stopping in Illinois.

Friday, March 16, 2018

Yesterday afternoon at about 4:45 pm my permits finally arrived.  This morning at 9 am, after the Newport News curfew was over, I left.  I had to get through the West Virginia Turnpike today because permit loads can't run on the weekends there.  Made it to the TA truck stop in Hurricane, West Virginia with about 30 minutes to spare before sunset.  That is west of Charleston and well past the Turnpike. Supposed to get a rain, snow, ice mix tonight.  Winter Storm Advisory tonight from 3 am to 1 pm tomorrow afternoon.  If that is really what is coming, I may be here longer than I had planned.  They don't allow permit loads to move in ice and snow. 

Thursday, March 15, 2018

Well, another day wasted.  Sat here all day again waiting for my permits.  Virginia was the first to come in.  It got here at 3:40 this afternoon.  Still could not move.  Need a permit for the city of Newport News.  That permit came in at 4:47 this afternoon.  47 minutes after curfew, so I still have to wait until after 9 tomorrow morning to go. 

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Left real early this morning and drove into Newport News, Virginia.  Loaded a Liebherr LH40M Material Handler that is going over to West Allis, Wisconsin.  

I was ready to go at 9 am but none of my permits were in so I had to wait.  Waited all day.  Nothing.  So I left my trailer there, went and got some food, then parked for the night on their property just outside the gate on the other side of the building. Hopefully my permits will come in tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Left this morning and got in a lot of Washington DC rush hour traffic.  Yuck!!  Why do people want to live in and deal with this crap every day!!???  Finally got through it.  Eventually made it down to Fayetteville, North Carolina and delivered the truck.  Next load is tomorrow morning up in Newport News, Virginia.  Drove to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina for the night.

Monday, March 12, 2018

This morning went in to Easton, Pennsylvania and loaded a Ford Vacuum Truck that is going down to Fayetteville, North Carolina.  Had to wait several hours for my permit to come in before I could leave after I was loaded and ready to go.

Left there when my permit finally came in.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Jessup, Maryland for the night.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Checked out of the hotel very early this morning.  Left Boston at 4 am.  SO glad to get the hell outa there!!!  I load tomorrow morning in Easton, Pennsylvania so I drove to the TA truck stop in Bloomsbury, New Jersey for the rest of the day.

Saturday, March 10, 2018

Checked out of the hotel this morning and was back at the job site at 8:30.  Sat there all morning while they made room for me and while the big crane went to the site and set up.  They were not finished until about 1 pm.  They also brought a smaller crane over to the parking lot near me.  They took the other truck in to unload him.  He barely made it in.  Then they brought me in next to the smaller crane and there I sat.

They took the thing off my trailer and sat it on the ground while I got out of the way. Then the other truck came back and they put it on his trailer and he took it back into the site.  I didn't get empty until 4:30 this afternoon.  I left my trailer there and went back to the hotel for the night.

Friday, March 9, 2018

Left the TA truck stop this morning and crossed the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge with no difficulties.  Continued on all the way through Connecticut without any problems either.  Made it all the way to the job site where I am to deliver the thing. That's where the fun began!!  Here is the Google Maps view of where I was going:

I was to come down the exit ramp from the Interstate and turn right on Victory Road and pull over.  They were going to come out and meet me there.  Looks good from this view.  BUT it doesn't look like that anymore.  When I got to the intersection I found out that there wasn't enough room for me to make a right (or left) turn.  There is a telephone pole right on the corner on the right and a street sign on the left.  I attempted it anyway just to prove that it couldn't be done. 

If you look real close by the guard rail you can see where my left front tire sunk in the dirt (mud) as I tried to round the corner.  Below is a closer view of it.

I backed out and back onto the exit ramp, off to the side so traffic could get by while one of my escorts directed traffic.  Went in and met with the guy I had been communicating with on the way up.  We discussed the situation and then walked through where I was going to have to go tomorrow to unload.  It aint gonna be easy!!  The only way I was going to get off the road tonight was to have the driver of the trailer in front of me to come back and relocate his trailer.  They called him.  He was at the closest truck stop about 2 hours away. He came.  They had to move a bunch of cars then move some other things with a wheel loader.  Here is what it looked like in front of me.

Here is a closer view.

When the other driver arrived he moved the trailer and I went in and dropped my trailer where his was for the night.  See that opening in the fence next to the port-a-potty?  That's where I have to go in tomorrow and it only gets worse from there!!  Gonna be an interesting day!!  I didn't want to drive for 2 hours to get to a truck stop so I got a hotel room a few blocks from the job site.  They want me back there about 9 am tomorrow.  Stay tuned!!  It's gonna be a fun morning!!!

Thursday, March 8, 2018

This morning my new pilot escort car was waiting for me as I reconnected to my trailer.  We left at sunrise.  I definitely made the right decision even though the "desk jockeys" were not happy at all with me.  I don't care.  The roads were great.  Pennsylvania did a great job clearing the roads.  Just south of Scranton we stopped to check to see if the truck travel restrictions in New York had been lifted.  They were so we continued on.  Met up with my second pilot escort car at the Pennsylvania / New York state line on I-84.  We continued on to the TA truck stop in Maybrook, NY.  While I topped off my fuel tanks my pilot cars looked through the parking lot for a place for me to park. It was pretty full.  I needed two open spots, one right behind the other in a location that I could maneuver into and out of.  That doesn't leave a whole lot of places.  There was a couple of "maybes" but nothing definite.  I left my truck at the fuel pump and got in one of the cars and we drove around looking some more.  Found one that was difficult to get into, but doable. They held the spots while I went back and got the truck.  I drove around but wanted to hit it from a different angle.  While driving around the parking lot I saw a potential spot opening up.  I called one of the cars over to hold it.  Had to ask the truck driver parked in the spot behind the open spot if he would be able to relocate. Fortunately, he agreed to move.  The other pilot car came over and the two of them held the two spots while I backed into the parking places.  It is the perfect spot.  

Tomorrow morning we will leave here and go over to make the 10 am crossing of the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge.  They only allow oversized loads to cross the bridge two times a day and only Monday through Friday.  The crossing times are 10 am and 2 pm.  They charge $100 plus the bridge toll.  They close the road to all traffic, then escort all the oversized load trucks (spaced out about 100 yards) across the bridge.  After everyone is across the bridge escorts drop off and they reopen the road to traffic.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

It has been an interesting, and very busy day.  Spending a lot of time monitoring the weather in the New England area. Lots of time on the computer researching the route and potential places to stop, trouble spots, etc. Google and Google Maps is invaluable!!!  How did we ever get along without them??!!!??  My truck was due for service so I had that done while I was here. Also did four loads of laundry.  Had to let my escort car go because he is not certified in New York.  Talked to the guy at the job site that is getting the thing, reordered permits, talked to my new pilot escort cars. Will need two when I get to NY.  One will meet me in the morning and we will move closer to New York.  Want to be close enough so that we will have no trouble making the 10 am crossing of the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge Friday morning. Just hope I can find a place to park.  Connecticut is going to be the "problem child".  They have the tightest weather restrictions of anyone, anywhere and can't run on the weekends.  Will have to get through there on Friday.  Wish me luck!!

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

At sunrise this morning we wanted to leave but couldn't.  Blocked in by a bunch of trucks parked where they aren't supposed to park.

About a half hour later enough of them had left for us to get out.  Drove up to the home office in Carlisle, PA.  I made a very unpopular decision not to continue north because of the incoming winter storm.

New York:

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service New York NY
342 PM EST Tue Mar 6 2018

NJZ002-004-103-NYZ067>070-071100-
/O.EXT.KOKX.WS.W.0006.180307T0500Z-180308T0900Z/
Western Passaic-Eastern Passaic-Western Bergen-Orange-Putnam-
Rockland-Northern Westchester-
342 PM EST Tue Mar 6 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING NOW IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
4 AM EST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 10 to 16
  inches with localized amounts up to 18 inches are expected.

* WHERE...Portions of northeast New Jersey and southeast New
  York.

* WHEN...From midnight tonight to 4 AM EST Thursday. The heaviest
  snow is expected in the afternoon when snowfall rates of 1 to 2
  inches per hour are possible.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be very difficult to
  impossible, including during the evening commute on Wednesday.
  Travel will also be difficult during the morning commute. Be
  prepared for significant reductions in visibility at times.
  Power outages due to heavy snow weighing down trees or their
  limbs will be possible.

Massachusetts:

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Taunton MA
226 PM EST Tue Mar 6 2018

MAZ002>006-008-009-012-026-070330-
/O.CON.KBOX.WS.W.0006.180307T1200Z-180308T1800Z/
Western Franklin MA-Eastern Franklin MA-Northern Worcester MA-
Central Middlesex MA-Western Essex MA-Western Hampshire MA-
Western Hampden MA-Southern Worcester MA-Northern Middlesex MA-
Including the cities of Charlemont, Greenfield, Orange, Barre,
Fitchburg, Framingham, Lowell, Lawrence, Chesterfield, Blandford,
Milford, Worcester, and Ayer
226 PM EST Tue Mar 6 2018

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM WEDNESDAY TO
1 PM EST THURSDAY...

* WHAT...Heavy snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 12 to 18
  inches are expected.

* WHERE...Much of western and central Massachusetts.

* WHEN...From 7 AM Wednesday to 1 PM EST Thursday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel will be very difficult, if not
  impossible, during the Wednesday afternoon commute. Heavy snow
  falling at the rate of 2 to 3 inches per hour is likely.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you
must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency.

I was not willing to take the chance.  Not sure how long I'll be here, possibly Monday.  Hope not.

Monday, March 5, 2018

Another interesting day on the road.  It started off very good, but that didn't last long.  Pulled out of the truck stop at 2 am without any problems.  BUT when I went to turn on the entrance ramp of the Interstate the trailer bottomed out big time!!  Fortunately the only thing that was blocked was the entrance ramp.   

Had to call a wrecker and the cops.  The cops showed up and were surprisingly very nice.  A while later the wrecker showed up.  Took about 10 minutes for the wrecker to pull me over the hump.  Somehow I lot a mud flap on the truck during the "festivities".   Finally got on the road. But the delay screwed up my timing.  Had it planned to get through Knoxville before curfew.  That didn't happen.  Had to stop and wait for it to get over at 9 am.  Then drove into Knoxville.  At the weigh station there I dropped my trailer and went to the truck stop for fuel.  Then went back and got the trailer again.  We continued on without any more difficulties.  Didn't get as far as I wanted to today.  Stopped at the rest area on I-81 at mile marker 129 in Virginia.  I dropped my trailer there and went for dinner.  Then stopped for fuel.  While there I got the mud flap replaced.  Then went back and reconnected to my trailer and settled in for the night.  I'm exhausted!!!!!  Good night.

Saturday, March 3, 2018

Left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  At the Texas / Arkansas state line in Texarkana my pilot escort car fell in behind me and we continued on.  Lots of flooding in Arkansas.  The Arkansas and Mississippi River's are both very high.  Stopped at the Love's truck stop in Dickson, Tennessee.  Will be here until very early Monday morning.

Friday, March 2, 2018

At 9 am I left the Daily yard and went into Houston to load.  It was tricky getting in there.  It was a huge challenge once I got there.  Had to go in and turn around in order to load.  With the trailer stretched all the way out made that maneuvering quite a sight to see. I am 103 feet long.  But I did it without hitting anything and they loaded  the thing on the trailer.

Getting back out of there was even more fun.  Left turns going in.  Right turns going back out.  Rounded two corners missing a telephone pole by only centimeters. I attract a lot of attention doing that.  I think they want to see me take out the pole!!  Made it back to the Interstate and the driving was much easier.  Stopped for the night at a convenience store with a few truck parking places in Atlanta, Texas.  Tomorrow morning I'll get to Arkansas where I'll pick up my pilot escort car.  That too will make things a lot easier for me.  Having someone to block traffic while I make those tight maneuvers is a huge help.  

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Spent several hours this morning with the mechanics working on a problem I found with the trailer.  Then took a much needed nap!  Felt great!!  All set to go tomorrow. 

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Left at sunrise this morning.  there was a little fog but not enough to keep me from going.  Drove the rest of the way to Sulphur, Louisiana.  Had a bunch of bumper to bumper traffic in Baton Rouge.  But I finally made it and delivered the excavator.  My next load is a lot different.  It is in Houston.  I drove to the Daily terminal in Houston and swapped out of my trailer and into another one.  My next load requires a stretch trailer.  Took the rest of the afternoon to swap out.  Ruined a pair of jeans and my cell phone case.  Covered in 5th wheel grease.  That stuff does not come out very easy.  After I was done I left the trailer there and drove bobtail to the TA truck stop in Baytown, TX.  Needed some serious showering and de-greasing!!  Now it's time for bed!!  My back hurts!!  Still have a little bit more to do with the trailer tomorrow.  Good thing I don't load till Friday.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Left the Daily yard in Jacksonville a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had an excellent day on the road.  582 miles later I stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana.  Hope it is not foggy in the morning.  If it isn't foggy, I should deliver before noon.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Went up to Pooler, GA this morning and loaded a Linkbelt 350X4 Excavator that is going to Sulphur, Louisiana. 

Left there and drove down to the Jacksonville, Florida terminal for the night.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Got up very early this morning and took the truck through the truck wash.  Got all that mud cleaned off from the job site the other day.  Going real early is really the only time to do that.  Going during the day is usually an hour wait to get in.  The line gets very long.  At 4 am there was no line.  After that was done, I drove to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, GA. I load Monday about 15 miles from here.  In the mean time, I'll enjoy the "down time" and sleep - a lot.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Left a half hour after sunrise this morning and drove to Austell and delivered the excavator. Next load is Monday back in Pooler, Ga.  I started that way but stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA.  Too much traffic to continue on today. Especially since there is no hurry to get back.  I'll go early tomorrow morning so I don't have all this traffic.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Back to work today.  Went up to Brunswick, Georgia to a job site in the woods.  Here is the dirt road in and out of the place.  That is the best part of the road too.

Once I got in to the job site, I got stuck.  An excavator pulled me back out.  Then I went over to where the machine was and loaded it.  A Caterpillar 330F Excavator that is going to Austell, Georgia.

Left there and went over to the TA truck stop in Brunswick for the night.  Needed a shower real bad!!!

Monday, February 19, 2018

Left this morning a half hour after sunrise and drove the rest of the way into the Port in Savannah. Delivered the dump truck.  After that drove home to Jacksonville, Florida.  Will be here for a few days.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Left this morning a half hour after sunrise. Sunday is one of the best days to go through Atlanta.  Had no problems at all.  Drove down to the closest truck stop to Savannah that is on my permit route.  I'm still about an hour away at this place in Metter, Georgia.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Very good day on the road today.  Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Started off dry but quickly changed to light snow, then very heavy snow.  Can't tell from the photo, but the snow flakes were huge. They were about the size of a quarter, so I knew the snow was soon going to change to rain.

Sorry about the windshield wiper in the middle of the shot

About ten miles before I got to Kentucky it had change over to all rain.  Continued to rain the rest of the day.  My pilot escort car was waiting for me at the Illinois / Kentucky state line.  He fell in behind me as I went by.  Had another good one today.  He did an excellent job.  Went through Nashville in the rain and had no traffic problems.  That is rare in Nashville.  Same thing in Chattanooga.  When I crossed over into Georgia he dropped off because I don't need him in Georgia.  I didn't go much further and stopped at a truck stop in Ringgold, Georgia for the night. Tomorrow will be a short day.

Friday, February 16, 2017

Not a great day today.  Left the truck stop at 3 am and drove down to Decatur, Illinois.  Got there at 6:30.  First one there.  They don't start loading until 7:30.  When they opened, I was first in line.  Another typical day of how things go for me.  They loaded two other trucks ahead of me.  Then changed the crane rigging and unloaded another truck.  Then they changed the crane rigging back to the way it was.  Then it was break time.  After their break, they loaded a Caterpillar 772G Dump Truck on my trailer that is going to the Port in Savannah, Georgia.  

They have a scale there so everyone scales up before they leave.  Found out that they loaded me over 2,700 pounds too heavy on the trailer axles.  Now I'm really pissed!!  Pulled back to where I started  and had to remove EVERYTHING, including all the dunage, and basically start over again.   After they had their lunch they brought the crane back over and moved the dump truck forward about 2 feet.  Then I put all ten chains back on, then put the dunage back on the trailer.  Scaled up again.  This time the numbers were just fine - barely.  My gross weight is over 130,000 pounds (58,967 kg).  Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Effingham, Illinois for the night.  Had to stop there because I ran out of hours.  I need a pilot escort car in Kentucky and Tennessee.  He was going to meet me this afternoon at the Illinois / Kentucky line.  He will be meeting me tomorrow morning instead.  My back is really sore and I'm exhausted.  Will be going to bed early tonight and sleeping on the heating pad again.  Good night!!!

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had absolutely no problems with the St. Paul rush hour traffic. Made it to Hugo, MN and delivered the excavator.  Next load is tomorrow in Decatur, Illinois.  High tailed it that direction.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in South Beloit, Illinois.  Will be starting very early in the morning.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Getting through Dallas was not too bad today.  Had some heavy traffic and a few slow downs, but we all kept moving.  Continued on through Oklahoma and up into Missouri.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Lamar, MO.  Tomorrow I have to time my departure to get to Kansas city when the curfew ends at 9 am.  

There was a Pizza Hut about a quarter mile down the road, so I walked down there and got a pizza.  When I got back to the truck I opened the box and found a pizza that was partially cooked.  The crust was still white!!!! It wasn't cooked!!  I was a bit peeved - I'm putting it nicely.  I went back and got my money back.  Then went next door to McDonald's.  

Monday, February 12, 2018

After two very much needed days off, I was in Victoria, Texas bright and early this morning.  Loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going up to Hugo, Minnesota. 

Was out of there by 9 am and on the road.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Dallas for the night.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Left at sunrise this morning and drove down to the Port in Freeport, Texas.  Wasn't sure I would make it today, but I got lucky and did.  Delivered the dump truck chassis.  Those things are really fun to drive.  Next load is over in Victoria, Texas Monday morning.  I drove over to the TA truck stop in Ganado, Texas for the rest of the weekend.  I'm only 31 miles from Victoria.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Met my escort pilot car at the Missouri state line.  He had it easy in Missouri but when we got to Arkansas he had to work a bit harder.  Most of the way through Arkansas was off the Interstate and on back roads.  Took all day but we made it to the Flying J truck stop in Texarkana, Arkansas for the night.  I'll be back "flying solo" again tomorrow,  Don't need him in Texas.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

We got about an inch of snow.  Went to leave this morning to beat rush hour in Indianapolis but the damn Pilot truck stop parking lot was too small and I couldn't get out without hitting the trucks parked on either side of me.  And I could really only turn left out of my parking place.  The guy on my left would not move, so neither could I.  Had to wait until he decided to go.  I went back to bed.  About 2 hours later he pulled out, but he had difficulty getting out too.  His truck and trailer were much shorter than mine and he was able to get out after several attempts.  Then I pulled out.  Still snowing. Fortunately had no difficulties getting through Indianapolis.  Continued on to Decatur.  Got sleepy on the way.  Had to stop twice!! to take a short nap.  Finally got there and loaded a Caterpillar 775G Dump Truck chassis that is going to Freeport, Texas.

By the time I left there I didn't have a whole lot of hours left.  Drove to the Flying J truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois for the night.  Have to have an escort pilot car in Missouri.  He will meet me at the state line when I get there in the morning.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The snow that was forecast came last night.  Fortunately it was only a heavy dusting.  No problems with the roads.  Left just before sunrise this morning.  Met the guy that was to receive the machine where I get off the Interstate and head back into the back roads of Ohio.  He led me in.  Boy was I glad he did.  The first road was only 6 miles long but it was a doozie!! Narrow two lane road with drop offs on both sides.  VERY steep ups and downs and a lot of blind curves, some of them very sharp.  Took over 20 minutes to go those 6 miles.  Very difficult road with an extremely top heavy machine. Then another 25 miles on another two lane road.  This one wasn't as narrow but had a few really wicked curves on steep hills.  

Just a reminder of what it looked like.

Finally made it to the job site.  The entrance was a sharp right turn on a snow covered dirt road that went down and had a couple slight curves in it.   I attempted to get in there several times but was unable to make the turn off the main road.  Luckily there was enough room for me to parallel park the truck just off the road.  We unloaded the machine there.  It was tricky, but it worked.  Glad that one is done!!

Next load is over in Decatur, Illinois.  I started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Mount Comfort, Indiana.  More snow forecast for tonight starting after midnight with the worst of it right at rush hour.  Goodie!!

Monday, February 5, 2018

Got up at 1 am this morning to swap out one of the wood blocks from under the machine.  The weight of the machine had squished it a bit and caused the machine to lean.  Finished that by 3 am and I left the truck stop.  In Tennessee permit loads can run at night, so I did.  Was doing just fine until I got to Ohio.  There is a place along I-71 that is notorious for cops screwing with trucks.  There are other places in Ohio like that too.  Ohio, in general screws a lot with trucks. Anyway, it was my turn today.  Was pulled over and then told to pull behind the weigh station.  The cop looked a bunch of stuff and took measurements of my truck and trailer. Then he compared his measurements to what was on my permit.  Some were not correct on the permit.  He pulled my permit and issued me two citations.  Chicken shit crap.  All it is is legalized extortion!!  And they wonder why we HATE cops!!  I wouldn't piss on one if he was burning!!  So I had to wait there until I got a new permit.  An hour and forty five minutes later, I was back moving again.  Stopped for the night at the TA in Hebron, Ohio.  Supposed to snow tonight.  Hope not.  Deliver in the morning, weather permitting.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

After trying to sleep last night I got up this morning and started to try to fix the load.  Of course it poured rain the whole time.  Three and a half hours later, I had it fixed!  I called the service guy and canceled him. Fortunately he had not left yet.  Then I went in and took a long hot shower.  When I came out the rain had stopped.  Go figure!!  Left there and had no problems going through Atlanta.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in McDonald, Tennessee.

Saturday, February 3, 2018

Went back to Pembroke first thing this morning.  Sat there until about 2 when the machine was ready.  Loaded it.

Left there and started off for Cadiz, Ohio where it is going.  Stopped at the scales  at the Love's truck stop in Dublin, GA to weigh.  Found out that I was 2,400 pounds over weight on my trailer axles.  To make a long story short, I was unable to move the machine and now cannot move until I get this fixed.  The company is sending a service tech out tomorrow to assist me in fixing this.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Drove up to Pembroke, Georgia this morning.  When I got there they said that the machine would not be ready to go until tomorrow morning sometime.  So, I dropped my trailer there and went bobtail to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hills, GA for the night.  Last time I was here it snowed!  No chance of that this time.

Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Left real early and continued south.  Stopped and got the truck washed.  It was really needed.  Then drove home to Jacksonville, Florida for a couple days.  I'm supposed to load Friday, but that is in question right now.  So, we will know more tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Raleigh, NC and delivered the excavator.  My next load is Friday in Pembroke, Georgia.  I headed south and stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Saint George, South Carolina.

Monday, January 29, 2018

In Tennessee permit loads can run at night, so as soon as my ten hours was up I left.  At 3 am CST I was on the road.  Drove straight through, with no problems, to the Pilot truck stop in Conover, North Carolina.  I'll deliver tomorrow.

Sunday, January 28, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a very good day on the road.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Denmark, Tennessee for the night.  Will get a very early start in the morning.

Saturday, January 27, 2018

Went back and hooked back up to my trailer at 6:30 this morning when they opened.  Waited for road service to come.  At 9 am when he still had not shown up, I called.  It seems that what the Daily shop told me yesterday was not true.  They had not set anything up so no one was coming yet.  SO, I made the arrangements and someone was on his way.  By 11 local time I was finally pulling out of there.

Needless to say, but I didn't get nearly as far as I wanted to today.  Stopped for the night at a convenience store with some truck parking in Jacksonville, Texas.

Friday, January 26, 2018

A half hour before sunrise this morning I left in the rain and fog.  Drove the rest of the way to Laredo to a trucking companies transfer station.  That area is full of those.  Almost all the larger trucking companies have a place down there for stuff going across to be transferred from American trucks to Mexican trucks, and vice versa.  I was right on the Mexican border.  It was just across the street.  Was imagining how that wall would look there.  Anyway, I delivered the dump truck.  It really is a lot of fun driving those trucks!!!  Its like driving a house.  My next load was up in Victoria, Texas.  That is about a four hour drive.  Got there and loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going up to Raleigh, North Carolina.

I did a dumb thing too.  While separating the neck from the trailer, I forgot to unplug the air lines and the electrical line.  Ripped them right out!!  Everyone does it, now it was my turn!

The repair guy will be there tomorrow morning a little after 7 am.  I dropped my trailer there and went to the Love's truck stop in Enid, Texas for the night.

Thursday, January 25, 2018

I am happy to say that today was MUCH better than yesterday, although I started off with a few lights on the trailer that didn't work.  Spent an hour trying to track down the problem without success.  Had to have the mechanic from the TA truck stop repair shop come over.  Fortunately he found the problem and fixed it.  I then left and had a very uneventful day on the highways of Texas.  No problems getting out of Dallas.  No problems going around Austin, or San Antonio.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Encinal, Texas.  Will deliver in the morning.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

The morning started off great.  Timed it perfectly to get to Springfield as the curfew ended.  Continued on into Oklahoma.  Had a few detours because I was too big for the construction zones.  Other than that we did real good.  At the Oklahoma / Texas line my escort car dropped off.  Don't need one in Texas.  I had planned to stop fro the night before I got to Dallas BUT there was no place to stop along my permit route.  I was routed through residential areas all the way to Dallas.  Lots of heavy traffic and a zillion stop lights.  Well, Sundown came and went and I was still north of Dallas.  I continued on in a total panic.  Finally made it to I-635.  There was still nothing anywhere near me.  I continued on.  Somehow I missed a turn and got off my permit route and ended up going right through the heart of Dallas.  There were several overpasses that were very low.  One was 14'4" and another one was 14'3".  I slowed to a crawl and went under.  I am 14'2" high.  Talk about sweating bullets!!!  After sundown, off route, and low bridge!!  If I had been stopped I would have been so screwed!!!!   Got down to I-20 and went east to the TA truck stop for the night - still off route.  I can't believe I made it here!!!!!!  HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It is going to take half the night to calm down!!!  Late start in the morning due to the Dallas curfew.  HOLY CRAP!!!!!

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Went back over to get my trailer and load early this morning.  Was waiting at the gate when they arrived for work.  Attached to my trailer, finished securing the load and left.

Made real good time this morning.  Have to have an escort car in Missouri and Oklahoma.  Stopped at the Flying J truck stop 17 miles from Missouri and waited for my escort to arrive.  Two hours later he got there and we were back on the road.  No traffic issues today.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Stafford, Missouri.  Didn't beat the Springfield curfew.  Will start a bit later tomorrow morning because of that stupid curfew too.

Monday, January 22, 2018

Was on the road a half hour before sunrise this morning in the rain.  Had to wait at the Illinois Toll Road Toll Booth for my Toll Road Permit to come in.  $150  and two hours later I was back moving again.  Went to Chicago Ridge and delivered the excavator.  Next load was down in Decatur, Illinois.  I went down there and arrived 10 minutes before the cut off time.  Loaded a Caterpillar 770G Dump Truck that is going down to Laredo, Texas.

I left my trailer there for the night and bobtailed over to the Pilot truck stop just down the road.  Got a long hot shower, dinner, and going to bed.  My back hurts a lot tonight and I'm exhausted.   Good night.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Left this morning and drove up to the Petro truck stop in Gary, Indiana.  On the way Indiana sent me a little out of the way and I went past Purdue University. Other than that, another uneventful and short day on the road.  I like uneventful.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Very uneventful day today.  All I did was drive to the Pilot truck stop in Mount Comfort, Indiana.  Tomorrow will be a short day.

Thursday, January 18, 2018

Went down the road a bit and loaded a Link Belt 350 Excavator that is going to Chicago, Illinois.  While loading, the machine slid sideways on the icy blocks and fell off.  Had to back it off and start over again.  Got it up there and chained down. She aint goin' nowhere!!

Left there and drove up to the TA truck stop in Barkeyville, Pennsylvania for the night.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

This morning both my trailer and truck went in the shop to have some work done.  They finished up this afternoon, but not early enough for me to go over and load.  I'll go over and load in the morning.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Left very early this morning and drove the rest of the way to Londonderry, New Hampshire and delivered the machine. Then started off for Carlisle, PA.  It was sunny when I left New Hampshire but that soon changed to overcast.  Made it all the way back to just west of the Hudson River in New York before it started to snow.  By the time I got to Scranton, PA it was coming down hard.  Fortunately up here they know how to keep the roads open.  They were ding a very good job with the salt trucks and plows.  I made it all the way back to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  About 4 inches (10 cm) so far and still snowing hard.  556 miles (895 km) today and I'm tired.  Good night.

Monday, January 15, 2018

Started off today in snow flurries.  Drove over to the Newburgh / Beacon Bridge that goes over the Hudson River on I-84 in New York.  Oversize permit loads can only cross that bridge at 10:30 am or 2 pm.  They close the road to other traffic and escort all of us over the bridge at about 25 mph.  Then they re-open the bridge.  They also charge us $100 plus the toll for the bridge.  I got there early and waited about an hour and a half .  Finally made it across the bridge.  Had to stop very early this afternoon because I can't go into New Hampshire on a holiday.  So I pulled into a very crappy Pilot truck stop in Sturbridge, Massachusetts for the night.  I can run at night in Massachusetts so I will start very early tomorrow.  Snow storm on the way.  They say it shouldn't start snowing until tomorrow afternoon.  Hope I can get in, deliver, and out before it gets too bad.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Went to the Daily Express's annual banquet last night.  Daily provides us with a hotel room for the night.  It was a pretty good event.  Food was good.  Wasn't real happy with the hotel room this year.  After all the speeches from the "big wigs" they had drawings for the door prizes.  They always have lots of very good door prizes.  Just about everyone gets one.  I had my eye on a pair of heavy shackles. I got lucky and my number was one of the first ones drawn so I got the shackles I wanted.  I know it doesn't look like much, but each one has a working load limit of 24,000 pounds.  Exactly what I wanted.  They are about $50 each.

This morning I checked out of the hotel real early, went back to the Daily yard and picked up my trailer.  At sunrise I left and headed toward New York.  Can't go into NY until tomorrow so I stopped at a truck stop on I-84 in Sterling, PA for the rest of the day.