Thursday, May 23, 2019

Left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Drove in to the Port of Savannah.  It took them 2 hours to get around to unloading me.  Finally got the thing off my trailer.  Then went to a different area of the Port and loaded a Caterpillar 982M Wheel loader That is going to Murrysville, Pennsylvania.

Left there and headed to the Jacksonville terminal.  Will spend the Holiday weekend home.  Here is another one of those boneheaded drivers.

Stopped at he Petro in Kingsland, Georgia for fuel and get a shower.  I should have stayed there!!  There was a crash on I-95 way down near the Jacksonville Beltway.  The Interstate was closed.  I got into the back up about a mile before the Florida State line.  It took over an hour and a half just to get across the state line.  I ended up parking on the side of I-95 at mile marker 380.  I have no idea how long I'll be here, but it is well after sundown now and there is no signs of anything changing anytime soon.  

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

Left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Great day on the road.  Some bumper to bumper traffic in Nashville and Atlanta.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Atlanta.  While doing my post trip inspection found another flat tire. 

So I checked in at the repair shop ( at 3 pm) and waited, and waited, and waited. Finally they got to work on it.  Here is the culprit!

I got out of there at 7:30 pm. Good night.

Tuesday, May 21, 2019

All the tornadic activity yesterday was south and west from where I was.  But I left at 2 am in heavy rain and a lot of wind.  By the time I got to St. Louis the weather had passed me by.  Continued on up to Decatur. Got there just after they opened.  I got loaded pretty fast (for a nice change!!) with a rear axle for a Caterpillar 793F Mining Dump Truck that is going to the Port in Savannah, Georgia. This thing weighs about 57,000 pounds.

Here is what the axle looks like with all the rest of the truck attached to it.

Got out of there in pretty good time.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Mount Vernon, Illinois for the night. 

Looks like more weather is coming tonight.

Monday, May 20, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning.  Had to time my arrival at Kansas City so that I did not get there before curfew at 9 am was over.  Once again, I timed it perfectly.  Went and delivered the dump truck.  Didn't have another load yet so I drove out to the Petro truck stop in Oak Grove, Missouri.  Had lunch and waited. This afternoon I got my next load, it is in Decatur, Illinois tomorrow.  I'll wait here and leave very early in the morning to go over there.

Sunday, May 19, 2019

Saturday, May 18, 2019

Left at 2:15 this morning. I couldn't go into Indiana until a half hour before sunrise.  I was three minutes early getting to Indiana.  Timed it pretty good.   I drove very s-l-o-w-l-y across the bridge into Indiana.  Had a great day on the road.  Did 585 miles today.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Foristell, Missouri when I ran out of hours.  Had only 15 minutes left when I finished.  Will be here until Monday morning.

Friday, May 17, 2019

Was up at 2 am and on the road at 2:45.  It is so nice to be able to get out of Baltimore long before all the traffic starts up. But still had to time it so that I didn't get to West Virgiinia before sunrise.  Nice day on the road, nothing exciting, just all the ups and downs through the western Maryland and West Virginia mountains.  Drove to the Flying J truck stop in Catlettsburg, Kentucky for the night. Ran out of hours.  I'll get another early start in the morning.  Kentucky is another state that I can drive at night in, so I'll time it so that I cross into Indiana a half hour before sunrise. Turning the phone off again and going to sleep very soon, I'm tuckered out!!

Thursday, May 16, 2019

Was on the road at midnight.  Drove the rest of the way to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  Got there an hour before they opened.  When they opened, I loaded a Volvo A40G Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Kansas City, Kansas.

After I finished loading, I went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore.  I was basically out of hours for the day.  I was parked before 10 am.  Got a well deserved (needed) shower, some lunch, and now going to sleep.  Turning the phone off again!!!   Good night.

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Londonderry, New Hampshire and delivered the excavator.  Was empty before my dispatcher got to work!! Don't have another load yet but headed toward Baltimore anyway.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Maybrook, New York.  I'm really tired so the phone is turned off and I'm going to sleep now.  Good night!!!

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Left real early this morning.  Got to Pennsylvania right at sunrise.  Then beat the Harrisburg curfew.  Continued on up to New York.  Crossed the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge without having to stop (for a change).  I was just under the weight limit so I could go right across.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Willington, Connecticut for the night.

Monday, May 13, 2019

Got unloaded very quickly this morning.  My next load is back in Baltimore, Maryland at the Port.  Drove down there.  Got to the Port to check in one minute too late.  They go to lunch at 11:30, I got there at 11:31.  Had to wait to check in an hour and a half for them to come back from lunch.  UNIONS!!!!!  Then loaded a Caterpillar 326FL Excavator that is going up to Londonderry, New Hampshire.

Left there and went over to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night. 

Sunday, May 12, 2019

Was on the road at 2:45 am in the rain. It is so nice driving at night, no traffic!!  Drove all the way to where I'm delivering tomorrow morning in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Saturday, May 11, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise.  Nothing exciting today, just a nice day on the road.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Grantsville, Maryland.  Will get a very early start tomorrow.

Friday, May 10, 2019

Left at 3 am this morning and drove the rest of the way to Creve Coeur, Illinois. That is were the new Dozers from the plant are stored for shipping by either truck or by train.  Got there just before they opened.  Loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that is going to Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Got out of there in really good time.  Drove to the Flying J truck stop in Spiceland, Indiana for the night.

Thursday, May 9, 2019

After the Louisville curfew was over at 9 am I left and drove to the power plant in Rockport, Indiana. No, it is not nuclear, it is coal.

Internet Photo

Have you ever wondered what it looks like under one of those big cooling towers at a power plant?  Well, here it is.  That is a fine spray of water cascading down, and a lot of it too!!!

Close Up

Here is what it looks like when it is inactive.

Close Up

I delivered the motor.  Was supposed to reload right there with another motor and take it back to where I got this one from.  Unfortunately, the crane that they were going to use to lift the old motor was broken.  The old motor won't be ready to go until next week sometime.  So I left there and headed toward a truck stop.  Drove over to the TA truck stop in Mount Vernon, Illinois.  Got my next load assignment, it is up in Creve Coeur, Illinois.  That is right next to Peoria.  I'll leave here very early in the morning.

Wednesday, May 8, 2019

Found out that my refrigerator quit working.  Went over to the truck wash at 2 am and got the truck washed, I was 3rd in line.  At 3 am I was done and left to continue my journey to South Charleston, West Virginia.  Got there at 7:30 and loaded a water pump motor that is going to a power plant in Rockport, Indiana.

The reason it is up on blocks is that there is a part that sticks out under it.

Then it had to be tarped.

Left there and headed toward Indiana.  Stopped along the way and bought a new refrigerator.  Then drove to the Flying J truck stop in Waddy, Kentucky.  Couldn't go any further because I didn't have an Indiana Permit yet.  While doing my post trip inspection I found I had a flat tire.  There is a  place on the other side of the Interstate that can fix it, but there were 3 others ahead of me.  So I waited at the Flying J.  Went inside to the Denny's to have dinner.  They sat me, left a menu, and never came back.  I watched several other people get seated, their drinks brought and their orders taken.  Me?...nothing!!!  Once again I was ignored.  I'm exhausted, my back hurts, and I'm very hungry.  I did not need that tonight.   I let them know how I felt as I walked out - like they really care!!  I'll figure out where to eat later.  My Indiana permit finally came in, but too late to go anywhere.  

Here is the culprit of my flat tire.

I finally gt to bed at 8:30.  Good night!!!

Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Got my truck and trailer back this morning.  Left Carlisle and started off toward my next load which is down in South Charleston, West Virginia.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia.  Will go to sleep very early tonight and get up very early in the morning.  I'm still about 3+ hours away.

Monday, May 6, 2019

My truck is still in Kenworth.  They say it should be done tomorrow.  My trailer looks like it is done.  But I'm still in the hotel. 

Saturday, May 4, 2019

Took the truck to Kenworth to get some things fixed.  Got a rental car and a hotel room for the weekend.  There was some kind of street festival in Carlisle today so I went over there for a little while.  Left when my back gave out.  Tomorrow is laundry day.  Have a "boat load" of laundry to do.

Friday, May 3, 2019

Left at sunrise and drove the rest of the way up to Buffalo.  Rain off and on all day. Fortunately it was not raining when I delivered the excavator.  They were having an open house today and everyone was running around like chickens with their heads cut off.  But I finished unloading and was leaving when the guests were starting to arrive.  Drove back down to the "home office" in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  Will be here for a bit.  Taking the truck over to Kenworth first thing tomorrow morning to get the APU fixed.  I'm very tired and my back hurts so I'm going to sleep now.  Good night.

Thursday, May 2, 2019

Left at 3 am this morning.  My strategy to beat the traffic worked.  Drove to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  As I unhooked the air lines from the trailer one of them snapped in half.  Fortunately I was able to complete loading.  A service truck came out and fixed the air line.

While he fixed my air lines, I finished securing the Link Belt 350X Excavator that is going to Buffalo, New York.

Left there and met my Maryland pilot escort car at the Port gate.  Had a little bit of bumper to bumper traffic on the Baltimore beltway.  When I passed into Pennsylvania my escort car dropped off.  Stopped for the night at a small convenience store that had a pretty good restaurant and truck parking in Trout Run, Pennsylvania.

Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way into the Port at Portsmouth, Virginia and delivered the Dozer.  My next load is up in Baltimore, Maryland at the Port.  Started that way but stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.  I just didn't feel like battling the Washington DC traffic.  I'll go to sleep very early and get started very early in the morning to try to beat the madness.

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning.  Drove to I-77, exit 89 and waited there for my bridge escort and WV Bridge Monitor.  My appointment with the monitor was for 10:30.  I was way early.  My escort arrived and we waited.  Once my bridge monitor arrived we left.  Had to go across a bridge at mile marker 83 at 30 MPH and alone on the bridge.  They held back traffic as I crept across the bridge.  Once across, they opened the road up again and They dropped off as I continued on.  My Virginia permit didn't come in until I was well inside Virginia.  I stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia.  After my shower I went into the restaurant for dinner.  The server brought me a glass of water and a menu.  She never came back.  I waited, and waited, and waited some more.  I really hate being ignored!!!!  I got up and left.  Walked across the road to a BBQ place and had a half rack of some of the best ribs I have had in a long time!!!  They were great!!!!!  If everything goes right, I should deliver tomorrow.

Monday, April 29, 2019

My West Virginia permit didn't come in until this afternoon too late to go anywhere.  I'll leave here tomorrow morning.  Have to have a bridge monitor in about 90 miles.  He/she is scheduled for 10:30 tomorrow morning.  So, another day of sitting.  I'll leave here in the morning.  Still don't have a Virginia permit. Hope it comes in tomorrow morning.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Well, two nights ago at 1 am my APU decided to quit working.  I have been idling the truck since then.  I left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Nothing exciting today.  Still do not have my West Virginia or Virginia permits so I could not go as far as I would have liked to go today.  I stopped at a dumpy truck stop in Mineral Wells, West Virginia until I get a WV permit.  Also sometime today some of my trailer lights quit working.  I couldn't find the problem so I had someone come out to fix them.  He was able to get most of them working but it will have to be looked at in more detail some other time.  He did the best he could.  Unable to get under the trailer to see the last 2 nonworking lights wiring. Hopefully WV permit will come in early but delivery Monday won't happen now.

Friday, April 26, 2019

Left at 3 am and drove down to the Daily terminal in Morton, Illinois.  There was a Caterpillar D9R Dozer sitting there.  Loaded it up. 

Then went and scaled.  Was too heavy on the trailer axles.  Moved the machine and scaled again.  This time it was perfect.

This machine is going to Portsmouth, Virginia.  

With the scale correct and the machine secured I left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in Spiceland, Indiana for the night. Won't be going too far tomorrow.  My West Virginia and Virginia permits did not come in yet.

Here is another guy that cut me off today going around Indianapolis.  He damn near hit my truck.

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove up to Madison, Wisconsin and delivered the excavator.  Next load is down at the Daily terminal in Morton, Illinois.  Started off that way, but didn't get far.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a great day on the road.  No problems with traffic at all.  Weather was good too until I got into Illinois.  Then the heavens opened up.  Very heavy rain for quite a while.  When I stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois the rain was just stopping.  Went across the street again and ate dinner at Chili's.  Best meal I've had in a week!!  Gonna bust butt to deliver tomorrow!!

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

When my Texas permit came in I went down the road to scale up.  Turns out that I was too heavy on the trailer axles.  Had to move the machine.  Re-scaled. Still too heavy back there.  Moved the machine again.  Re-scaled.  This time just right.  

 

Tied the machine down again and left.  Nothing else exciting today.  Stopped for the night at a small convenience store with truck parking in Atlanta, Texas.

Monday, April 22, 2019

Once my Louisiana permit came in I left and drove the rest of the way into Saint Rose, LA and delivered the excavator.   My next load is at the Daily terminal in Houston, Texas.  I went there.  An excavator was brought up to the yard from Victoria.  That's why I loaded it there.  Loaded a Caterpillar 352F Excavator that is going up to Madison, Wisconsin.

When I finished I left my trailer there and drove bobtail to the TA truck stop in Baytown, TX to get fuel, food, and a very much needed shower.  Sat down in the restaurant to get dinner.  Took forever to get a server.  When she finally came over she brought a glass of water and asked if I needed a menu.  I said no.  She left and never returned.  Didn't take my order, nothing.  I got very tired of being ignored so I finished my water and left.  Went someplace else for dinner. Why does this always seem to happen when I'm exhausted and starving???? 

Sunday, April 21, 2019

Saturday, April 20, 2019

Left this morning in the rain.   No problems going around Atlanta.  By thi time I got to Alabama the rain stopped and it progressively got a lot better. No traffic problems at all today.  Stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Gukfport, Mississippi.  I do not have a Louisiana permit yet so I'll be here until it comes in, hopfully Monday morning.

Friday, April 19, 2019

Went over to the John Deere plant in Kernersville, NC first thing this morning and loaded a John Deere 300GLC Excavator that is going down to Saint Rose, Louisiana.  Got lucky, beat the rain!!

Left there at 9 am.  Made great time this morning!!  Did pretty good on the road.  Made it through Charlotte with no problems.  Unfortunately the good times didn't last long.  Lots of construction on I-85 between Charlotte and Atlanta.  Lots of bumper to bumper construction traffic and, oh, by the way, the rain started.  Periods of very heavy rain too.  Decided that I didn't want to go through Atlanta in the rain on a holiday Friday afternoon at rush hour so I stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Carnesville, Georgia.  BUT before I got there a crash up ahead caused bumper to bumper, stop and go traffic for the last 2.3 miles before my exit.  Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Went back over to the power plant first thing this morning.  Once the crane arrived and got set up I got unloaded. My next load is tomorrow in Kernersville, North Carolina.  I headed that way.  Got stuck in construction bumper to bumper traffic on I-77 in West Virginia.  Took 2 hours to go 8 miles.  Finally got through it.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Mount Airy, North Carolina.  The home of the town that the fictitious town of  "Mayberry" from the "Andy Griffith Show" is base upon.  When I leave here tomorrow I'll go past Pilot Mountain (Mount Pilot in the TV show).

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Left the TA at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Maidsville, West Virginia.  The last part of the permit route from I-79 to the power plant was a fun one!!  The video below is a time lapse of the route.  As you watch, remember the load hangs two and a half feet off the right side of the trailer.  The map below is the route you will see in the video.

I left my trailer there and bobtailed over to a truck stop in Mt. Morris, Pennsylvania.  I'll go back to unload in the morning when the crane gets there.

Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Another great day on the road.  No traffic issues at all.  As I was going around Louisville, and approaching the airport, a 747 was landing at the airport right in front of me!  Timed it perfectly!!  My favorite airplane.  That was so cool!!!!!

Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Hurricane, West Virginia.

Monday, April 15, 2019

Went over to Sedalia, Missouri first thing this morning.  Loaded a Transformer that is going to a power plant in West Virginia.  This transformer weighs over 75,000 pounds.  Had to load it with two cranes, one on each side. 

Left there and had a good day on the road.  No problems at all going around St. Louis.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  Had dinner at Chili's which is right across the street.  It was soooo good!!!!  My back is really hurting tonight.  Glad to lay down.

Friday, April 12, 2019

Early this morning I went over to get my truck washed hoping that there was no line.  My instincts were correct!  When I got there I went straight in and got the truck all clean again.  That means we will be getting rain soon.  After that was done I drove to the Petro truck stop in Oak Grove, Missouri.  This too is another truck stop in the Iowa 80 family of truck stops.  I'll be relaxing here until Monday morning.  Load about an hour from here.

Thursday, April 11, 2019

As soon as my 10 hours was u I left.  Made it through Oklahoma City before rush hour.  No traffic issues today.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Joplin, Missouri.  This is another huge truck stop in the Iowa 80 family of truck stops.  It is a little smaller but still has a ton of stuff.  It is also right across the street from The Chrome Shop Mafia.  Quite a few years ago there was a TV show on the CMT Channel called "Trick My Truck", That is where that show originated from.

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Easy drive up to Vernon, Texas to a truck stop they were using as a staging area.  Waited there along with the other two trucks that loaded when I did. They were there ahead of me waiting.  At the job site they were unloading blades this morning.  When they were through unloading them it was my turn.  Meanwhile, I took a nap.  Three and a half hours later I was called in to unload.  Drove the 40 miles to the job site where I was met by someone that escorted me to the pad where the tower was to be built.  The crane and crew were there waiting for me.  That is VERY unusual!!!!  They all jumped right in untarping and unchaining the load.  It was off and I was out of there in record time!!  Wish it was always like that!!!!  My next load is up near Kansas City and doesn't load until Monday.  I went back to the truck stop in Vernon, TX for the night.

Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Timed it absolutely perfectly this morning.  Passed the "Welcome To Monroe" sign at the stroke of 9 am.  Pretty good day on the road.  When I crossed into Texas my escort car dropped off and I continued on.  Very little problems going through Dallas and Ft. Worth.  Stopped for the night at a Shell station with a few truck parking places in Haslet, Texas.

Monday, April 8, 2019

Went over to the Port of Pensacola first thing this morning.  Went right in and got loaded right away. Loaded a GE Wind Energy Hub that is going to Crowell, Texas.

Was ready to go as soon as the Pensacola curfew was over at 9 am.  Much faster than loading at the GE plant.  I just barely beat the thunderstorm, but not the rain.  I was soaked when I left there.   My pilot escort car was waiting for me at the gate and pulled in behind me as I came out.  Spent most of the day on back roads.  For some reason the stupid States did not want me on the Interstate highways.  The other two that loaded when I did were routed on the Interstates, but not me!!  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Tallulah, Louisiana.  Will start a little bit late tomorrow.  Can't go into Monroe, LA until after 9 am.

Saturday, April 6, 2019

Early this morning I left for Pensacola, Florida where I load Monday.  Nice leisurely drive out there.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the Oasis truck stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.

Friday, April 5, 2019

Well, time off sure does go by fast.  Back at it today.  Grabbed a step deck trailer and went over to the Port of Jacksonville.  Loaded a couple things from a drill and brought them back to the Daily yard.  

They are part of a large drill that was supposed to be shipped but the drill and these things missed the boat.  The Port charges are very high to let them sit there until the next ship comes to get them so they were transported to our yard to wait there.  Tomorrow I'll head toward Pensacola for my next load.

Tuesday, March 26, 2019

As soon as my 10 hours was up I left and drove home to the Daily yard in Jacksonville.  Will be home for at least a week.

Monday, March 25, 2019

Left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to the Caterpillar dealer in Belden, Mississippi and delivered the dozer.  Then I started for home.  No problems on the road.  About 5 miles northwest of Marianna, Florida I started to see where a tornado had gone through recently.  Lots of trees down and broken off half way up. Lots of structure damage and trees still on top of smashed houses.  The tornado appeared to follow the road I was on all the way into and through the town of Marianna.  It then crossed I-10 and followed it to the east a few more miles.  The path it took was very obvious.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Marianna, Florida.  No damage here.  I'll be home tomorrow morning.