Monday, May 3, 2021

 Sorry that I'm late with this posting but my computer totally crashed this morning. Couldn't do anything with it.  When I went to use my backup computer it was messing up too. Finally got it working enough to do a few things on it.  Anyway, I delivered the wheel loader and was out of there before 7 AM.  I think that is record time!!!  My next load was in Waterloo, Iowa.  I drove down there and loaded a John Deere 9520RX Tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore.  My favorite tractor!!

Left there and drove to the Daily yard in Bettendorf, Iowa for the night.  Tried to get a new computer while there but was unable.  Will keep trying.

Sunday Evening, May 2, 2021

 I was laying in bed watching TV when there was a loud crunching noise as my truck was bouncing around. I knew immediately what had happened.  I got up and looked out to see a Landstar truck in front of my truck.  He had stopped.  What he did was while swinging his truck around to line up to back into a parking spot two places down from me, the tail of his trailer struck my truck causing damage.  I started taking lots of photos immediately.  The local sheriff's office was called and a deputy was sent out to make a report.  Here is what he did to my truck.  Crunched the bumper, took off the hood mirror and damaged the hood & grill.

Here is the damage to his trailer.

The mechanic in the TA shop came over and helped me get the bumper off my tire so that the truck was driveable. Here is the end result of that.

After the commotion was over I went back to bed.

Sunday, May 2, 2021

 They took my truck and trailer into the shop at about 9:30 this morning.  While they worked on my truck, I took a shower and did a few loads of laundry.  We both finished at about the same time.  Hopefully, everything is fixed now.  I will deliver tomorrow morning.

Saturday, May 1, 2021

 Left as soon as my 10 hours were up.  That was at 11 pm.  Drove all night to the TA in Hudson, Wisconsin.  I still have more problems with the truck and trailer so I checked in at the repair shop.  Got there right at 8 AM when they opened.  They are so backed up that They won't get to me until tomorrow morning. Goodie!!!!  The repair saga continues!!

Friday, April 30, 2021

 Left at about 2 AM this morning.  Nice day on the road.  No problems.  Drove 608 miles to the TA truck stop in Whitestown, Indiana. I'll start back again at about midnight.  But for now, the phone is off, The Godfather Part 1 followed by Part 2 is on the TV, and I'm going to sleep.  

Thursday, April 29, 2021

 The crane was supposed to be here at 7 this morning.  It was an hour late.  Then it took about 2 hours to get it set up.  The owner was there and shot video from his drone.  He sent me the videos.

First, they moved the main building.

The next section to be flown into place was the drive-thru window.

Then it was my turn.  They flew in the bathrooms.

Once everything was off my trailer, I left and headed to Clayton, NC for my next load.  Once there loaded a Caterpillar 926M Wheel Loader that is going up to Hugo, Minnesota.

Left there but didn't go very far.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Mebane, NC. When my 10 hours are up, I'll hit the road. That should be about 2 AM. 

Thursday, April 28, 2021

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Short day.  Drove to the job site in Durham, NC where they are building a Checkers. I have the bathroom and air conditioning unit. 

Internet Photo

There are four trucks coming here with the rest of the building.  All loaded and left before me and I was still the first one here.  Had to parallel park to get in here to give the other trucks room to get in too.  Tomorrow we unload next door in the construction area.  Crane has to go in and set up first in the morning.  Have no idea what order they will unload us so I have no idea when I'll get unloaded. But I'm here for the night.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

 I decided that I didn't want to sit for a day so I went down to Ormond Beach and loaded.  There were several other Daily trucks there that were also loading parts of this building that is going to Durham, North Carolina.  The section I got was the bathroom and air conditioning unit. I also got a parts crate.  It isn't heavy, just tall.  

Once all these things are put together it will be a Checkers restaurant. I left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in St. George, South Carolina for the night.

Monday, April 26, 2021

 My trailer is all fixed.  This morning I went over to the Port of Jacksonville and loaded two Caterpillar 310 Excavators that are going to Ocala, Florida.  Was supposed to take one today and one tomorrow but I decided to take both today.  Was a bit overweight but there were no scales between here and there so I was not worried.  

Left there and drove to Ocala and delivered them.  Then drove back to the Daily yard in Jacksonville.  Now I get an unexpected day off tomorrow.  Next load is Wednesday in Ormond Beach, Florida.

Thursday, April 22, 2021

 I left at about 11 PM and drove home to Jacksonville, Florida.  I'll be here through the weekend.  There are still major problems with my trailer.  Hopefully, they will get it fixed this time.

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

 Left at about 2:30 this morning.  Arrived at my first stop in Austell, Georgia at about 7 am.  After unloading the yellow thing at the front of the trailer I went to Griffin, Georgia, and unloaded the rest of the stuff.  From there went to the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA.  After my 10 hours is up I'll be heading to Jacksonville.  My trailer still needs work.

Tuesday, April 20, 2021

 Got started around 2:30 AM CDT.  Drove another 666 miles today up to the Love's truck stop in Sandersville, Mississippi.  I'll get started again at about that same time and deliver when they open in the morning in Austell, GA. That's my first stop.  Then on to Griffen, GA for my last stop.

Monday, April 19, 2021

 Left this morning at about 3:30 AM CDT.  Drove to Lorenzo, Texas, and delivered the mini excavator.  Then on to Lubbock and delivered the wheel loader.  Next load was in Seguin, Texas.  That was a 6 hour drive.  I went there and loaded a Caterpillar C-18 Genset that is going to Austel, Georgia.

I was totally out of hours so I went back to the TA truck stop in San Antonio for the night.  678 miles today.

Sunday, April 18, 2021

 Got started at 12:30 AM CDT.  Drove 664 miles to a small truck stop at the Oklahoma / Texas state line, on the Oklahoma side.  I'll get another early start in the morning.  Good night.

Saturday, April 17, 2021

 Left early this morning and arrived in East Peoria before they opened at 8.  The gate was open, so I went in and unloaded before they even knew I was there.  Then I drove up to the Daily yard in Bettendorf, Iowa where my next load was there waiting for me.  I loaded two machines.  The Smaller one is going to Lorenzo, Texas and the bigger one is going to Lubbock, Texas.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Des Moines, Iowa for the night.  I'll get started at about 12:30 AM CDT so I'm going to sleep now. Good night.

Friday, April 16, 2021

 After getting a few hours of sleep, I left Carlisle, PA at 10:30 pm.  It is so nice driving at night!! Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Oakwood, Illinois after driving 637 miles.  I can deliver in the morning. I'm only about 2 hours away.

Thursday, April 15, 2021

 I was at Thermo King at 6:30 this morning. They didn't take my truck in until 9:30.  At noon they said that they had to order parts but they should be here around 3 pm.  At 4:30 I ask how it was going?  By this time the people at the service desk had changed shifts.  They said that the parts usually don't get here until between 5 and 6 pm. The part finally arrived and I was out of there at 6:30.  Went back to Daily, connected to my trailer, and settled in for some sleep. Good night.

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

 My trailer is all fixed and ready to go. I was at International in Harrisburg first thing this morning when they opened.  They fixed my truck by about 1:30 PM and I went back to Daily in Carlisle. My truck WAS ready until my APU started acting up.  Our shop tried to fix it but couldn't.  SOOO tomorrow morning I have to take the truck over to Thermo King to get it fixed. Glad it happened here and not on the road.  My next load is at the Daily yard in Carlisle.  I loaded it this afternoon.    It is going to East Peoria, Illinois. 

As soon as my APU is fixed I can hit the road.  Tonight I'm at the Best Western hotel.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

 Last night the evening shift in the trailer shop took my trailer in and started to work on it.  This morning my truck didn't go into the truck shop until 11 am.  At about 2 this afternoon I took another driver to Delaware to pick up a truck and trailer from a guy that broke his leg and couldn't drive for a while.  We went in the pickup truck that we all use when we are at Daily in Carlisle. When I got back to Carlisle I went straight to Wal-Mart and bought stuff to restock my truck.  Then back to Daily for the night.  The truck shop had finished with my truck for the day and had parked it outside for me.  Tomorrow it has to go to International in Harrisburg for some more work.  My trailer is still in the shop. So far they have replaced at least one wheel hub, replaced another airbag, replaced an air tank, rewired most of the trailer because it was all a mess.  Replaced the ABS "brains".  Replaced the tag light, rewelded one of the "D" rings that broke. They also added 4 more "D" rings (at my request) in locations where I wanted them.  Not sure what else they are going to do.  I have a feeling I'll be sitting in Harrisburg all day tomorrow waiting for them to finish the truck.

Monday, April 12, 2021

 Delivered the wheel loader and was out of there before 7:30 this morning. Drove back to Daily in Carlisle, PA.  My trailer has a bunch more issues to resolve and my truck is due for service again.  Have no idea how long I'll be here.

Saturday, April 10, 2021

 Left Baltimore this morning timing it so that I got to the Pennsylvania state line right at sunrise.  Everything was going fine until I was about 40 miles south of Erie on I-79.  A tire AND an airbag blew out on the trailer.  Messed up my new mud flap and took out my new "oversized load" banner.  I stopped in a safe place (well, as safe as one could be on the side of the Interstate) and called for road service to come out.  

Ironically, they called the TA truck stop that I was heading to for the weekend to come out and fix it.  Minutes seem like hours when you are sitting on the side of the road waiting for road service to arrive. It took three hours for him to get here.  

First had to lift the trailer.  No easy task.  He had two 30 ton jacks and they couldn't lift it high enough. It took another jack and an assist from my 3 remaining airbags to get it high enough to work on.   

With the airbag replaced it was time to change to tire.

With all the work completed, I left and drove to the TA truck stop in Erie, PA for the rest of the weekend.  It is right next to where I'm delivering the wheel loader Monday morning.  But first, tomorrow morning I have to have a bunch of trailer lights fixed.  A lot of them don't work.  But that's tomorrow.  Tonight, I'm going to sleep!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, April 9, 2021

 I got up at 8 this morning.  Much to my surprise, they finished my trailer last night.  Found out they took parts from another trailer to get me back on the road.  I quickly connected to my trailer and left.  Went to Myerstown, Maryland, and delivered the wheel loader.  Had a heck of a time putting my trailer back together.  It just was very stubborn today.  Took a half-hour, but it finally went together.  Next load was at the Port of Baltimore.  Went there.  Got there when they were at their hour and a half lunch break.  When they got back to work I loaded a Caterpillar 972M Wheel Loader that is going up to Erie, Pennsylvania. 

This one is a little bit bigger than the last one.  I really like the ones with no steering wheel.  Joystick steering is great!!   Left there and went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.

Thursday, April 8, 2021

 Left real early and timed it so that I arrived in Rochester just before they opened.  I delivered the excavator.  My next load was supposed to be in Baltimore so I started off in that direction.  That changed and I rerouted to Batavia, NY for a load.  Arrived there and got all set to load a Caterpillar Wheel Loader.  It wasn't there.  It was in Syracuse, NY.  I put everything back together and drove the 2 1/2 hours east to Syracuse.  When I got there I loaded a Caterpillar 938M Wheel Loader that is going to Myersville, Maryland.  

While loading I noticed an air leak somewhere in the area of the left front axle on the trailer.  I left there and headed south.  On the way called the trailer shop in Carlisle.  I went there.  Got there a little after 4:30 pm.  They brought the trailer in and started to work on it.  Here is what they found...

This was the bad part in the wheel.

This is the broken part he took off.

This is the new part.

Oh, it gets worse!  In the photo of the broken part, see all that black stuff in there?  That is metal shavings.  Very bad.  Lots of stuff needs replacing in all four wheels!!  Very glad I stopped when I did. We shall see what goodies tomorrow brings.  I'll bet I get a different trailer and have to unload and reload the machine plus all my stuff. The saga continues!!

Wednesday, April 7, 2021

 Overslept a little this morning.  But I was still well on my way before sunrise.  Nothing exciting today.  Drove another 590 miles to the TA truck stop in Dansville, New York.  I'll deliver first thing in the morning.

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

 Left at sunrise this morning and drove to Charlotte, NC, and delivered the excavator.  Next load was up in Kernersville, NC.  Drove up there and loaded a John Deere 130 Excavator a day ahead of schedule.  It is going up to Rochester, New York.

Left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in Mt. Airy, NC.  It is also known as Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show.

Monday, April 5, 2021

 I was awake at midnight but didn't leave until 3 am.  Drove to the Port of Baltimore.  Glad I got there early, by the time I got checked in there were at least 20 trucks lined up to check in.  Got unloaded pretty quick.  Then reloaded with a Caterpillar 320 Excavator that is going to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Left there but didn't get very far.  Everything was fine until I started south on I-95 from Washington DC.  30 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic!!!  Thought I'd never get through there!!  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.  Had to have 2 mud flaps fixed.  One just had to be put back on. That one was on the truck.  The other was on the trailer and it had to be replaced.  Of course, that didn't go smoothly. 

 It took 4 hours just to get in the door.  I didn't get through until after 8 pm.  I'm a little tired so I'm going to sleep now.  Good night.