They got everything done on the truck this afternoon. Then I loaded a JLG Telehandler that was in the Daily yard here. It is going to Houston, Texas.
Can't leave for a few hours so that the glue holding the new windshield in can dry. Going back to sleep until then.
They took my truck in the shop first thing this morning. They worked on it all day. Still not finished. Tomorrow they have to put in a new windshield, get an alignment done on the truck, and do a few other things. While they worked on the truck, I got a car and did laundry, and went to Walmart. Very productive day. I'll be glad to get moving again.
They weren't able to get to my truck today. I got some much needed sleep today instead. That felt great!!! Hopefully, they will get started on it tomorrow.
Delivered the stuff in Warfordsburg, PA first thing this morning. Then drove up to Carlisle, PA. Stopped and got the truck washed on the way. There was quite a line. It took two hours to get that done. Will be in Carlisle for a few days. The truck and trailer are due for routine maintenance. The truck needs a lot done to it.
Only got a light dusting of snow last night. This morning the sun was out, bright blue cloudless sky, and dry roads. I left Ruther Glen, VA this morning at about 7 AM EDT. Traffic was light, even though Washington DC, all the way to Hagerstown, Maryland where I stopped for the rest of the day. I'll deliver about half an hour from here first thing Monday morning.
At 3 AM EST, when my 10 hours were up, I left. Rain all day. Heavy rain and thunderstorms in North Carolina. Very Strong crosswind from the west in North Carolina and Virginia. Felt like I was back in North Dakota!! Stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Ruther Glen, Virginia. It was raining when I went in to shower. When I came back out it had changed to snow.
Drove up to the Port of Savannah, GA this morning and loaded 4 pallets of parts for a very large crusher. They are going to Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania.
It took a long time for the Port guys to get around to loading me. When I finally got out of there I didn't go far. Stopped at a small Pilot truck stop in Savannah, GA for my 10 hours.
Took the truck over to Thermo King this morning and got the APU fixed - again. Nexdt load is Friday in Savannah, Georgia. I'll be here until then.
Drove to Ocala this morning and delivered the telehandler right when they opened. Then went back to Jacksonville. Will be here for a couple days.
The battery in my pick-up truck was almost dead and the truck wouldn't start. AAA came out and jump-started it. Then I went and got a new battery. Did a bunch of errands too. Got my trailer lights fixed, again. For comparison, here is the photo from yesterday when they didn't work...
And here is today after they got fixed...
As soon as my 10 hours were up, I hit the road. That was about midnight. Great day on the road. No traffic issues in Washington DC, or Richmond, VA. I was following a car that was behind an oversized load transporting what looked like an older Caterpillar D6 dozer with the blade attached. When he entered a construction zone the blade of the dozer struck the "Jersey Wall". The outside edge of the blade was knocked off and it slid along the Interstate and went under my truck. No damage to anything of mine, just interesting to see.
This is difficult to see. Expand to full screen to see it better.
That was the only thing interesting today. Stopped, because I ran out of hours, at the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, Georgia. As soon as my 10 are up, I'll be back out on the road.
My 10 hours were up at 9:30 PM. I left and drove to the Jacksonville, FL Daily terminal. Wouldn't you know it, half my trailer lights are out again!!
At least I'm here and can get them fixed tomorrow, GOOD GRIEF!! 777 miles today.
As soon as my ten hours were up I left. That was at 3 AM EST. Drove to the Port of Baltimore and got there before they opened. Was first in line to check in. When the opened, I delivered the tractor. My next load was at the Daily yard in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Drove up there and loaded a Caterpillar TL 1055 HRC Telehandler that is going to Ocala, Florida.
While I was there I also loaded some supplies for the Jacksonville terminal.
After that was done, I got a few more supplies for me. Then the truck shop wanted to look at my APU. They hooked it to the computer and found out what is wrong with it. Just a sensor. I already have an appointment with Thermo King in Jacksonville next week. They said it's no big deal, and to have them fix it when I get there. Once all that was done, I left and drove down to the TA truck stop in Greencastle, PA until my 10 hours are up.
My new Ohio permit didn't come in until after 9 AM. That put me way behind. I left when I got it. Met my West Virginia escort car at the state line. When we crossed into Maryland she dropped off. Didn't need one in Maryland. Stopped for my 10 hours at the Sunoco in Grantsville, Maryland.
Much to everyone's surprise, the part came in today! I made arrangements to have my West Virginia escort meet me tomorrow morning. The truck was finished at 4:30 PM. Went over and got my truck then went back to the hotel for the night. My Ohio permit expired so I have to wait until a new one comes in before I can go.
This morning I sent a detailed email to the Daily shop explaining, with photos, what the truck was doing. They made arrangements with an International shop in Richmond, Indiana to get it fixed. Daily sent a wrecker over and towed me to that shop. I left my trailer at the Flying J. After the wrecker dropped the truck, the shop took it in right away. They spent all morning working on it. At about 2 PM EST they said that they have to order a sensor and have no idea when it will get here. Here we go again!!! So now I'm checked into a hotel indefinitely.
When I started the truck this morning to leave, this is what I was met with...
Needless to say, I didn't go anywhere. I had an escort scheduled to meet me this morning at the West Virginia line. Had to cancel him. Sent an email to the head of maintenance at Daily and then talked to him on the phone. Tomorrow morning I'll talk to Daily again and get things set up to be towed to a repair shop.
Last night at about 8:30 CST road service for the tire showed up first, then Love's service truck for the trailer lights. Got it all fixed. It stopped snowing around midnight.
Left at about 2 AM CST and drove the 231 miles to Shakopee, MN. I got there before they opened. On the way up here the truck's "Check Engine" light came on. Just what I needed now!!! While waiting for them to open I called our shop to report the issue. Once they opened tried to unload the machine but it was so cold that the fuel had gelled in it. So he had to go get a heater and warm it up so that he could get it off the trailer. Once that was finally done I was able to get out of there. I drove down to the International Truck dealer in Albert Lea, MN to get the "Check Engine" light taken care of. They told me on the phone that they could get me in this afternoon after 3 when the second shift came in. I was VERY lucky and they took me in right away!! I couldn't believe it. They were able to fix it pretty quick and I was out of there. But that is where my good luck ended. Shortly after I got on the road my ELD (electronic logbook) went haywire. Then it started to snow. Then unbeknownst to me, my trailer turn signals and brake lights went out. That attracted the attention of a DOT cop. I got pulled over and inspected. Also had a bad tire. Fortunately, I didn't get any tickets and was able to temporally fix the problem. I just got a crappy inspection. I was able to just make it to John Deere in Waterloo, Iowa, and load a John Deere 8RX 370 Tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore.
I stayed at the John Deere plant for the night. Had road service come out and change the bad tire and fix the trailer lights. Hope it stops snowing so I can go in the morning. 3 inches on the ground so far and still coming down hard. Can't have all good days, got to have some bad ones too. That's just the way it goes with everything.
Had to wait to start this morning. Couldn't go into St. Louis, Missouri until after 9 AM CST. It takes about an hour and fifteen minutes from Mt. Vernon, Illinois to get there. So I left at 7:45 AM CST instead of the usual half-hour before sunrise. I drove across the bridge over the Mississippi River into St. Louis precisely at 9:03 CST. Timed it pretty good. Had some snow flurries in the St. Louis area but nothing interesting. Road crews were out pretreating the roads. I guess they are expecting some weather later on. Had a nice uneventful day. Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Evansdale, Iowa. I can drive at night in Iowa and Minnesota so I'm going to bed now and getting started as soon as my 10 hours are up. I'll deliver in the morning.
Left a half-hour after sunrise this morning stopping on the scale before I left. Here is my scale from last night.
I'm enjoying a nice, large, cup of hot chocolate while I'm typing this. It's really good too!! Left at about 2 AM this morning. Drove the rest of the way to Marianna, Florida, and delivered the boom lift. When loading and unloading those things you have to hold on tight. When it goes up on or down off the trailer it wants to flip you like a pancake on a spatula. My next load was up in Atlanta. Drove back up there and loaded a Komatsu 210 Excavator that is going up to Shakopee, Minnesota.
Of course, it was raining. I was covered in grease and mud as well as being soaked to the skin when I was finished. Left there and went straight to the Petro in Atlanta, got fuel, then scaled. Wouldn't you know it... I was too heavy on my trailer axles. Had to unsecured it and back the machine up a couple feet. Then re-secure it all again. Just what I love to do in the cold rain!! I'm sure I have it right now. Parking places are at a premium here so I wasn't about to pull out of the two I had. I need two spaced side-by-side because of the machine width. Finished the day after driving 560 miles with only 9 minutes available on my electronic babysitter. I'll re-scale in the morning just to make sure. Long hot shower, dinner, then bed!!!
My reset was finished at 8 PM Saturday evening. I left the "home office" at 8:15 PM. Stopped and got the truck washed before I left town. Really nice night driving. No traffic issues at all. The way I like it!! Stopped for my 10 hours, after driving 630 miles, at the TA truck stop in Commerce, Georgia.
This morning I loaded a JLG 660SJ Boom Lift that is going to Marianna, Florida.
Glad I did it this morning. It got very windy and cold this afternoon. As soon as my reset is finished, I'll hit the road south.
Left very early this morning, in the rain, and arrived at delivery in South Plainfield, NJ just after they opened. Delivered the wheel loader. Next load is waiting for me at the "home office" in Carlisle, PA. I drove back there. I was out of hours for the week when I go there so I'll do a reset while I'm here. Tomorrow I'll load my next machine. When I got to Carlisle, I used the company pick-up truck and went to Walmart and spent too much money (as usual) restocking the truck. Then went and did 3 loads of laundry. Now it's time for some much-needed rest.
Left at 12:30 this morning. Another nice day on the road. Nothing exciting. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Greencastle, Pennsylvania after driving another 685 miles. And I beat the rain!! Didn't start raining until after I got here.
Left at about 2:30 this morning. Only a few traffic back-ups today. Other than that, after driving 690 miles I stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Fairview, Tennessee. That is about a half-hour west of Nashville. I'll get started again around midnight. But for now, the phone is off and I'm going to sleep. Good night.
I drove the 245 miles over to San Antonio and got there as they opened this morning. I took my trailer apart and got everything out in preparation for my machine. The machine I was loading, a Caterpillar D6 Dozer, was not ready yet. It had an air conditioning problem that was supposed to be fixed yesterday. They hadn't even started on it yet. So I waited. Helped another driver load a water tanker on his truck while I waited. Also saw them take my machine into the shop.
Yesterday I forgot to tell you that I passed one of those self driving trucks. It had a human sitting in the driver's seat but he wasn't doing anything. It was going slower that the traffic flow and while I was behind it the brake lights kept coming on. When I went to pass him there was nothing in front of it to cause it to keep braking. I must say, I'm not a fan. There is no way that a self driving truck could do the oversized loads we do. Impossible.
After a couple hours I was told it wouldn't be ready anytime soon. They have to order parts. I was given a different load that wasn't too far away. I drove over to New Braunfels, TX and loaded a John Deere 544 Wheel loader with a bucket and forks that is going to South Plainfield, New Jersey.
Left there and started heading north. Just north of Austin there was a lot of construction. I-35 there was 3 lanes wide. There was a semi truck on my right. I could not see the signs that said his lane was ending. This was a close one.
I stopped for my 10 hours at the Petro Truck Stop in Carl's Corner, Texas. This is the place Willie Nelson was part owner until Petro bought it.
Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning. Real good day on the road, for the most part. Not too many traffic slow-downs going through Dallas. My permit route going around Houston was a pain in the butt!! Lots of construction and stop lights!! Of course, I got only 3 green lights the whole way. Being over-height I understand why I was routed that way. There are a LOT of low bridges in Houston. Still, it was a pain!!! I finally made it down to Galveston. There were a couple cruise ships in port today. I delivered the tractor. Being low on hours, I parked in the parking area across from the entrance to the Port for the night. I load tomorrow morning in San Antonio. I'll be there when they open.
Left 40 minutes before sunrise this morning. Great day on the road. Saw a lot of brush fires in Oklahoma. After driving 556 miles I stopped at a casino truck stop in Stringtown, Oklahoma for the night. So far the repairs that I made yesterday are holding fine.
I left a half-hour before sunrise this morning. It was -15 F this morning. The weather had cleared up nicely and the sun came out. The road started off slippery with some icy patches to watch out for, but it didn't take long for that to go away and they were dry the rest of the day. I did real good today until just north of Council Bluffs, Iowa. My "Low Coolant" light came on.
I stopped at the next truck stop to check it out. Once again, my APU was leaking coolant. I found the problem, fixed it, and added over a gallon of coolant to the system. I continued on. After about 10 miles I stopped at a rest area and checked everything. It was all good. I continued on to the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop in Percival, Iowa for the night. Checked everything again and it was all good.
Well, we got our blizzard. It started around 1:30 this morning. Felt the truck rockin'. Didn't get a whole lot more snow, it added to what we got yesterday then the wind kicked it all up and created whiteout conditions. This is my view this morning.
Sustained winds at 30 MPH with gusts to 50 MPH. Temperatures in the single digits with wind chill in the minus teens.
I picked a good day to do a reset!!
An hour before the blizzard warning expires and it is still hard to see across the parking lot.
Left as soon as my ten hours were up this morning. About 40 miles from Bismark it started to snow. Then sleet, then rain. Arrived at the Caterpillar dealer in Bismark, North Dakota as they opened. Delivered the motor grader. Next load was in Fargo, ND. I went there. The weather was not very good on the trip over. I-94 was very slippery in many places. Past several crashes on the way. A semi had jackknifed, a straight truck was off in the median, and a pick-up truck on its side were just a few of them.
By the time I got to Fargo, it was snowing real hard and accumulating, as well as it being very windy. It was not possible to load in those conditions. I went to the Petro truck stop and settled in. While I was eating lunch, the snow stopped. Great!! I went over to the Case plant and loaded a tractor that is going to the Port of Galveston. It will end up in Brazil.
Being low on hours, I went back to the Petro truck stop. I'll do a reset here then get started Saturday morning.
Just heard on the local news that we are under a blizzard warning for tonight. Cool!!
Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning. Another day of mostly back roads again. not as many small towns to go through today. Heavy crosswind most of the day too. But that is normal for up here. Stopped for the night at a small truck stop in Wolsey, South Dakota. Got another 523 miles today.
Left early this morning. Made it through the Dallas / Ft. Worth area with a few small places of bumper-to-bumper traffic. Not too bad for rush hour. After that, it was back roads for the rest of the day. Speeds from 20 MPH to 75 MPH and every small town ( and there were a LOT of them) had at least one stoplight which, of course, I got red. Even so, I still got 513 miles in today. Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Newton, Kansas.
Left a little before sunrise this morning and went to the John Deere dealer in Houston to unload. It was pretty busy in there so I had to wait a bit to get a place to unload. I finally did after not too long of a wait. My next load was not too far away. Drove over to the Port of Houston and loaded a Caterpillar 150 AWD Motor Grader that is going to Bismark, North Dakota.
Nothing exciting today. Just a nice uneventful day on the road. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Baytown, Texas. Will deliver in the morning.
Left this morning and wasn't on the road a half hour before I was in bumper-to-bumper traffic. A 2 1/2 mile back-up from a wreck and construction. Three lanes down to one. Took about a half-hour to get through that. From there on it was pretty much smooth sailing the rest of the day. I stopped a little early tonight because there was another traffic back-up about 20 miles ahead. I'll wait until tomorrow to go through there. Should be all better by then. Stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Gulfport, Mississippi.
This morning I loaded, in the rain, a John Deere 210 Excavator that is going to Houston, Texas.
Rained all day. The crane was supposed to be here at 7 AM. They didn't show up until after 9.
It took a while for them to set up. While they were setting up a problem was noticed.
They ordered a dump truck of stone to be delivered to fill the new mud hole that developed when the crane went in.
Then the building came in.
This is how far his trailer was stretched.
Then the bathrooms came in.
After they were lifted off it was my turn.
I was finally empty and leaving there after 2 PM. I load tomorrow in Kernersville, North Carolina. I drove down there. Spent the night at the John Deere / Hitachi plant in Kernersville. There are 2 trucks ahead of me in the morning.
I left the yard in Jacksonville at 12:30 this morning. Drove straight through to Zion Crossroads, Virginia. 646 miles. I have the air conditioning units for a new Checkers restaurant. The three sections of buildings are also coming. Two of the three are already here. We are at a truck stop on the opposite side of I-64 from the job site. The crane is not due here until tomorrow. Here is an overview of where we are going.
Here is where we are parked in relation to the job site...
What is going to be interesting is the main building (on another truck) is 16 feet wide and is stretched to 90 feet long. PLUS there is a slight hump in the road leading up to the job site. Just enough to bottom out the trailer. Tomorrow will be interesting.
My next load arrived here at the Daily yard this afternoon on another truck. I used a telehandler to unload the other truck and load my truck with two air conditioner units and a small pallet of parts. They are going to Zion Crossroads, Virginia.
I will leave here around midnight.
