Friday, May 20, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was about 2:45 AM CDT.  Drove the rest of the way to New Orleans, LA.  Beat the rush hour traffic too.  Loaded a Manitowoc Crane Carbody.  OK, now you are saying "...what the heck is that!!"  Well, it is basically the substructure of a very large crane.  The tracks attach to the side of it and the rest of the crane sits on top of it.  It rotates on the pin that is sticking up out of the middle of it.  This is it sitting on the ground waiting to be lifted, by crane, onto my trailer.  Totally stripped down it still weighs about 50,000 pounds.  It was purchased by a company in Kingston, New York.  It takes 14 trucks to move the entire crane.  I was the second to load.  The "house" or the main part of the crane was the first and it went yesterday.

They had to drive a crane over the levy to where I was to lift it.  Here it comes...

Then position it next to me.

Now it's time to lift it...

Then down on my trailer...

Then I secured it to the trailer...

I had to wait for a little bit to get my Louisiana permit.  When it came in, I left.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Slidel, LA to use the scale and wait for my Mississippi permit.  When it came in, I left.  Had a good day on the road.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in McAlla, Alabama for the night.  Drove 612 miles today.  I have all the rest of my permits.

Thursday, May 19, 2022

 We left this morning a half-hour before sunrise and drove the rest of the way to the Port of Galveston, Texas, and delivered the tractors.  He had never driven one of those before and asked me to show him how, so I did.  My next load is over in New Orleans, Louisiana.  I headed that way.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Beaumont, Texas.

Wednwsday, May 18, 2022

 We left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a very good day on the road.  Nothing exciting.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Domino, Texas after putting another 575 miles behind us.

Tuesday, May 17, 2022

 This morning I loaded a John Deere 9R 540HPPC Tractor that is going to the Port in Galveston, Texas.  This one is a little bigger than the last one.  I am overweight, overwidth, and overheight.

A friend of mine showed up and was loading a tractor a bit smaller (but not by much) than mine.  He is also going to Galveston.  We are going to go down together.  We left there and headed south.  Made it past St. Louis before the curfew so we don't have to worry about that tomorrow.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Bloomsdale, Missouri.  My permit route through Arkansas and Texas is not the same as last time, it's longer.  Here is Arkansas.

Here is Texas

Monday, May 16, 2022

 Left a little before sunrise this morning and drove the 3.5 hour drive to Kansas City and delivered the dozer.  My next load is way up in Waterloo, Iowa.  Drove up there but didn't make it in time to load today.  Will load first thing in the morning.  I parked at John Deere for the night.

Saturday, May 14, 2022

 I left Galveston at 3:30 AM CDT and very soon after I got on I-45 got stuck in a roadblock.  They are doing major construction on I-45. Crews were switching the closed lanes, so the cops stopped all the traffic while they did that.  I could have slept for another hour!!!  Oh well.  Once I got through that it was smooth sailing for the rest of the day.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend after putting another 585 miles behind me, at the Love's truck stop in Big Cabin, Oklahoma.  I'm totally out of hours so I have to do a reset tomorrow.

Friday, May 13, 2022

 Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove to Galveston and delivered the tractor.  Didn't have another load yet.  The bridge coming out of Galveston is weight restricted to 80,000 pounds due to damage to the bridge.  It is really messing up loading out of Galveston.  None of the big stuff can move.  So I headed back to Houston.  About halfway back they found a load for me back in Galveston.  So I turned around and went back and loaded a Caterpillar D5 dozer that is going to Kansas City, Missouri.  

I didn't have many hours left for today so I parked for the night at the parking area just outside of the Port gate.  I'll get started tomorrow when my 10 hours are up.

Thursday, May 12, 2022

 Got a late start this morning but timed it perfectly again.  Arrived at the St. Lewis curfew right at 9 AM when the curfew ended.  No issues on the road and traffic wasn't too bad either. I pushed it pretty hard today.  Drove 665 miles stopping once for that stupid required 30-minute break.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Domino, Texas.

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

 Left early this morning and drove to Fort Dodge.  Got there just before they opened.  Delivered the telehandler.  Next load was back in Waterloo.  Drove there and loaded a John Deere 9R 490HPPC Tractor that is going to Galveston, Texas.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in New London, Missouri for the night.  Will be starting a little later than usual.  Have to time it so I get to St. Louis at 9 AM when the curfew ends.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

 Yesterday, while loading, the tag light on the trailer got smashed.  As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  That was about 1:45 AM.  Didn't sleep very well last night so I got sleepy a couple times and stopped to take a nap.  Stopped at the Daily terminal in Bettendorf, Iowa, and got my tag light replaced. Continued on and stopped when I ran out of hours at the Flying J truck stop in Evansdale, Iowa. Even with all the stopping I still did 653 miles today.

Monday, May 9, 2022

 Left real early this morning and got to Baltimore just before they opened.  Delivered the wheel loader.  My next load was over in McConnellsburg, PA.  Drove there and loaded a JLG Telehandler that is going to Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Hebron, Ohio for the night.

Sunday, May 8, 2022

 Checked out of the hotel this morning and went back to the Daily yard.  Stopped along the way and got fuel and the truck washed.  With all my "chores" done I can veg out for the rest of the day.

Saturday, May 7, 2022

 Still raining!!  Got up early and went down the road to the laundromat and did laundry. They have some huge machines there and I washed all my blankets and quilts.  Then went back to the Daily yard and went back to sleep.  Early afternoon I drove to the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, PA, and checked in.  I had a room with two double beds.  The TV didn't work and they had to send someone from maintenance to come fix it.  It's always something!!!  The "shindig" started at 5:30.  

Panoramic Photo

The food was pretty good.  The speeches were too long (as usual) and the door prizes were pretty good.  I got another jacket for 10 years.  Hard to believe that I have been at Daily for 10 years.  The time has just flown by.  I guess it is really true that time flies when you are having fun.

Once all the door prizes were finished I left and went back to my room.  I'm not into all that schmoozing that goes on at these things.  

Friday, May 6, 2022

 Last night I got an email telling me that my truck was due for an oil change and lube.  I also got a call from the person that handles the random DOT drug tests at Daily.  She said that my name came up this month.  We set up for it to be done sometime before 3:30 PM this afternoon at a place just down the road from the Daily Yard in Carlisle, PA.  It has been a couple years since my name came up on the random list so I was not surprised.  

Left New Paris, Ohio a little after 2 AM.  More rain again all day.  On the road, I scheduled to have the truck maintenance done at the TA in Wheeling, West Virginia.  I arrived there at about 6:30 AM.  There was a truck in the bay already but I was next in line.  The guy at the desk said that "...it might be a while, the mechanic procrastinates a lot".   I went and had breakfast, came back, and took a nap.  I woke up at 8:30.  The other truck was still in the bay being worked on.  I decided not to wait so I canceled my appointment and left.  While on the road called and scheduled an appointment to have the work done at the Petro in Carlisle at noon.  I arrived at the Petro right at noon.  They were just finishing up another truck and said I was next.  I had time to go to the Daily yard and drop off my trailer.  I got the maintenance work done at the Petro and left there at 3:05 PM and went straight to the clinic to do my drug test.  After leaving my "golden deposit" at the clinic I got my paperwork and went back to the Daily yard.  Tomorrow night is Daily's annual "Safety Banquet".  I'll be going to that.  I'll have a hotel room tomorrow night courtesy of Daily.

Thursday, May 5, 2022

 Left real early this morning and drove to Davenport, Iowa.  Got there before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a John Deere 624 Wheel Loader that is going to Baltimore, Maryland.

Left there and headed toward Baltimore.  Started raising shortly after entering Illinois and it rained steadily for the rest of the day.  At least it held off while I was loading, for a change.  Had a bunch of bumper to bumper traffic going around Indianapolis.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio.

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Nothing interesting on the road today.  Made it to Mokena, Illinois and delivered the wheel loader.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Davenport, Iowa.  I started off that direction.  Stopped for the night at the TA in Morris, Illinois.  563 miles today.

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

 Left early this morning and got to Clayton, NC a little before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a Caterpillar 938M Wheel Loader that is going to Mokena, Illinois.  

I was out of there by 8:30 !!!  Pretty good day on the road.  A few slowdowns from construction.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Ripley, West Virginia.

Monday, May 2, 2022

Was at the Port of Savannah when they opened this morning.  Loaded two Caterpillar CB2.7 Rollers.  One goes to Rock Hill, South Carolina, and the other to Charlotte, North Carolina.  

Was out of there by 8:30.  Delivered both rollers. My next load is in Clayton, NC.  I drove to the Petro truck stop in Mebane, NC for the night.

 After a few nice days off it is time to get back at it again.  Started off slowly.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  Traffic was pretty heavy on I-95 today.  Will load tomorrow morning in Savannah. 

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I drove back to Jacksonville.  Will be here for a few days.

Tuesday, April 26, 2022

 Left Jacksonville at 2 AM and drove down to West Palm Beach.  Delivered the mini excavator.  Left there and went over to Fort Myers and delivered the wheel loader. After that headed back north toward Jacksonville.  Did another 627 miles today and had only 15 minutes left on my clock for today when I stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Dade City, Florida.

Saturday, April 23, 2022

 Didn't sleep at all.  Left Cartersville at midnight thirty.  Drove to the Daily yard in Jacksonville, FL. Now I'm going to sleep.  The phone is off!!!

 Left very early this morning.  Had a nice day on the road until Chattanooga, TN.  17 miles of bumper to bumper traffic from west of Chattanooga all the way to I-75.  Drove 638 miles today. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Cartersville, Georgia.

Thursday, April 21, 2022

 Left in the rain real early again this morning.  Drove to a John Deere dealer in Williamsport, IN, and delivered one tractor.  Got there way before they opened.  After I got the tractor off I had to wait for them to come into work to accept it.  After that, I drove up to another John Deere dealer in Kings, Illinois, and delivered the remaining tractor.  My next load was in Davenport, IA.  Went over there.  Loaded a John Deere 544P Wheel Loader that is going to Ft. Myers, Florida, and a John Deere 35G Mini Excavator that is going to West Palm Beach, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Daily terminal in Morton, Illinois for the night.  Drove 610 miles today.  Set up my TV and good 'ole DishNetwork receiver took a dump!!  This is the second time this has happened.  

 Last time they had to send me a new receiver.  I called Dish and they wouldn't do anything until that screen is there for at least four hours.  I hung up on them.  I am too tired to deal with their idiocy tonight.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

 Left the TA real early this morning.  Just west of Baltimore my trailer developed an air leak.  I stopped at the rest area and checked it out.  Determined that I could continue on.  Instead of continuing west I went north instead and drove to the Daily yard in Carlisle, PA.  Got to the shop just before everyone came in.  When they got there they fixed my trailer right away and I was back on the road.  The rest of the day was uneventful.  Drove 598 miles today.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio for the night.

Tuesday, April 19, 2022

 My new paperwork didn't come in until about 11:30, their lunchtime.  I got fuel then drove over to the Port, picked up my trailer, and waited for them to come back from lunch at 1.  I was first in line when they came back.  Got checked in then waited another hour for them to tell me where to unload it.  I finally got it off my trailer.  Then went to another place in the Port to pick up my next load.  Checked in then went looking for my tractors, I was getting two.  I found the first one and brought it over to my truck.  Then went looking for the other one.  Couldn't find it so I got in the first tractor and drove around the Port looking for it.  Found it.  Took it over to my truck then went back and got the first tractor again.  Loaded them on my trailer. One is going to Williamsport, Indiana, and the other to Kings, Illinois.

It was pretty late by now so I went back to the TA for the night.

Monday, April 18, 2022

 I went to leave this morning and found that the electric cable to my trailer came loose and it got pulled out of the plug.  So I had no trailer lights.  

I sent an email to our shop then went back to bed.  When they came in they sent someone from Carlisle down to fix it.  Two hours later he got there and fixed it.  I drove to the Port of Baltimore.  When I got there I still didn't have the paperwork that I had been asking for for four days.  I had to wait some more.  It finally came in and was incomplete.  SO I had to wait more.  When the correct paperwork came in it was ten minutes after the Port guys had gone to lunch.  Union shop, they lunch from 11:30 to 1 PM.  Now I had to wait until 1 PM for them to come back from lunch.  Once they got back from lunch, I was 9th in line to get checked in.  Half an hour later I got checked in.  Then they told me that the ship has left already.  I have to start over again with other paperwork.  I waited another 2 1/2 hours for the correct paperwork but it didn't come in.  I dropped my trailer there and bobtailed over to the TA truck stop for the night.  Will try again tomorrow.

Saturday, April 16, 2022

 This morning I drove to the truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.  Traffic was much lighter this morning which made for a much nicer drive.

Friday, April 15, 2022

 Left before sunrise this morning.  Very uneventful day even though the traffic on I-81 was heavy. I stopped a bit earlier than I had planned.  There was a wreck 17 miles ahead with all lanes blocked and a 10 mile (and growing) back up.  I decided to stop for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Harrisonburg, Virginia.  I'll go the rest of the way in the morning. 

Thursday, April 14, 2022

 Left this morning at sunrise.  Didn't get very far.  Still didn't have my Virginia permit so I had to stop at the TA truck stop in Baileyton, Tennessee to wait. Sat there all day.  At 4:30 PM EDT, my permit finally came in.  I'll leave here in the morning and drive through Virginia.  The Port of Baltimore is closed tomorrow for Good Friday so there is no hurry.  I'll go to the Flying J truck stop in Winchester, VA for the weekend.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

 Left Little Rock at sunrise this morning.  Pretty uneventful day on the road.  That's the way I like it.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.  My Virginia permit was ordered five days ago and it still isn't here.  If it doesn't come in soon I'll have a very short day tomorrow.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

 Left Prescott this morning to time it so that I arrived to deliver right when they opened at 7:30.  Delivered the excavator.

Next load is at Caterpillar in North Little Rock, AR.  Went there and loaded a Caterpillar 14 Motor Grader that is going to the Port of Baltimore.

From there I went to the Rush Truck Center in Little Rock to get my windshield replaced.  They finished it this afternoon and I went over to the Petro truck stop for the night to let the glue dry.

Monday, April 11, 2022

 When the gates opened at the Port I was the first one through.  Loaded a Caterpillar 317 GC Excavator that is going up to Little Rock, Arkansas.

Left there and headed toward Little ZZRock.  On the north side of Houston, a rock flew from another truck into my windshield. 

So, after I deliver in Little Rock tomorrow I have to get it replaced.  I stopped for the night at the TA in Prescott, Arkansas.

Sunday, April 10, 2022

 As soon as my reset was finished this morning I drove over to Galveston.  I load here in the morning.

Friday, April 8, 2022

 Left before sunrise this morning.  Had no problems with traffic getting to Georgetown, TX to deliver.  On the way, I was 3 miles from the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, TX.  For those of you that don't know what that is or can't remember, CLICK HERE for more information on it.  Delivered the wheel loader.  Next load was in Galveston, TX.  Started off that way.  Very quickly I got into heavy traffic.  Then bumper to bumper near Austin.  After I got out of that I continued toward Galveston. Traffic stayed very heavy.  Several areas of bumper-to-bumper traffic from construction.  It soon became evident that I was not going to make it to Galveston in time to load.  Then came the big backup.  8 miles of stop-and-go traffic caused by a wreck.  Took forever to get through that.  Instead of going to Galveston, I headed for the Daily yard in Houston.  Hit Houston in the middle of rush hour.  LOTS of bumper-to-bumper traffic all the way through Houston.  I thought I'd never get through there!!  But I made it to the yard and will be here until Monday morning.

Thursday, April 7, 2022

 Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  No problems through Alabama, Mississippi, or Louisiana.  The wind really picked up this afternoon in western Louisiana and east Texas.  The truck was really buffeted a lot.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Kilgore, Texas.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

 Left real early this morning and drove to the Port of Savannah, Georgia.  Loaded a Caterpillar 950M Wheel Loader that is going to Georgetown, Texas.

I made really good time in there and was out and on the road before 9 AM.  Had about 10 miles of bumper-to-bumper traffic south of Atlanta.  After I got through that mess, I had no other problems today.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Lincoln, Alabama.  That is right next to the Talladega Superspeedway.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

 Was at the Port of Savannah when they opened this morning.  Delivered the wheel loader.  After that drove to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville.  Had a little work done on my trailer.  Ran a bunch of personal errands.  My next load is back at the Port of Savannah tomorrow morning.  I'll leave here early in the morning to go up there.

Monday, April 4, 2022

 Left at sunrise this morning and drove to Hope Mills and delivered the dump truck.  My next load was back in Clayton, NC.  I drove there and loaded a Caterpillar 926M Wheel loader with bucket and forks.  It is going to the Port in Savannah, Georgia. From there it is going on an ocean cruise to Bremerhaven, Germany.

Left there and headed for Savannah.  On the way passed a really cool truck fire.  Got to see a couple tires explode.  That always looks cool. The fire dept. or cops had not got there yet.  

Couldn't make it to the Port before their quittin' time (union hours) so I stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Hardeeville, South Carolina for the night.

Sunday, April 3, 2022

 I thought I'd share with you my dining experience from last night.  I went across the parking lot to a restaurant called Sadler Milestone Restaurant. 

I ordered the ribeye steak dinner which normally comes with one side and salad bar. They didn't have the salad bar that night so I was given the choice of a second side. I ordered the $15.00 (approximately) ribeye steak cooked medium, baked potato, and corn. This is what I got. 

The steak (if you really want to call it that) was WAY overcooked. The potato had the consistency of rubber. Never did get the corn. Totally inedible!!! I sent it back. I decided to order something from the breakfast menu instead. I thought that it is pretty hard to screw up breakfast. I was wrong. So I ordered three pancakes, for $5.00. It took a very long time for my order to be brought to me. This is what I got. 

I ate those, but they were small and not good!!!! Then when I went to pay my bill the server charged me $21+ !!!!! When I refused, she removed the ribeye meal from my bill. 

Needless to say, I will NEVER EVER eat there again.