Sunday, July 17, 2022

 I left Denmark, Tennessee at 10:30 PM EDT when my 10 hours were up.  Shortly after I went into Oklahoma the left lane shut down for construction.  Here is the approach to the construction area.

The rest of the trip was pretty uneventful.  When I had to stop for the required 30-minute break, I took a 30-minute nap.  Made it to the place I wanted to get to, The Big Texan in Amarillo, Texas.  Got there at lunchtime.  I ordered a 24 oz. ribeye steak, baked potato, salad, and dinner rolls. Then had mint chocolate chip ice cream for dessert.

It was sooooooo good!!!!

I deliver just on the other side of I-40 from here Monday morning.

Went back for dinner.  The place was packed with an overflow crowd.  Over a one-hour wait.  I got to go desert and went back to the truck.  While there someone was attempting the "72oz Challenge".

Here is a list they have on the wall of recent winners.

After the line slowed down, I went back in and had a real dinner.  This time had the 16 oz prime rib.  It too was delicious!!!!

That is the end of my really good food for a while.  I'm so full I hurt!!   But it is a good hurt!!

Saturday, July 16, 2022

 I left at 2 AM EDT and had a very good day on the road. This truck is a LOT better than the other one.  So far, so good. Drove 634 miles to the TA truck stop in Denmark, Tennessee.  

Thought you would like to see this.  When I got this truck it needed fuel real bad, so I filled it up.  It has two 100-gallon fuel tanks.

Friday, July 15, 2022

 This morning, I hooked up to a different trailer, got chains and binders from the shop, drove back to Shippensburg, PA, and loaded a Volvo ECR220ELR Excavator.  

Brought it back to the yard in Carlisle, PA.  Unloaded it, took the chains and binders back to the shop, and dropped off the trailer.

Then hooked back to my trailer.  In case you forgot, this is what I have.  A Volvo L60H Wheel Loader that is going to Amarillo, Texas.

Left Carlisle and drove to the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia for my 10 hours.  I'll be starting again at about 2 AM EDT.

Thursday, July 14, 2022

 Woke up at midnight and got back to work swapping my stuff to the new truck.  Worked on it all night and got it done.  Then took the old truck to the truck wash and vacuumed it out and got it washed.  Then filled it with fuel.  After that, took it back to the yard and dropped the keys off with the truck shop guys.  

Yesterday afternoon, while I was sleeping, the trailer shop pulled my trailer in to do some work on it.  They finished it today before noon.  

Extremely tired, I was in bed before noon.  Good night.

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

 Woke up at midnight because the APU was acting up again!!

But couldn't leave until 2 AM.  When 2 arrived, I left and drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  Got the keys to the new truck and started the long process of swapping into it.

I got some of the bigger things moved into the truck when my dispatcher asked if I could go down to Shippensburg, PA to the Volvo plant and load a machine that had to be picked up today.  The driver that the load was assigned to abruptly quit.  So I hooked up to my trailer and went there and loaded a Volvo L60H wheel Loader that is eventually going to Amarillo, Texas.

Left there and went back to Carlisle.  Worked on the truck a little more, got a shower, and dinner, and thoroughly exhausted, fell into bed for the night.  I'll finish up tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 12, 2022

 Left real early this morning and drove to Lathrup Village, MI.  Had to back into the job site from the main road, but I didn't quite fit all the way.  

Waited for the workers to get there.  When they got there they had to wait for the crane guys to get there.  Said they would be there at 8.  8 came and went.  Then they said they would be there at 9.  9 came and went.  They finally showed up.  Then they had to reposition the crane.  They FINALLY unloaded me. Picked up each of the 8 concrete things one at a time.  Just as I got empty my dispatcher called and said they had no loads anywhere near me and to deadhead to Carlisle to swap into my new truck.  I started off that way.  As unbelievable as it sounds, I had no traffic issues going through Detroit, Michigan, or Toledo, Ohio.  I was amazed!!!   Stopped for my 10 hours at the Glacier Hill Service Plaza in New Springfield, Ohio on I-76.  Will leave here as soon as my 10 hours are up.

Monday, July 11, 2022

 Arrived in Schofield, Wisconsin about a half-hour before they opened.  Unloaded the wheel loader.  My next load was in Lannon, Wisconsin.  Drove over there and loaded 8 concrete things and a small box that are going over to Lathrup Village, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Battle Creek, Michigan for the night.  Will deliver first thing in the morning.

Saturday, July 9, 2022

 

Friday, July 8, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was at about 1 AM EDT.  Drove in rain off and of all day.  Nothing heavy.  Pretty uneventful day until I get into Wisconsin.  North of Madison a high speed car chase went past me on I-39.  I checked my video to see if there was anything good to post, there wasn't.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the Petro in Portage, Wisconsin.  Stopped with 17 minutes left on my driving clock.  695 miles today.

Thursday, July 7, 2022

 Went over to Clayton, NC this morning.  Got there just before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a Caterpillar 930M Wheel Loader that is going to Schofield, Wisconsin.  

Left there at about 8:30 AM EDT.  Drove the mountains of West Virginia and stopped for my 10 hours at the TA truck stop in Hurricane, West Virginia.  Did laundry tonight so I didn't have to mess with it this weekend.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

 Had a very nice couple of weeks off spending time with friends and family but now I'm back at it again.

Drove up to the Port of Savannah, Georgia, and loaded a Caterpillar 315 Excavator that went to Raleigh, North Carolina.  

Left there in really good time, before 9 AM.  Drove to Raleigh and delivered the excavator.  From there I went to the Kenly 95 Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC for the night.  Next load is tomorrow morning in Clayton, NC.  521 miles today.

Some of you have been asking how much fuel I use.  Here is what I used today.

Monday, July 4, 2022

 

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

 Left at 1 AM and drove to Cape Canaveral and delivered the big bucket.  Then drove to Daytona Beach and delivered the other bucket and wheel loader.  After that, I drove home to Jacksonville.  Will be here for a couple weeks.  526 miles today.

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was about 2 AM CDT.  Pretty good day today except for three separate areas of bumper-to-bumper traffic.  It cost me about an hour in time.  Traffic was pretty heavy in the daylight hours.  I stopped after driving 620 miles at the Love's truck stop in Cordell, Georgia.  I'm going to sleep now.  Good night.

Monday, June 20, 2022

 Left early this morning and arrived in Cedar Rapids just before they opened.  Unloaded the telehandler.  The next load was in Davenport, Iowa.  Went there and loaded a John Deere 544 Wheel Loader and two buckets.  The big bucket on the front of the trailer is going to Cape Canaveral, Florida and the wheel loader and smaller bucket are going to Daytona Beach, Florida.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois for my 10 hours.  Drove 457 miles today too.  I am drained tonight!!  Good night!!!

Saturday, June 18, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours off were up, I left.  That was at about 2 AM EDT.  Had a great uneventful day on the road.  In Illinois, I passed a wind energy tower section that was being transported.  It looked like something broke on the trailer causing the front portion of the tower to drop to the ground.  Not good and very expensive!!  Here is the video of what it looked like as I passed it.

Here are a couple snapshots to give you a closer look.

I stopped for the rest of the weekend, after driving 695 miles, at the world-famous Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa.

Friday, June 17, 2022

 The weather they said was coming never came last night. This morning I left at sunrise and drove the rest of the way to Rockhill Furnace and delivered the thing.  It took a long time to get it off the trailer.  They didn't have a crane.  They had to lay tracks to get it off my trailer.

Then it started to move.  If you look under the machine you will see a large hydraulic ram with a long flat plate attached to the bottom of it.  It is very hard to see.  That is what lifts the machine as you will see how it works later.

The video below is a timelapse of the entire procedure.

Once that was finally off, it took three hours, I went down to McConnellsburg, PA, and loaded a Caterpillar TL1055 Telehandler that is going out to Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in Smithton, Pennsylvania for my 10 hours.

Thursday, June 16, 2022

 I left at 3 AM EDT and drove to North Canton, Ohio, and delivered the excavator.  My next load was up in Austinburg, Ohio.  Drove there and loaded something that does something with railroad track. I have no idea what it does.  It is going to a rail yard in Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania.

While loading, somehow one of my trailer tires got cut.

Fortunately, there was a tire shop at the Pilot truck stop about a mile away.  Went there and got a new tire.  Then I headed toward Rockhill Furnace, PA.  Just inside PA on I-80, there was a 5-mile construction back-up of stop-n'-go traffic.  Made it through that and stopped at the TA truck stop in Barkeyville, PA for the night.  495 miles today.  I'm very tired!!!!  Supposed to get some Heavy thunderstorms later tonight.  Had a quick one come through when I was in the shower but they say more are on the way.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

 I left at 3:15 this morning and drove to the Port of Baltimore.  Had no traffic problems all the way.  Loaded a Caterpillar 315 Excavator that is going to North Canton, Ohio.  I like the little ones, they are so easy!!

Left there and headed toward Ohio.  On I-695 going around Baltimore, I was in the middle lane following an empty dump truck. He was behind an idiot going 50 mph really screwing up traffic.  The dump truck went to go around him on the right (no trucks allowed in the left lane).  There was a car driving along in his blind spot.  When the dump truck changed lanes he did so into the side of the car.  The car sustained damage to the entire left side.  The car swerved wildly and headed straight for the right-side guard rail.  At the last moment, the driver was able to turn away from the guard rail just before striking it and came to a stop on the shoulder of the road.  The dump truck pulled over as well.  I continued on.  Unfortunately, my dash came is having problems and I didn't get it.  I'll have to replace my dash cam very soon.  I stopped very early at the TA truck stop in Breezewood, PA because my truck was due for service (oil change, etc.).   I got that done.  I'll leave real early in the morning to get to North Canton when they open.

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

 I left at 5:15 this morning and drove over to the job site where I was delivering.  WOW, it was difficult to get in there!!!  Then the thunderstorm came.  Fortunately, it didn't last long.  The crane arrived at 6:45.  After they got set up, they unloaded me. 

18,000 pounds "flying" through the air.

I took a much longer but easier way back out of there.  Went to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD for my next load.  After checking in I went to get the machine.  The batteries were dead and it needed a jump start.  Then the heavens opened up.  It poured heavy rain.  After about 30 minutes of waiting the rain finally slowed enough to get back to work.  The guy from the Port jump-started the machine, a Caterpillar 906M Wheel Loaded that is going to Whitehall, Pennsylvania.  I loaded it.

Left there and drove up to Whitehall, PA, and delivered it.  My next load is back at the Port of Baltimore.  I started back that way but didn't get very far.  Stopped at the Allentown Service Plaza on I-476 for the night.  I just didn't feel like dealing with Phillidelphia and Baltimore rush hour traffic.  I'll leave very early in the morning to beat it.

Siunday, June 12, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  That was at midnight EDT.  Drove 598 miles to the TA truck stop in Baltimore, Maryland.  Will be here until Tuesday morning.  Have an 8 AM crane appointment at the job site in Baltimore.

Saturday, June 11, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  That was at about 1:15 AM CDT.  Had a very good day on the road.  Nothing exciting or interesting.  Had a little slo-n'-go traffic in Chatanooga, Tennessee.  Stopped for another 10 hours at the Love's truck stop in Charleston, Tennessee after driving 693 miles. Had 15 minutes left on my clock when I stopped.

Friday, June 10, 2022

 My APU worked great all night!!!!   Drove the rest of the way to Seguin, TX this morning and loaded a Caterpillar Genset that is going to Baltimore, Maryland.

Was glad to get out of there before the real heat of the day set in.  Left there and stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Iowa, Louisiana.

Thursday, June 9, 2022

 Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove to Thermo King in Pharr, Texas.  They were not able to work on my APU until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest.  Well, that wasn't going to work so I left and went over to San Juan, TX, and delivered the excavator.  My next load is up in Seguin, TX. I went that way.  Stopped at Thermo King in San Antonio, TX to try to get my APU fixed.  They said that they could get to me this afternoon but I'd have to wait for about 2 or 3 hours.  I checked in and waited. At about 3 PM CDT they brought my truck in to start on it. They found a bunch of stuff wrong with it and fixed them all.  I was out of there at 5 PM CDT.  Went to the Petro truck stop just around the corner from Thermo King for the night.

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

 Last night after I had settled in for the night my APU quit working.  I ended up going to a Days Inn hotel that was right behind where I was parked at the truck stop.   Left at sunrise this morning.  My "Check Engine" light was off.  Good.  One less thing to have to deal with.  Very good and long day on the road.  597 miles.  Stopped at the SureStay Best Western hotel in Falfurrias, Texas for the night.  I'll get my APU fixed tomorrow - I hope.

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

 Left a half-hour after sunrise this morning.  Got to Atlanta at rush hour so you know what that means...  Yup...Bumper-to-bumper traffic.  Finally got through Atlanta.  Continued on.  My "Check Engine" light came on.  Talked to the shop about it, but they didn't seem to be worried about it yet.  More slo-n'-go traffic from construction.  Then there was a wreck that blocked 2 of the 3 lanes.  Took a while to get past that.  From then on it was fine all the way to the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana where I'll be for the night.  564 miles today in spite of all the traffic.

Monday, June 6, 2022

 Went back to Charlotte this morning and delivered the metal thing.  Next load was up in Kernersville, NC.  Drove there and loaded a John Deere 210 Excavator that is going to San Juan, Texas.  That is right at the Mexican border.  

Left there and got on the road.  Lots of construction slo-n'-go traffic today.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Carnesville, Georgia.