Friday, August 5, 2022

 The guy that was supposed to be here this morning decided to go to another job and didn't bother telling Daily that they weren't coming.  Daily got pissed and told them to go (I'll be nice) pound sand.  Daily got someone else.  After getting it all set up, they said that they don't work on my type of trailer.  So Daily got someone else.  At noon no one had shown up.  Daily tried getting in touch with the guy but he was not answering the phone and not returning phone calls or emails.  SO, Daily started to try to find someone else. At 3:15 this afternoon the guy finally got here!!

Here is the blown air bag.

And here is the new one.

Once all that was done I went over to the Petro truck stop in Atlanta for the night.  

Thursday, August 4, 2022

 Left at about 4 AM this morning and drove to the Port of Savannah and loaded a Caterpillar 966M Wheel Loader that is going to Austell, Georgia.

I made great time this morning.  Was out of the Port before 8:30 AM.  Drove to Austell and delivered the wheel loader.  As I was delivering an airbag on the trailer blew.  Had to wait at Caterpillar in Austell for road service to come and fix the trailer. I knew things were going too smoothly today. Just before 6 PM I got a call from Daily.  The service truck that was coming to me had his radiator go out on him.  He said he will be to me first thing in the morning.  I settled in here at Caterpillar for the night.  Grub Hub is on the way with dinner, although it might take a while to get here.  This is what Atlanta looks like right now.  I am at the little blue dot near Six Flags Over Georgia, off I-20, west of Atlanta.

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

 I left the Jacksonville yard at midnight.  Drove to Hialeah and delivered the excavator just as they opened for the day.  My next load is up in Savannah, Georgia at the Port.  I started off in that direction.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop on the south side of Jacksonville when I ran out of hours.  Had 15 minutes left on my clock.  680 miles today.

Monday, August 1, 2022

 Went back to International first thing this morning.  They didn't touch the truck until almost 11:30.  The guy got in it and drove it around the parking lot several times and parked it again.  At 12:30 They still couldn't find anything wrong.  I took the truck back to the daily yard.  After that, ran a bunch of errands.  Then settled in for the night.  Have a doctor's appointment tomorrow. Then I'm outta here!!

Friday, July 29, 2022

 When my 10 hours were up, I wanted to leave.  Started the truck and got this...

I shut the truck off, sent an email to the shop, and went back to bed.  Once everyone in Carlisle got to work they decided to have the truck towed to International in Jacksonville for repairs.

At 1:45 this afternoon they came and said they couldn't find anything wrong.  No fault codes, nothing. I showed them the photos of what it did and then emailed the photos to them.  They went back and discussed it with a bunch of other people. Glad I photograph everything!! They rechecked the plugs and test drove it over some real bumpy roads and still nothing. Everything worked as it should.  Than figures!!  So, after several phone calls and discussions it was decided to leave the truck there and try to recreate the conditions that caused the malfunction.  So I left the truck there with the APU running as it was last night.  I left instructions to keep the APU running and how to restart it if the shut it off, otherwise the truck batteries will go dead. We will see Monday morning when I go back.

Thursday, July 28, 2022

 Was on time for my unloading appointment in Savannah, GA this morning and for unloaded.  Then drove about 3 miles down the road to Pooler, GA to load a Link-Belt 130 Excavator that is going to Hialeah, Florida.  The machine was not ready to go.  They also had a paperwork problem.  So I sat there and waited for several hours while everything got straightened out.

Didn't get out of there until almost 1 PM!!!!  From there I drove down to the Daily yard in Jacksonville for my 10 hours off.  

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  That was at about midnight-30.  In Kentucky it started to rain so I switched on the windshield wipers.  They swept across the windshield about 3 times when the drivers side wiper flew off!! Of course, it is always the driver's side!  Had to stop and get a new wiper.  Continued on.  Had a great day on the road.  621 miles today. Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in St. George, South Carolina.  My delivery appointment in at 7:30 in the morning.  I'm only a little over an hour away.

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

 I did get to Lafayette earlier than my 12:30 loading appointment time.  Loaded a Caterpillar 3512 Genset and a bunch of parts that go with it.  They are going to Savannah, Georgia.

The guy loading next to me had to tarp his load.  He was unsure how to do it, so I helped him tarp his load.  When that was done, I left.  I drove to the same truck stop I was in last night, the TA in Seymour, Indiana.  I'll do my 10 hours and get back moving again.

Monday, July 25, 2022

 40 more days until Gator Season!!

Drove over to Dalton first thing this morning and loaded a "furnace elbow" that is going to Nucor in Ghent, Kentucky.  20,000 pounds.

Left there and drove down to Ghent and unloaded it.  My next load is up in Lafayette, Indiana.  Started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Seymour, Indiana.  448 miles today.  My loading appointment isn't until 12:30 tomorrow so I'll take my time getting up there.  Even so, I'll still be there early in hopes of getting loaded early.

Saturday, July 23, 2022

 Left at 6 this morning and drove up to the TA truck stop in North Canton, Ohio.  I'll be here until Monday morning.  Made some good headway putting things back in order after swapping trucks.  It has been quite a mess in here since then.  It looks a lot better now. Did a few loads of laundry too.

Friday, July 22, 2022

 At midnight, when my reset was finished, I continued to the Allison Transmission plant in Indianapolis, Indiana, and delivered the conveyor crates. I was the second of twelve trucks he was expecting.  As I was leaving the next truck was arriving.  Next load was in Ghent, Kentucky at the Nucor Steel plant.  Went there.  The place is HUGE. Went where security sent me.  They had no idea what I was to load.  They called someone and they said it was on the other side of the plant.  Went where they told me and they had no idea what I was to get.  I waited there for over an hour until they figured out what I was to do.  It seems that someone in the office (don't know if it was our mistake or theirs) made a big mistake.  What I was told to load in Ghent, KY was actually up in Dalton, Ohio where I was to deliver.  In other words, they got it backward.  So I started off for Dalton.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Lebanon, Ohio. 546 miles today.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

 Once again, as soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was about 1 AM CDT.  Great day on the road.  Drove 655 miles to the Flying J truck stop in Charleston, Missouri.  Going to be here until Friday morning.  Have to do a reset, out of hours already.

Tuesday, July 19, 2022

 I left as soon as my 10 hours were up.  Made the right choice.  No traffic issues except in Ft. Worth.  Getting on I-30 it happened again...

Continued on to the Daily terminal in Houston.  I needed to get some bungee cords.  I thought they would have them there, but they didn't. So dropped my trailer there and I drove to several places looking for them and got fuel too.  Finally found some.  Bought 3 cases.  Went back and got my trailer then over to a place in Houston and loaded 4 crates of sections of a conveyor that are going to the Allison Transmission plant in Indianapolis, Indiana.  It was 102oF (38.8o C).

Left there but didn't go very far.  I was pretty tired, in need of a shower, and running out of hours.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the Love's truck stop in Cleveland, Texas.

Monday, July 18, 2022

 Went to the other side of I-40 and delivered the wheel loader first thing this morning.  Then went over to the Petro truck stop and got fuel, took a nap, and ate lunch.  My dispatcher called and told me to head toward Houston.  They have some project going on there with a bunch of trucks taking stuff to Indianapolis.  That's all I know.  So I started off toward Houston.  Stopped for the night at a very small place with truck parking in Alvord, Texas for my 10 hours.  Didn't feel like driving through Ft. Worth in the middle of rush hour.  I'll go in the middle of the night.

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!!!