Thursday, September 29, 2022

 We have had daily thunderstorms worse than this storm.  Thats a very good thing!!  Other parts of the state were not so lucky.  We had wind and periods of rain, but that's all.  Here is what it looks like right now.

Wednesday, September 28, 2022

 So far not much impact from the hurricane.  It was windy all day with some light rain, that's all.  The track has changed again.  Now they say it is going to be east of me when it gets here.  Thats a good thing.  This is what it looks like now.

Tuesday, September 27, 2022

 My trailer has more problems and it is taking longer to fix them.  Instead of loading tomorrow somewhere, I decided to stay here and ride out the storm. Plus I don't want to be on the road with all the evacuation traffic. We shouldn't get much here.  I expect that we will get a lot of rain and a good breeze with occasional gusts.  This is what it looks like as of right now. The eye is forecast to go right over me as a tropical storm.  That will probably change, it usually does.

Monday, September 26, 2022

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Chiefland and delivered the tractor.  After that, drove to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville.  My trailer needed more repairs.  I'll be here until Wednesday morning.  Getting ready for the "big blow" heading this way.  Passed dozens and dozens of power truck convoys heading into Florida today.

Saturday, September 24, 2022

 I timed it pretty good.  Left at about 4 AM EDT and was a little early to get to the Georgia state line so I stopped and got that 30 minute break out of the way.  I got to the Georgia line 38 minutes after sunrise.  Not too shabby!  Had no traffic problems at all today.  Drove to the Love's truck stop in Jasper, Florida.  I'll be here until Monday morning.  576 miles today.

Friday, September 12, 2022

 With my trailer fixed again, I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Here is the sunrise over northern Illinois.

Had a very nice day on the road.  Nothing exciting.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Oak Grove, Kentucky.  I can drive at night in Kentucky and Tennessee so I will.  I have to time it so that I don't get to Georgia before a half hour after sunrise. So I'll leave at about 4 AM EDT.

Thursday, September 22, 2022

 Left at about 1 AM CDT and drove the rest of the way to Waterloo, Iowa.  Loaded a John Deere 8R 370 Tractor that id going to Chiefland, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Daily terminal in Bettendorf, Iowa to get my trailer fixed again and spend the night. Only 493 miles today.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  That was at about 1:10 AM CDT.  Drove straight through stopping only twice.  Didn't think I would deliver until tomorrow.  Much to my surprise, I delivered today!!  With only one hour left on my clock, I drove to the Flying J truck stop in Alorton, Illinois.  It was the closest.  My next load is in Waterloo, Iowa.  When my 10 hours are up, I'll head that way to load in the morning.  664 miles today.  I'm tired.  Going to bed now.  Good night.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

 Drove the rest of the way to Port of Freeport.  BOY!! are they slow there!!  Don't know how they move anything in or out of that place!!  Anyway, I loaded a Caterpillar 313 Excavator that is going to Fenton, Missouri.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Carthage, TX for my 10 hours.

Monday, September 19, 2022

 Had to wait for the New Orleans curfew was over before I left this morning.  Then I drove the rest of the way to Belle Chasse, LA, and delivered the things.  My next load is at the Port of Freeport, Texas.  I started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Beaumont, TX.

Saturday, September 17, 2022

 I forgot to do the blog yesterday.  Friday I drove to a "mom & pop" truck stop in Tillatoba, Mississippi for the night.  

This morning I drove to the Petro in Hammond, Louisiana.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Thursday, September 15, 2022

 Left early this morning to be at the Grove crane plant first thing this morning.  Loaded two metal things that I have no idea what they are for or what they do.  They are going down to Belle Chasse, Louisianna.

Left there and drove down to the TA truck stop in Greeneville, Tennessee for my 10 hours.

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

 I left at sunrise this morning.  Had some stop-n-go traffic going around Washington DC but no problems going around Baltimore or Philidelphia.  Made it to Bensalem, PA, and delivered the dozer.  Those little dozers are still fun to drive. Left there and headed toward my next load which is in Shady Grove, PA.  I stopped for the night at the "home office" in Carlisle.

Monday, September 12, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was about 4 AM EDT.  Had another good uneventful day on the road.  After driving 655 miles I stopped at the Petro truck stop n Raphine, Virginia.  I am out of hours so I'll have to do a reset here until Wednesday morning.

Sunday, September 11, 2022

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a very good day on the road.  Passed the "Heisman House" today.

Stopped for my 10 hours at the TA truck stop in Denmark, Tennessee. 611 miles today.

Saturday, September 10, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left and headed to my next load.  That was in Copperas Cove, Texas.  That was about a 6-hour drive to get there.  I was lucky and able to load today.  Loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that is going to Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Hillsboro, Texas for the night.  Now it is time to settle in for some football!!

Friday, September 9, 2022

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Pushed it hard today and made it to Lubbock, Texas and delivered the wheel loader a half hour before they closed.  Then went to the Flying J truck stop in Lubbock for the night.  599 miles today.

Thursday, September 8, 2022

 Left at 2 AM EDT.  Can drive at night in Tennessee.  Passed a bad semi-wreck that had the eastbound side of I-40 totally blocked.  Glad it was on the other side.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Denmark, Tennessee to wait for my Arkansas permit.  Took a nap while there.  Two hours later my permit arrived and I left.  Drove to a "mom & pop" truck stop in Gurdon, Arkansas for the night.  645 miles today. 

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Nothing interesting at all today.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Tuesday, September 6, 2022

 First thing this morning I was at the truck shop to get the recall issue addressed.  The recall was for the steering box.  It only applied to certain serial numbers.  I was very lucky, it did not apply to mine.  The trailer shop took my trailer in and fixed the problem with it.  When all that was done, I went down to the Volvo plant and loaded a Volvo L110H Wheel Loader that is going down to Lubbock, Texas.

From there I drove to the Flying J truck stop in Winchester, Virginia for the night.

Sunday, September 4, 2022

 WOW, what a game!!!!

Saturday, September 3, 2022

 

Friday, September 2, 2022

 Left at about 8 AM EDT this morning.  Drove up to Bensalem, PA, and delivered the wheel loader.  From there I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  My truck has a manufacturer's recall on it and my trailer needs to have a small problem fixed.  Unfortunately, I'll be here until at least Tuesday because of the long holiday weekend.

Thursday, September 1, 2022

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  When I got there I didn't have the correct paperwork.  I had told daily that I didn't several days ago but they said what I had would be fine.  It wasn't.  Had to wait an hour for them to get the correct paperwork to me.  Then I unloaded the tractor.  Reloaded, right there, a Caterpillar 950M wheel loader that is going to Bensalem, Pennsylvania.

Left there and went over to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.

Wednesday, August 31, 2022

 Left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Didn't get very far.  There was a bad wreck in Dayton, OOhio that had I-70 east bound shut down.  I stopped at the TA truck stop in Eaton, Ohio for fuel and to wait it out.  I took a nap.

Several hours later, when I woke up, the Interstate was open again.  I got back on the road.  When I passed the wreck site they still had a lane closed and were still cleaning up the haz-mat stuff.  I stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Millersport, Ohio.  Hope tomorrow is better!!

Tuesday, August 30, 2022

 All the rest of my permits had come in except Illinois.  At about 11:30 AM CDT I sent an email asking when they thought I might get it.  About 5 minutes later they replied that I didn't need an Illinois permit because farm equipment was exempt. It sure would have been nice if they had told me that yesterday!!!!! So, I left.  Drove to a truck stop in Crawsfordsville, Indiana for the night.

Monday, August 29, 2022

 Went over to Caterpillar in South Milwaukee, WI first thing this morning and delivered the rack.  Then drove back to Sturtevant to the Case plant and loaded a Case 340 Tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore so it can go on an ocean voyage to Australia. 

Left there and drove to a small truck stop in Poplar Grove, Illinois to wait for my Illinois permit to come in. Hopefully, it will come in early tomorrow morning.

Saturday, August 27, 2022

 I left at about 11 PM EDT last night.  Drove all night to the Petro truck stop in Sturtevant (Racine), Wisconsin.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, August 26, 2022

 I left at about 1 AM EDT.  Drove 570 miles to the Flying J truck stop in Waddy, Kentucky.

Thursday, August 25, 2022

 They finally got the paperwork straightened out with the Port, so at noon I drove back there and loaded a rack that is going to South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Yemassee, South Carolina for my 10 hours.

Wednesday, August 24, 2022

 Drove down to Forest Park, GA, and delivered the excavator.  My next load was at the Port of Savannah.  Drove there.  There was a paperwork problem.  After waiting for over 2 hours, it still wasn't straightened out.  I went to the TA in Richmond Hill, GA to wait it out.  It's always something!!

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

 Left at 1 AM EDT.  Drove to the Flying J truck stop in Resaca, Georgia for the night.

Monday, August 22, 2022

 Drove down to New Philadelphia, Ohio this morning and loaded a Gradall XL 4100 that is going to Forest Park, Georgia.

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

Friday, August 19, 2022

 This morning I drove to Murrysville, PA, and delivered the excavator.  My next load is Monday morning in New Philidelphia, Ohio.  I drove to the TA truck stop in North Canton, Ohio for the weekend.

Thursday, August 18, 2022

 I left at about midnight 15 this morning and drove to New Castle, Delaware.  Got there before anyone was there.  Once the guy arrived and opened the gate I went in and delivered the stuff.  My next load was back at the Port of Baltimore.  Drove there and loaded a Caterpillar 320 Excavator that is going to Murrysville, Pennsylvania.

Left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Haggerstown, Maryland for the night.  Ran out of hours after driving 522 miles today.

nesday, August 17, 2022

 Left Davenport at about 1:30 AM EDT.  Very nice uneventful day on the road 637 miles today.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the TA truck stop in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

 I was a little "under the weather" yesterday so I stayed in bed and slept a lot.  Felt a lot better today.  Drove to Maquoketa, Iowa, and delivered the first tractor.  Then drove to Dyersville and delivered the second tractor.  My next load had two pick-up stops.  The first one was in Dubuque, Iowa.  Haven't been there in years!!  Loaded a John Deere 317G Skid Steer.  

Then drove down to Davenport and loaded a John Deere 524 Wheel loader with forks and a bucket.  All of them are going to New Castle, Delaware.

Left there but didn't go far.  Stopped at the Flying J truck stop in Davenport for the night.

Sunday, August 14, 2022

 I left at about midnight 45 this morning.  drove 412 miles to the world famous Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa.  Now it's time to sleep.  

Saturday, August 13, 2022

 I left at about 3 AM EDT.  Nice day on the road.  The most impatient driver of the day award goes to...

Stopped for my 10 hours at the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio.

Friday, August 12, 2022

 I got a few hours of sleep then went back to work and finished swapping into this truck.  Was completed by 3:30 AM.  My electronic logbook was not working so I had to wait until the office crew came in at 8 AM.   I went back to bed to get a few more hours of sleep.  When they got there they talked about it, played with their computers, and finally decided to replace the ELD unit.  I didn't get out of there until 12:30.  Drove back to the Port of Baltimore and loaded a couple of John Deere tractors.  One is going to Maquoketa, Iowa and the other is going to Dyersville, Iowa.

Exhausted, I drove to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.  My back is really hurting tonight.  Can hardly get into the truck.  Good nights sleep will do wonders.

Thursday, August 11, 2022

 Left at 2 AM this morning and drove the rest of the way to the Port of Baltimore and delivered the stuff.  When I started the truck at the Port, it happened again...

I was supposed to reload at the Port.  I notified the Daily shop and after several discussions they decided to have me not reload but go instead up to the "home office" and get a new truck.  They want to take this one back to International (where they bought it from) so they can deal with it. I drove up to Carlisle and started to swap into the new truck.  In the middle of that, the shop manager wanted to try something that we had discussed.  Re-ducting the APU air conditioning to try to get better performance out of it.  It was actually my idea and he liked it.  When that work was done, I continued swapping over into the new truck.  I stopped for the night when I just couldn't go on any longer.  Only about half way finished.  After much needed sleep, I'll continue.  I know, the outside is dirty.

Wednesday, August 10, 2022

 As soon as my ten hours were up I left.  Very good day on the road.  Overcast all day with occasional rain showers.  No traffic issues.  611 miles today.  Stopped at a truck stop in Grantsville, Maryland for the night.

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  I didn't do as good as I usually do.  Had to stop three times for a nap because I got sleepy.  Oh well.  I made it to East Peoria, Illinois, and delivered the engines.  Next load is in Decatur, Illinois.  Drove over there and loaded a bunch of parts for a Caterpillar mining dump truck going to the Port of Baltimore.

Left there and went over to the Love's truck stop in Decatur, IL for my 10 hours.

Monday, August 8, 2022

 Drove over to Griffin, GA this morning and loaded four Caterpillar engines that are going to the Caterpillar plant in East Peoria, Illinois.

Left there and had a good day on the road.  No traffic issues in Atlanta or Chattanooga.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Calvert City, Kentucky.