Wednesday, March 8, 2023

 First thing this morning I got my trailer lights fixed.  Then drove to Shippensburg, PA, and loaded a Volvo L90H Wheel Loader that is going to Houston, Texas.  While loading I ripped out my air lines and electric line to the trailer.  I did good!!!

Daily sent a service truck from Carlisle and he repaired my screw-up.  While he was fixing my trailer the truck next to me did the same thing!!  I didn't feel so bad anymore.  When he finished I left.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Lexington, Virginia for my 10 hours.

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

 The International dealer in Harrisburg was sending a service truck here to do the warranty work on my truck. He was supposed to be here early this morning.  He didn't arrive until 1 PM EST.  I was lucky to get a car from Daily so I spent most of the day driving around Carlisle bored out of my mind!!  He finished at about 5:30 PM.  I hooked back to my trailer and now half my trailer lights don't work!!!!   I'll have to get that fixed in the morning before I go.  It's always something!!!!

Monday, March 6, 2023

 This morning I drove the rest of the way to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD.  Got there and was 27th in line to check in.  Once I got checked in I went and unloaded the tractor.  A forklift from the Port came over and unloaded the tires.  I was reloading right there so I went and found the machine, a Chinese wheel loader that is going to Shippensburg, PA.  The Port people that unloaded it from the ship left the batteries on and the batteries were dead.  Had to wait for a guy to come around and jump-start the machine.  Once we got it running, he left.  I let it run for a bit to charge the very dead batteries.  When I started to move it, it stalled.  GREAT!!!  The batteries charged enough to light up the dash but not enough to start it.  Had to wait for the guy to come back and jump it again.  He came and we got it running again. This time it didn't stall when I moved it.  It was surrounded by a lot of other machines so I had to "wiggle" it out of there to get it over to my trailer.  Got it loaded on my trailer but didn't shut it off until I was ready to leave.  The Port forklift brought over two small boxes and placed them on the front upper deck.  They weren't heavy.

I finally got out of there and drove to Shippensburg, PA, and delivered it.  After that went up to Carlisle, PA to the "home office".  They have to do some warranty work on the truck.

Friday, March 3, 2023

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning with hopes of delivering today.  My hopes were quickly dashed when I figured out how long I had to go to get there.  If Waterloo hadn't screwed up and loaded me when they should have, I would have been able to deliver today.  The weather didn't help much either.  The rain started when I was in Pennsylvania.  By the time I got to Maryland, it was starting to change to snow.  

And it got worse.

Then much worse.  A lot of plows and salt/sand spreaders were out doing the best they could.

Once I started going back down from the highest elevations conditions improved a lot.  As it was, I would get to the Port 15 minutes too late.  So now I have to sit and wait until Monday. Instead of going into that "Hell hole", Baltimore, I stopped for the weekend at a truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland. By the time I got there, it was just raining.  No more snow.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

 Left early this morning and stopped at Iowa 80 on the way because I needed to get some stuff that I knew they had.  Did real good until Indianapolis.  There was a crash on the beltway that had traffic backed up several miles.  I decided to chance it and went around Indy the other way, which was not on my permit route.  I got lucky and made it without getting caught.  Continued on to the Love's truck stop in Springfield, Ohio for the night. Another 586 miles today.

Tuesday, March 1, 2023

 Left real early this morning and drove the rest of the way to Mason City, Iowa, and delivered the excavator stuff.  From there drove to Waterloo, Iowa, and loaded a John Deere 7R 290 Tractor and a couple tires that are going to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  It took them an hour and a half to load me.  Ran out of hours so I had to spend the night at the Flying J truck stop just down the road.  522 miles today.

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I was back on the road.  Drove straight through the middle of Dallas with no traffic issues at all.  Drove 648 miles today to the Flying J truck stop in Nevada, Missouri.

Monday, February 27, 2023

 Delivered the genset first thing this morning in Corpus Christi.  Next load was up in Victoria, TX.  Drove there and loaded Some stuff from a Caterpillar excavator that is going to Mason City, Iowa.  

From there drove to Richie Brothers Auction in Humble, Texas.  Was to load an excavator bucket that another truck was unable to take when he loaded the machine.  But unbeknownst to us, I needed a loading appointment.  They wouldn't load it without one.  SO, I called my dispatcher and told him of this development.  He said to disregard it and continue on.  They would send someone else to get it.  I left and drove to the Flying J truck stop in New Caney, Texas for my 10 hours.

Saturday, February 25, 2023

 Early this morning I drove to the Flying J truck stop in George West, Texas for the rest of the weekend. Now I can catch up on a LOT of sleep.

Friday, February 24, 2023

 Once again I left when my ten hours were up.  When I started off this morning the temperatures were in the 60s.  Drove through a cold front and watched the temps drop.  By the time I got to Irving, it was in the mid-40s.  Drove to Irving, Texas, and delivered the four parts boxes. Left there and headed towards Corpus Christi, TX where the genset and a parts box will be dropped off.  Stopped for the rest of the day at the Flying J truck stop in Waco, Texas.  Another 626 miles today.

Thursday, February 23, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left and drove to Griffin, Georgia.  I wasn't supposed to load until tomorrow but I got very lucky and was able to load today.  That doesn't happen very often.  Loaded four parts boxes that are going to Irving, Texas and a Caterpillar Genset, and a parts box that are going to Corpus Christi, Texas.

Left there but didn't get too far before the shrink wrap disintegrated.  Had to stop just west of Atlanta and cut it all off.  They did a lousy job wrapping it.

Last night I got an email that said my truck was due for maintenance.  So when I stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Meridian, Mississippi I went to the shop and had it done.  635 miles today.  I'm pretty tired tonight.  Good night.

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

 Left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to LaVergne, Tennesse, and delivered the wheel loader.  My next load is Friday morning in Griffin, Georgia.  I'll head that way tomorrow.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop a mile from where I delivered.

Tuesday, February 21, 2022

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  LOTS of bumper-to-bumper traffic from south of Houston and all the way through Houston.  Took forever to get through there.  Then more delays from construction!!  Very frustrating morning.  To top it all off, just north of Houston a bird flew into my mirror and knocked off the plastic cover.

Because of all the delays, I didn't get as far as I wanted to today.  I pushed it, against my better judgment, and tried to get a bit more miles instead of stopping when I normally do.  The truck stop that I had in my sights was totally full.  I was lucky to even get back out again.  It was very tight.  So I went to another, and it too was full.  I ended up stopping for the night at a convenience store with some truck parking in the back.  Crap for food options.  

Monday, February 20, 2023

 Went over to the job site in San Antonio this morning and delivered the drill stuff.  My next load was over in Freeport, Texas at the Port.  Drove the 4 1/2 hour drive over there and loaded a Caterpillar 972 Wheel Loader that is going to LaVergne, Tennessee.

Left there but didn't go very far.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Angleton, Texas.

Saturday, February 18, 2023

 Left early this morning and arrived at the TA truck stop in San Antonio, Texas before 9 AM CST.  Will be here for the rest of the weekend.  deliver Monday morning.

Friday, February 17, 2023

 When my 10 hours were up I left.  It was 70 degrees.  Drove through the rainy cold front going through Alabama.  When I got to Slidell, LA it was 43 degrees and very windy.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Beaumont, Texas.  635 miles today.

Thursday, February 16, 2023

 Drove up to Pembroke, Georgia this morning, stopping along the way to get the truck washed.  Got there at about 7 AM EST.  There was some confusion about what I was supposed to take.  Once that got straightened out I got loaded with a counterweight and a drilling sleeve that are going to a job site in San Antonio, Texas.  

Here is the drill that this goes on.  There is another truck here with 12 axles to load it.  Tomorrow there will be another truck loading some more stuff for this drill too.

After I got loaded I sat there for three and a half hours waiting for them to complete the paperwork.  I wasn't a happy camper.  Needless to say, I didn't get very far today.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Smith's Station, Alabama.

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

 I left at about 2 AM EST and drove the rest of the way to Boynton Beach.  Delivered the skid steers.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Pembrook, Georgia.  I started off that way and stopped for the night at the Jacksonville yard.  Didn't have enough hours left today to get up to Savannah.  Pembrook is just west of Savannah.

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  Very good uneventful day on the road.  Drove 660 miles stopping only once for that stupid required 30-minute rest break.  Stopped for my next 10 hours off at the TA truck stop in Lake City, Florida.

Monday, February 13, 2023

 Left real early this morning to beat the Dallas rush hour traffic. Arrived at the delivery site with no problems.  Delivered the excavator. Left there and drove to a Caterpillar dealer in Cleburne, Texas, and loaded two Caterpillar Skid Steers and two buckets, and two forks that are going to Boynton Beach, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Monroe, Louisianna for the night.  For some reason, I'm really tired tonight.  Phone is off.  Good night.

Saturday, February 11, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove 625 miles today stopping only once for that stupid required 30-minute break.  Stopped for the rest of the weekend at the TA truck stop in Terrell, Texas.

Friday, February 10, 2023

 Went over to the Port of Savannah first thing this morning and loaded a Volvo EC160EL Excavator that is going to Fort Worth, Texas.

Left there and was on the road at 9 AM EST.  Had some slow-'n-go traffic just south of Atlanta.  Stopped a little earlier than I wanted because of a fatal crash just east of Birmingham, Alabama.  I stopped at the Love's truck stop in Moody, Alabama.

Thursday, February 9, 2023

 Well, I finally finished everything in Jacksonville so now it's time to get back on the road.  I drove to the TA in Richmond Hill, Georgia for the night.  I load at the Port of Savannah in the morning.

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

 My January travels.

Sunday, February 5, 2023

 Once again, when my 10 hours were up, I left and drove to the Daily Jacksonville terminal.  I'll be here for a couple days.

Saturday, February 4, 2023

 When my 10 hours were up, I left Beaumont, Texas, and drove to the Love's truck stop in Mossy Head, Florida. Yes, that really is the name of the town.

Friday, February 3, 2023

 They had to put down crane mats so that the crane could get in and in position.  That took a little longer to set up.  Then the first truck went in and got stuck.  For some reason, he drove off the side of the road.  Don't know why he did that because they had a lane blocked off for us.  Anyway, they called and asked if I would come over and pull him out.  I dropped my trailer and went over.  When I got there I could see that they had hooked the crane up and were lifting it out.  He was able to just drive out of it so I wasn't needed after all.  The arrow points to where he was stuck.

I went back and reattached to my trailer and waited for my turn.  I, of course, was last.  When it was my turn I went in and they unloaded me.

Didn't get finished until after 3 PM CST.  From there I drove to the Petro truck stop in Beaumont, Texas for the night.

Thursday, February 2, 2023

 Left at about 7:45 AM CST this morning and drove the rest of the way to Nacogdoches, TX to a Baptist church parking lot that is going to be our staging area for delivery.  No ice storm here, just lots of rain.

The delivery job site is 0.8 miles north of here.  We won't get unloaded until tomorrow.  The crane isn't due in until then.

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

 Left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  An uneventful day.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Orange, Texas.  Two of the other trucks (the ones that loaded before me) are here.  We will all be going to deliver in the morning.

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

 Left early this morning and drove over to Ormond Beach, FL to load.  Got there at 6:30 AM EST.  They were already loading one truck.  When he was finished they loaded another truck.  Then it was my turn.  We are all going to the same place.  Loaded parts to a Checkers restaurant that is going to Nacogdoches, Texas.

Left there around 10 AM EST.  Drove to the Love's truck stop in Mossy Head, Florida for the night.

Monday, January 30, 2023

 Left at 3 AM EST and drove down to Tampa.  Delivered the wheel Loader and was out of there by 7 AM.  My next load is tomorrow in Ormond Beach, Florida.  I drove to the Pilot truck stop in Ocala, FL, and will be here until tomorrow morning.  There is no place to park any closer.

Saturday, January 28, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove to the Jacksonville, Florida terminal for the rest of the weekend.  

Friday, January 27, 2023

 Left early this morning and got fuel then got the truck washed.  Then drove to Shippensburg, PA to load.  He couldn't find my machine.  When he found it he brought it over and loaded a Volvo L70H Wheel Loader on my trailer that is going to Tampa, Florida.

I decided to take the back way south so I went down I-81 to I-77.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Mt. Airy (Mayberry), North Carolina.

Thursday, January 26, 2023

 I left at about 1 AM EST.  It was lightly snowing.  It cleared up about halfway through Pennsylvania. Ohio and Pennsylvania had a lot of salt trucks out monitoring the road conditions.  Drove the rest of the way to New Holland, Pennsylvania.  Sat there for over two and a half hours waiting to unload this huge load.  

Finally got out of there and drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA for the night.

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

 Didn't sleep at all last night.  Something I ate for dinner didn't sit well.  I left at 3 AM CST and drove to Owensboro, Kentuck, and delivered the dozer.  Next load was up in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Drove up there and loaded two small things of steel that are going to New Holland, Pennsylvania.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Jeffersonville, Ohio for the night.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

 Left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Not too long after I got started I passed someone having a bad start to his/her day.

Continued on with no problems until I got to Atlanta, go figure!!  Right at the I-75 to the Atlanta Beltway (I-285) split traffic was backed up.  Took 45 minutes to go about 2 miles.  A wreck took out the left 2 of the 4 lanes causing a traffic mess.  Got out of that and continued on to the Pilot truck stop in Murfreesboro, Tennessee for the night.  Getting back out of here is gonna be fun!!   Parking in here sucks!!!

Monday, January 23, 2023

 Left early this morning and timed it perfectly to arrive in Savannah for my 7:30 loading appointment.  After that, drove to Jacksonville and loaded a used John Deere 700 Dozer that is going to Owensboro, Kentucky.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Tifton, Georgia for the night.

Saturday, January 21, 2023

 Left at 1 AM EST and had an uneventful day driving to the Petro truck stop in Columbia, South Carolina.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, January 20, 2023

 Left at 1 AM EST  and drove the rest of the way to Fort Wayne, Indiana and delivered the wheel loader.  My next load was over in Lafayette, IN.  Drove over there.  Loaded a Caterpillar engine and six parts boxes.  They are all going to Savannah, Georgia.

Left there and drove to the Flying J truck stop in Lebanon, Indiana for the night.

Thursday, January 19, 2023

 Went over to Clayton first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 930M Wheel Loader that is going to Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Left there in real good time.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Hurricane, West Virginia for the night.

Wednesday, January 18, 2023

 Went back over to the Port of Savannah first thing this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 926 Excavator that was going to West Columbia, South Carolina.  Loading a machine like this is very tricky.  There is a counterweight on the back but no boom or bucket on the other side to balance the machine.  There is no weight on the front.  Getting it on the trailer is tricky.  Have to back it on the trailer, otherwise, it will summersault over backward.  That would be a bad thing.

Left there and drove to West Columbia, SC, and delivered the machine.  Getting it off is a lot easier.  My next load is in Clayton, NC.  Drove to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC for the night.

Tuesday, January 17, 2023

 I left at 3:30 AM EST and drove to Clayton, North Carolina for my next load.  Loaded a Caterpillar 930M Wheel Loader that is going to the Port of Savannah, Georgia.

Left there at about 8:30 AM EST and drove to the Port of Savannah and delivered the wheel loader. From there I went to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, GA for the night.  I'll load tomorrow morning back at the Port.

Monday, January 16, 2023

 As soon as the shop guys came in I got unloaded.  Then went down to Shippensburg again and loaded another Volvo L90H wheel loader that was going to Concord, North Carolina.

Left there at 9 AM EST.  Drove down to Concord, NC, and delivered the wheel loader.  Stayed there for the night.  

Haven't posted one of these in a while.  I remembered to get it out of the camera for a change.  This happens almost every day in one way or another. This was on I-81 in southern Pennsylvania. 

Saturday, January 14, 2023

 Left at about 1 AM EST.  Had a good day until Fredericksburg, Virginia.  There I got in stop-and-go traffic.  Lost about a half hour because of it.  After I got out of that mess I continued the rest of the way to the Daily yard in Carlisle, PA.  I got there with 1 minute left on my 11-hour clock.  692 miles today.