Monday, April 24, 2023

 Went over and unloaded first thing this morning.  My next load was over in Hazelhurst, GA at an auction yard.  Went there and loaded a Caterpillar D6T Dozer that is going to Hannibal, Missouri. When I initially walked behind the machine a bird took off from under it.  I looked to see a bird's nest on the track with an egg in it.  I removed the nest a placed it on the ground.  Never a dull moment.

Trying to make a loading video for you but I'm having difficulty with the editing program.  If I can get it to work right I'll put it in tomorrow.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA for the night.

Saturday, April 22, 2023

 Had no traffic issues in Chattanooga or Atlanta today.  Drove to the Love's truck stop in Garden City, Georgia for the rest of the weekend.  Deliver a couple miles from here Monday.

Friday, April 21, 2023

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove through the weather system we had last night.  Shortly after I got to Tennessee the rain stopped.  I have a feeling it will catch up to me again tonight.  Passed what looked like another fatal car crash this morning.  Had a little bumper-to-bumper traffic in Nashville, but not too bad.  Stopped a little earlier than I wanted.  Chattanooga traffic was backed up most of the way through Chattanooga.  Didn't feel like dealing with that.  Stopped at a very small One 9 Fuel Network (Pilot) truck stop in Wildwood, Georgia for the night.

Thursday, April 20, 2023

 Drove the rest of the way to Mokena, Illinois, and delivered the wheel loader.  I like it when they have a ramp.  I can drive it right off the back and not have to detach the trailer.  It is so much faster that way.  From there I drove down to Decatur, Illinois to the Caterpillar plant and loaded a rear axle for a Caterpillar 789 Mining Dump Truck that is going to Savannah, Georgia.

This is what one looks like all put together.

Just the rear axle weighs 44,520 pounds.  Just imagine how much the entire truck weighs!!  Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Effingham, Illinois for the night.  Another 525 miles today.  It got really windy this afternoon.  As I am writing this we are under a severe thunderstorm watch.  I love a good thunderstorm.

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

 I left Baltimore at 2:30 AM EDT.  Real good day on the road.  Passed a real bad crash on the eastbound side of I-70 in Indiana.  The eastbound side was completely shut down.  We were stopped briefly while the helicopter landed, picked up someone, and took off again.  

Stopped for the night with 41 minutes left on my clock today at the Love's truck stop in Knightstown, Indiana.  586 miles today.

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

 Got a lot done while I was in Carlisle.  My truck got fixed this morning.  I left there and drove to the Port of Baltimore and loaded Caterpillar 950 Wheel Loader that is going to Mokena, Illinois.  

Didn't have any permits so I went to the TA in Baltimore for the night.

Friday, April 14, 2023

 Once again, I left when my 10 hours were up. That was about 1:30 AM EDT.  Drove the rest of the way to Fredericksburg, Virginia, and delivered the grader.  My next load is at the Port of Baltimore.   I started off that way.  On the way, my truck gave me a warning light on the dash.  I called the Daily shop and they decided to have me go to Carlisle for it to be evaluated and repaired.  I diverted towards Carlisle.  Didn't have enough hours left to get there so I stopped at the TA truck stop in Greencastle, Pennsylvania for my next 10 hours off. 631 miles today.

Thursday, April 13, 2023

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  Had a very good and uneventful day on the road.  666.8 miles today.  Stopped for my next 10 hours off at the Petro truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

 Left about 45 minutes before sunrise this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Texarkana, Arkansas, and delivered the dump truck.  My next load was on the other side of the Interstate at the Caterpillar dealer.  Loaded a Caterpillar 120 Motor Grader that is going to Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Didn't have a lot of options on places to park for the night.  Stopped at a convenience store with a few truck parking places out back for the night.

Tuesday, April 11, 2023

 I left the Jacksonville yard a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Last night I got an email that said that my truck was due for an oil change.  I stopped at the Love's truck stop in Milton, Florida, and had it done.  From there I drove to the Love's truck stop in Biloxi, Mississippi for the night.

Monday, April 10, 2023

 This afternoon I went over to the Port of Jacksonville and loaded a Volvo A25G Dump Truck that is going to Texarkana, Arkansas.  While I was securing it to the trailer noticed that I had a flat tire on the trailer.  

Called the shop and got road service started my way.  Finished securing the machine then limped outside the Port gates for the guy to fix my tire.

When that was done I went back to the yard in Jacksonville for the night.

Saturday, April 8, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I drove home to Jacksonville for the weekend.

Friday, April 7, 2023

 I left this morning to time it so that I got to Georgia a half hour after sunrise.  Had no problems going around Atlanta.  Some slow n' go traffic south of Atlanta though.  Continued on down to Chiefland, FL, and delivered the tractor.  From there I went to the TA truck stop in Lake City, FL for the night.  Another 600 miles today.  

Thursday, April 6, 2023

 Left about an hour before sunrise this morning. Had a pretty good day.  Got another 605 miles behind me.  In Kentucky, I got stuck in a bit of a traffic backup caused by a semi-truck crash that they were cleaning up.

Don't know how anyone could survive that.  Made it through Nashville with minimal traffic problems.  WHEW!!!!  Continued to the Love's truck stop in Christiana, Tennessee for the night.

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

 When I left at 11 PM CDT from Concordia it was 76 degrees Fahrenheit (24.4 Celsius).  We didn't get any more weather, it just got very windy.  I drove through the cold front on my way.  When I got to Waterloo it was 38 F (3.3 C).  I was 18th in line to load this morning.  When it was finally my turn, I loaded a John Deere 8R 280 tractor and four tires that are going to Chiefland, Florida.

I only had enough time left to drive to Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcot, Iowa.  Will be here until tomorrow morning.

Tuesday, April 4, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  Drove the rest of the way to Sedalia, Missouri, and delivered the track loader.  From there I went to the TA truck stop in Concordia, Missouri.  668 miles today.  I had only 8 minutes left on my driving clock when I stopped.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Waterloo, Iowa.  Supposed to get some really bad weather tonight.  Right now, as I'm writing this, we are under a severe thunderstorm warning.  It rained some and we had some pea-sized hail but it has since stopped - for now. The rest of the night should be interesting.

Here are last month's adventures.

Monday, April 3, 2023

 This morning I drove over to Ephrata, PA, getting the truck washed on the way.  Loaded a Caterpillar 963K Track Loader that is going to Sedalia, Missouri.

This was supposed to be a permit load but it turned out not to be.  I like that!!!  Left there and had a good day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Millersport, Ohio.  Glad to be here.  My back is a mess tonight.  Hope it is better tomorrow.

Friday, March 31, 2023

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Traffic was heavy all day.  Lots of RVs and Canadian cars heading north.  The snowbird migration is in full swing!  LOTS of bumper-to-bumper and stop n' go traffic today.  Thought I'd never get to Myersville!!  But I did and delivered the dump truck.  From there I drove up to the "home office" in Carlisle for the weekend.  I load Monday not too far from here.  Glad today is over!!!

Thursday, March 30, 2023

 I left Vero Beach at 3 AM EDT and drove to the Port of Jacksonville.   Loaded a Caterpillar 730 Dump Truck that is going up to Myersville, Maryland.

Left there in real good time.  Heavy traffic on I-95 all day.  In South Carolina had a lot of stop n' go traffic.  Also had two construction detours.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Dunn, North Carolina. 646 miles today.

Wednesday, March 29, 2023

 Left at 11:00 PM EDT last night.  Drove to Cutler Bay and delivered the mini-excavator.  Was out of there by 6:30 AM.  Beat the traffic going in, but not coming back out.  Lots of bumper-to-bumper and slow 'n go getting back out of Miami.  My next load is in Jacksonville.  I stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Vero Beach, FL.

Tuesday, March 28, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove 716 miles today stopping only once for that required 30-minute break.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Brunswick, Georgia with only 3 minutes left on my available driving time clock.  Not too shabby!!

Monday, March 27, 2023

 At 8:30 PM EDT Sunday night I left.  That was when my 10 hours were up.  Drove the rest of the way to Carlisle, PA.  Got there a few minutes after midnight.  When the guys from the shop came to work, they took the trailers off.  My 10 hours off were up at about 10:30 AM EDT and I left for my next load 3 miles away at the Keen yard.  Loaded a Volvo ECR88D Excavator that is going to Cutler Bay, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Toms Brook, Virginia for my 10 hours.

Sunday, March 26, 2023

 Left the yard at midnight.  Drove 625 uneventful miles to the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.

Saturday, March 25, 2023

 My trailer is fixed now.  Here is what was bad and what was replaced.  This is supposed to be round, not oval.

Here is the bolt that was in it.

Glad it is all better now.  This afternoon we loaded two trailers on my trailer.  I'm taking them up to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  

I'll leave here tomorrow.

Monday, March 20, 2023

 I left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Covington, Louisiana, and delivered the wheel loader.  From there I drove home to the Daily yard in Jacksonville, Florida.  Will be here for a few days.  The trailer needs some work done on it. 581 miles today.

Saturday, March 18, 2023

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Drove to the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana.  Thought I'd never get here. Long exhausting day.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, March 17, 2023

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Pretty uneventful day on the road.  Passed two separate semi-truck crashes today.  One was in the woods on its side.  The other was in the median on its side.  Other than that, I'm on back roads now.  Because of limited places ahead to park for the night, I opted to stop very early in a place I knew had parking places.  I'm in a convenience store with a few truck parking places in Dewitt, Arkansas.

Thursday, March 16, 2023

 Left real early this morning and drove the rest of the way to Davenport, Iowa.  Loaded a John Deere 744 Wheel Loader that is going to Covington, Louisiana.

Had to wait for my Iowa permit to come in before I left.  I waited for a half hour while all the rest of my permits came in.  I finally said "...the heck with it!" and left anyway.  I was 25 miles into Illinois when my Iowa permit came in.  Had a very nice day on the road.  Rain off and on.  Drove 575 miles today.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Bloomsdale, Missouri.  You should see the stupid route they are sending me on!!!   Shortly after I get into Arkansas it's bye-bye Interstate highways all the way down to I-10 in southern Louisiana.  Don't know why they didn't just keep me on I-55.  Good night.

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

 Left a half hour before sunrise and drove straight through to Lafayette, Indiana, and delivered the dump truck.  Next load is in Davenport, Iowa.  Started off that way and stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Remington, Indiana.  

Tuesday, March 14, 2023

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Pretty uneventful day.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Hayti, Missouri. 485 miles today.

Monday, March 13, 2023

 Went to the other side of Houston this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 730 Dump Truck that is going to Lafayette, Indiana.

These things are not real easy to load by yourself.  You can't see the trailer when loading so you have to do it by feel.  Sometimes I get it right the first time, and sometimes I don't.  Today was an I don't.  Took about 3 or 4 tries to get it right.  Left there and headed north.  Stopped and scaled up.  As I suspected, it was too heavy on the trailer axles.  Had to move the machine back a couple feet.  Once that was done I was on my way again.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Henderson, Texas.

Saturday, March 11, 2023

 At about 9:30 PM CST Friday night, I left and drove to the Daily yard in Houston.  Going back to sleep.

Friday, March 10, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was at about 9:30 PM CST.  Drove to San Antonio, Texas stopping only once for that required 30-minute break.  727 miles today.  When I finished I had 1 minute left on my clock today.  I'm exhausted. Going to sleep.  Good night.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove 700.2 miles today and stopped with 8 minutes left on my clock at the TA truck stop in Meridian, Mississippi.  The delivery location was changed from Houston to San Antonio.

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.