Monday, May 15, 2023

 Was in Victoria, TX first thing this morning and loaded some stuff for a Caterpillar excavator that are going to Bloomingburg, New York.

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

Friday, May 12, 2023

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Another very good day on the road.  Some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Houston.  Made it all the way down to Sinton, TX to a HUGE steel plant and delivered the two crates.  From there I went to the Love's truck stop in Sinton for the night. 517 miles today.  My next load is in Victoria, TX on Monday morning.  

Thursday, May 11, 2023

 This morning I added a few more straps to the load.  Two on each crate was ok to get from the Port to the Daily yard but not good enough (for me) to go to Texas.

A half-hour before sunrise this morning I left. Good day on the road.  580 miles today.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana. Having a little thunderstorm right now so dinner will have to wait a few minutes for the storm to pass.

Monday, May 8, 2023

 First thing this morning I went over to the Port of Jacksonville and loaded two crates of machinery parts going to Sinton, Texas.

From there I went back to the Daily yard, dropped my trailer, and took the truck over to Thermo King to get my APU fixed.  Late this afternoon, it was finished and I drove back to the Daily yard and hooked back up to my trailer.  I will leave for Texas Wednesday afternoon.

Sunday, May 7, 2023

 Here is where I went last month.

Saturday, May 6, 2023

 Last night at about 9 PM CDT I left Houston.  Drove to Mariana, Florida, and checked into a hotel because my APU was broken.  I was lucky.  Checked in at 7 AM CDT.  After breakfast, I went to bed.  At 4:30 PM CDT, when my 10 hours were up, I left there and drove the rest of the way to the Daily yard in Jacksonville, FL.  Load Monday at the Port.

Friday, May 5, 2023

 Exactly 10.33 miles south of where I am a fire broke out at a Shell Chemical Plant.  I can see the black smoke from here.

I'll be leaving here tonight to head to Jacksonville, Florida for my next load.

Thursday, May 4, 2023

 Didn't do much today.  Went up to the Daily terminal in Houston to wait.  The food is much better there.

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

 Arrived in Texarkana at 6:45 AM CDT and delivered the wheel loader.  From there I drove the six-and-a-half-hour drive down to Victoria, Texas for my next load.  After checking in and getting my trailer set up I was told that my load was picked up this morning.  Great!!  My dispatcher made a mistake.  So, I went to the TA truck stop in Ganado, Texas for the night and until they figure out where I'm going next.  I get to sleep in.  595 miles today.

Tuesday, May 2, 2023

 When my 10 hours were up, I left. That was at about 12:30 AM EDT.  Good day on the road.  No suicidal turkeys today.  Drove another 589 miles. Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

I finally got my video software working correctly and was able to complete the video I made for you of me loading the Caterpillar D6 Dozer in Hazelhurst, Georgia. Hope you like it.

Monday, May 1, 2023

 When my reset was finished at 2:30 AM EDT, I left and drove to Carlisle, PA to the Daily yard.  Loaded a Volvo L90H Wheel Loader that is going to Texarkana, Arkansas.

Left there and had a good day on the road.  Saw a car in front of me hit a turkey.  The turkey was on the right shoulder of the road.  It either ran or (most likely) flew up into the car's windshield. It smashed the passenger side of the windshield.  The first video is the normal view.  The second is zoomed in.  Sorry about the zoom quality, that's the best I could get it.

Stopped for my 10 hours off at the TA truck stop in Greenville, Tennessee.  587 miles today.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Made it to Malone, NY in time to deliver.  Spring is just getting started up here.  Trees are still mostly bare.  Small light green buds are starting to show.  My next load is back down in Carlisle, PA.  Started off that way.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Scranton, PA for the night.  Will do a reset here and head out as soon as my 34 hours are up. 

Friday, April 28, 2023

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Rained almost all day.  Drove 589 miles today.  Amazing!!  Stopped for the night at a very small truck stop in McGraw, New York.

Thursday, April 27, 2023

 Left an hour before sunrise this morning.  Very uneventful day.  Drove 488 miles and stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in London, Ohio.

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

 Timed it pretty good this morning.  Went into St. Louis, MO at 9:10 AM CDT.  Continued to Hanibal, MO, and delivered the dozer.  My next load was up in Waterloo, Iowa.  The farmers were all out working in the fields planting.   I went up there as fast as I could.  They stop loading at 3:30. I checked in to get loaded at 3:29. I was the last to load today. I GOT LUCKY!!!!  Loaded a John Deere 8R 310 tractor and tires going to Malone, New York.

Left there and drove to the Iowa 80 truck stop in Walcott, Iowa for the night.  540 miles today.  I'm exhausted.  Good night.

Tuesday, April 25, 2023

 Left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  It took an hour to get around Atlanta.  Several areas of bumper-to-bumper traffic.  After I got through that mess it was smooth sailing for the rest of the day.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.  There is a Chili's restaurant across the street.  I pigged out over there!!!  Have to start a little later tomorrow.  Can't get to St. Louis before 9 AM CDT.

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.