Drove to the Port of Savannah this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 950GC Wheel Loader that is going to Odessa, Texas. 100F, no breeze, and no shade!! It was HOT!!!
Always like driving those things!! Anyway, I left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Statesboro, Georgia for the night.
Left early and drove to Orlando and delivered the rest of the stuff. After that drove to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville. Will be here for about a week.
Left a half hour after sunrise this morning. Drove to Bainbridge, Georgia, and delivered the tractor. Then headed toward Orlando to deliver the rest. Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Wildwood, Florida for the night. 523 miles today.
Left a half hour before sunrise this morning. The smoke was still very thick. Only about a mile of visibility. The farther south I went the better it got. Passed a really bad crash about 15 miles before I stopped for the night in Cartersville, Georgia. It was so bad I couldn't tell what was crashed, a car, truck or something else. There was a blue tarp covering part of it which indicates to me that there was at least one fatality. Fortunately, it was on the other side of I-75. There was a 5 mile back up from it. 590 miles today.
Drove the three-hour trip over to Waterloo, IA this morning. Got there an hour before they open. There were 18 trucks ahead of me to load. The smoke from the Canadian forest fires is very heavy here today. You can sort of see it in the photos. When it was finally my turn, I loaded a John Deere 8R 250 Tractor with tires and hubs that are going to Bainbridge, Georgia. Also loaded two weights that are going to Orlando, Florida.
Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Williamsville, Illinois for the night. Only 474 miles today.
Thought you might like to see how the John Deere plant in Waterloo, Iowa looks. All the following photos were from Google Maps.
Here is the entire plant...
Here is where all the trucks check in and get entered into the computer system for loading. Then we wait in the staging area to be called in to load. They call us on the CB radio or call on the phone if you don't have a CB.
This is the loading area. If your machine permits it, you can back inside the building and they will drive the machine on your trailer. If the machine is too big and you have to separate your trailer, that has to be done outside in the parking lot. Most of the time, for the machines I have been getting lately, they can back the machine on the trailer from inside the building.
Thought you might find that interesting.
With my reset out of the way, I left at 11:30 PM CDT and drove the rest of the way to Schofield, Wisconsin. Delivered the wheel loader. The next load is tomorrow in Waterloo, Iowa. Started off that way but ran out of hours so I stopped at the Love's truck stop in Rockford, Illinois. 598 miles today.
At 1:30 AM EDT when my 10 hours were up, I left. Very good uneventful day today. I did good!!! 690 miles. Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Remington, Indiana for the night.
Left at sunrise this morning and drove to Concord, NC, and delivered the dump truck. From there I drove over to Clayton, NC, and loaded a Caterpillar 926M Wheel Loader and Bucket that is going to Schofield, Wisconsin.
A half hour before sunrise this morning I was on the move! Drove to Orlando and delivered the tractor. My next load was up in Jacksonville at the Port. Went there and loaded a Volvo A30G DumpTruck that is going up to Concord, North Carolina.
Got out of there in good time! Because of that, I was able to get farther than I thought I would. Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in St. George, South Carolina. Only 490 miles today.
Once again, had to time it so that I got to Georgia a half hour after sunrise. A lot of slo-n'-go traffic starting north of Atlanta and continuing all the way around and a little south of Atlanta. Once I got past that it was pretty much smooth sailing the rest of the day. Stopped at the TA truck stop in Wildwood, Florida for the night. 663 miles today.
Left early to time it so that I got to Illinois a half hour before sunrise. Had a good day on the road. Drove 658 miles to a small truck stop in Pleasant View, Tennessee for the night.
Went over and delivered the truck first thing this morning. Then drove over to Waterloo and loaded a John Deere 8R 410 tractor that is going to Orlando, Florida.
Left there but didn't go very far. Stopped at the Flying J truck stop just down the street for the night. This heat just sucks the life out of me. I'm totally exhausted!!!.
This morning when I tried to leave Iowa 80 I found that the left-side marker lights on my trailer were not working. I drove over to the shop at Iowa 80 to get them fixed. They had 7 service bays and all were empty. There were a couple guys cleaning the floors in one bay. The guy at the service counter was rude and said they were too busy now and I'd have to wait until tomorrow. I left. I drove to the TA truck stop in Council Bluffs, IA, and got my lights fixed immediately with no problems. I'll be here until Monday morning. Deliver not too far from here.
Had to time it so that I didn't get to Missouri before a half hour before sunrise. I left at about 4 AM CDT. Drove to Scott City, MO, and delivered the excavator. Then drove up to Davenport, Iowa and loaded a dumpster truck that is going over to Council Bluffs, Iowa.
I got started a half hour after sunrise this morning. Didn't do too bad getting around Atlanta. Very heavy traffic, as usual, and only a couple slo n' go's. Somewhere along the journey this morning a picked up something in one of my tires and developed a slow leak. Stopped at a truck stop in Ringold, Georgia to get it fixed. No shop there so road service came out.
When he was finished I got back on the road. Some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Chatanooga. Continued on to the Love's truck stop in Jackson, Tennessee for the night.
Here is a better look at how much track is on the trailer.
I was first in line this morning at the Port of Savannah. Wouldn't you know it, the paperwork on their end was screwed up and I had to wait until they straightened it out. After that was fixed I went over to load the machine. The procedure is they bring the machine over to me and then I load it. Well, there was no one in sight. I waited an hour for them to bring it. They finally got it to me. These are a bit tricky to load without the counterweight on the back and no boom arm out front. The machine is way off balance. It is really easy to roll over backward ending up upside down if you aren't careful. Have to back it onto the trailer and then spin it around. Just to make it more interesting, look closely at all the photos. Most of the tracks are not even on the trailer. This is a Caterpillar 340 that is going to Scott City, Missouri.
Here is what I weigh ...
Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Jackson, Georgia for the night.
I decided to make my permit load a legal load. It was wide by only a couple inches. Hard to tell when looking at it, especially at night. I left at 2:15 AM EDT and took the back roads bypassing the weigh stations. Drove down to Tampa and delivered the wheel loader without any problems. By 7:15 AM I was heading to Savannah, Georgia for my next load. There was a big wreck on I-75 just south of Ocala and the Interstate was backed up for 15 miles. I got off in Wildwood and took the back roads again. Drove to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, GA for the night. Made it there with 27 minutes left on my driving clock. 581 miles today.
UPDATE:
Here is the reason I-75 was backed up today...
Left at sunrise this morning and drove to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville, FL for the rest of the weekend.
Left this morning timing it so that I got to Virginia right at sunrise. Had no traffic problems at all today. Beat the morning rush hour in DC. Stopped a little earlier than I wanted because I got an email that said my truck eas due for an oil change. Stopped at the Love's truck stop in Summerton, South Carolina and got the oil changed. I'll get started again in the morning.
Left Mayberry (Mt. Airy), North Carolina at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Winchester, Virginia, and delivered the dump truck. From there I drove up to Shippensburg, Pennsylvania to the Volvo plant and loaded an "Amish" Volvo L120H Wheel Loader that is going to Tampa, Florida.
Left there and drove to the AC&T truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland for the night.
I'm finally back on the road. Sure does feel good to be moving again!!!! This morning I drove up to the Port of Savannah in Savannah, Georgia, and loaded a Volvo A30G Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Winchester, Virginia.
Was outa there by 9 AM EDT. Drove to the Flying J truck stop in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Good night.💤
I finally got my truck back this morning. My next load is tomorrow in Savannah, Georgia. Today I moved a few trailers around the yard for the mechanic. Also helped stack 3 trailers that will be taken by another driver, up to Carlisle, PA. There was a driver here that had never used a beam trailer and I helped, along with another driver, him learn how to load and unload it. He loaded a Caterpillar 349 Excavator. Loading and unloading a beam trailer differs greatly from standard RGN trailers. So it is all done now and I'm going to sleep. Good night.
Well, here we go again!! I was at International first thing this morning. Sat there all morning waiting on it. They finally told me it needed two new batteries BUT they didn't have them in stock and had to order them. What else is new!!! They say that in order to be covered under warranty, they have to order a specific battery that is only made in EUROPE!!!! They are trying to track some down but, THEY SAY, I’ll be out of the truck at the minimum until Monday. Unbelievable!!!!!!!!
Left a half hour before sunrise this morning. Drove down to Orlando and delivered the wheel loader. Then drove back to Jacksonville to the Thermo King shop to get my APU fixed AGAIN!! This time they found the real problem and fixed it. The bearing in the A/C compressor clutch was bad. Tomorrow morning I will take the truck over to International because I have a battery or two that are cooking. So that needs to be repaired.
I left Ashland, Virginia at sunrise this morning. Had a very good day on the road. Drove 616 miles and made it to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville, Florida for the night.
I finally got my truck back this morning. Found a problem with my trailer so I pulled into the shop so they could fix it. Didn't matter, had to wait for my permits to come in. They finished the trailer and I pulled it back out and waited some more. Took a short nap, then went to lunch. Just as I was finishing lunch the permits started to come in. I got the ones I needed for today and left - FINALLY!!! They did a terrific job on the truck. Ran great and smooth. My APU worked great too. Because I got such a late start, I could only do 236 miles today. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.
Well, they say that the truck needs a new drive shaft. They THINK it will be done Friday. We'll see.
This morning I used a truck that they use for local stuff and went a few miles down the road and loaded my next load. A Volvo L110H Wheel Loader that is going to Orlando, Florida. Then went back to the Daily yard.
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They finished fixing what they could on my truck in our (Daily) shop. It has a serious driveline issue that is under warranty so they took it to International in Harrisburg this morning. I have no idea when it will be finished. So, here I sit in a hotel.
Left at about 2:30 this morning and drove to Bloomingboro, New York, and delivered the stuff. Then drove back to Carlisle, PA. I'm in a hotel again so they can fix my truck. Another 530 miles today.
As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left. Not a very good day on the road. Got a flat tire on my trailer. Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Raphine, VA. Replaced the tire.
Then the mechanic saw the trailer brakes on the other side. They were not working. That brake pad is not supposed to be like that. Both the front and rear were like that.
They had bad "S" camshaft bushings.
Fixed those. Continued on my journey north. Just inside Pennsylvania, traffic came to a stop. I-81 was closed northbound because a motorhome ran into the back of a semi-truck killing the motorhome driver. It took two and a half hours to go from Exit 3 to where the crash was at Exit 5.
Continued on my merry way. Stopped for the night at the Daily Yard in Carlisle, PA. My APU is still broken so I'm in a hotel again. About 530 miles today. Didn't get as far as I wanted. Oh well. I'll still deliver tomorrow.
When my 10 hours were up, I left. Drove 691 miles today. Stopped for my next 10 hours off at the Petro truck stop in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Shortly after I had dinner and got settled in, the belt broke again on my APU, so I'm in a hotel now.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Didn't do much today. Went up to the Daily terminal in Houston to wait. The food is much better there.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
