Wednesday, December 6, 2023

 Went the rest of the way to Wichita this morning and was early for my appointment.  Loaded a New Holland C362 Skid Steer that was going to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  

Daily wanted me to go to the OKC terminal before I delivered.  I was to drop my trailer and take a flatbed trailer to a place in OKC and load a Terex chassis.  It was going about 13 miles away to be delivered.  Then go back and get my trailer and deliver the skid steer.  When I got to the Daily terminal in OKC I got the other trailer and was told that I would only need straps to secure the Terex chassis.  I went over there to load.  When they brought the chassis over and loaded it on the trailer I knew that straps would not work.  I needed chains.  They were back on my trailer at the Daily yard. I left the trailer there and Bobtailed back to the yard.  By this time it was too late to deliver the flatbed load so I got my trailer and went over and delivered the skid steer.  At least that was done.  Then went back to the Daily yard for the night.  I'll finish the flatbed load in the morning.

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

 I left when my 10 hours were up.  Drove the rest of the way to Tulsa, Oklahoma, and delivered the motor grader.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Wichita, Kansas with a loading appointment of 9:40 AM CST.  I headed that way.  Stopped for the rest of the day and night at a very small convenience store with truck parking in Leon, Kansas.

Monday, December 4, 2023

 When the Port opened at 8 AM CST, I went in and loaded a Caterpillar 150 Motorgrader that is going to Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The last one I had was steered with a steering wheel.  This one was done using joysticks.  I like the joysticks so much better.  I left there in pretty good time considering that there were over 20 trucks there to load this morning. Stopped at a scale and found out that I was 2,420 pounds overweight.  This was supposed to be a legal load.

Called the office and they ordered a Texas permit for me. Didn't need an Oklahoma permit because I'm registered for 90,000 pounds in Oklahoma.  So there I'm legal.  Waited a little over an hour for it to come in, then I left.  I stopped at the TA truck stop in Dallas, Texas for my 10 hours.  Didn't get anywhere near as far as I wanted to today.

Sunday, December 3, 2023

 This morning I went to Walmart then to the truck wash and fuel.  After that, I drove to the Port of Galveston where I'll be until tomorrow morning when I load there.

Friday, December 1, 2023

 I left at about 10:30 PM CST last night in the rain.  It rained steadily until about 10 miles east of Lafayette, LA.  Then it was very heavy rain with thunder and lightning.  That lasted until I was well past Lafayette.  Past quite a few wrecks that appeared weather-related.  I was doing great until I-10 in Texas west of Beaumont in the construction zone.  Came to a total standstill.  Sat there for about an hour.  Have no idea what caused it.

We finally got moving again and I continued to Carmine, TX, and delivered the wheel loader in thick heavy mud.  Made a mess out of everything.  From there I drove back to Houston and went to the Daily terminal. Arrived there with only 22 minutes left on my clock.  674 miles today.  I'm tired.  Going to sleep now.  Good night.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

 I left at about 1:30 AM EST this morning. Nothing interesting today.  Drove 650 miles to the Love's truck stop in Sandersville, Mississippi for my 10 hours.  

Here is the list of countries my blog has been read in over the past 30 days.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

 First thing this morning I went to Shippensburg and picked up a Volvo L90H Wheel Loader and brought it back to the Daily yard in Carlisle.

After dropping that off I went back to Shippensburg and loaded a Volvo L70 H Wheel Loader that is going to Carmine, Texas.

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

Tuesday, November 28, 2023

 We had snow flurries all morning today.  My trailer was finished this morning. They replaced the missing board and added 4 new "D" rings.

Glad to have those "D" rings.  I use those a lot. My next load is tomorrow morning in Shippensburg, PA.

Monday, November 27, 2023

 This morning I took my truck to International in Harrisburg.  Sat there most of the day with it while they checked it out.  When they finished I took it back to Carlisle. Meanwhile, my trailer went into the shop to get the board that fell off replaced on it and add a few more "D" rings.

The trailer will be ready sometime tomorrow morning.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

 

I left at 1 AM EST and drove the rest of the way back to the Daily Yard in Carlisle, PA.  Will be here through Monday.

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

 We got between 1 and 2 inches of snow last night before it changed to rain.  I couldn't leave when I wanted to this morning.  New Hampshire would not allow permit loads until 10:00 AM EST.  I was about an hour and a half from NH so I left at 8:30.  It rained all day.  The roads were fine.  The further I got into Maine the more the roads deteriorated.  The plows were out in force in Maine.  I made it to Skowhegan and delivered the excavator.  Left there and headed back toward Carlisle.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the West Gardiner Service Plaza in Gardiner, Maine.  It is still raining!

Tuesday, November 21, 2023

 I left at sunrise this morning.  I still have the Link-Belt Excavator.  

Got out ahead of the expected weather.  Stayed ahead of it all day but it was right behind me all day.  Here is what the radar looked like when I stopped for the night.

Pennsylvania was really ready for the weather.  They had salt trucks staged along the Interstate and they were pre-treating the roads too.  New York and Connecticut weren't doing anything.  Shortly after I crossed the Hudson River my truck dash did it again.  

After looking at that for about a half hour I shut the truck off and restarted it again.  The problem went away.  Hope it stays that way.  I'll still have to go back to Carlisle after I deliver to have it looked at again.  I stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  Hopefully, this weather system will pass over tonight and I won't have any issues tomorrow.

 

Monday, November 20, 2023

 One of the Daily owner-operators' truck broke down near Pittsburg.  He found the part at the Carlisle Kenworth. They asked me to go pick it up and take it out that way to meet his pilot escort car and give it to him.  So after I picked up the part I headed west.  I met his pilot escort car in Cumberland, Maryland, and gave him the part.  Then back to Carlisle.  I got back at the same time my truck got back to the Daily Yard.  They reordered my permits and I'll leave tomorrow morning at sunrise.  Heavy weather coming.  I hope I can get ahead of it tomorrow. 

Sunday, November 19, 2023

 October places I've been.

Friday, November 17, 2023

 My hotel was fully booked for tonight so I had to check out this morning.  Today I used the shop truck and took a step deck trailer over to McConnellsburg, PA, and loaded a Caterpillar TL642 Telehandler.

Brought it back to the Daily Yard in Carlisle and unloaded it.  Then, I dropped the trailer and put the truck away.  After that was done I went to my new hotel and checked in.  Tomorrow I'll go back to the original hotel for the rest of the weekend. Have a headache tonight.  I'll go to sleep soon and hope it goes away.

Thursday, November 16, 2023

 I left and timed it to get to York, PA at 9 AM.  Just north of York and south of Harrisburg, my dash went nuts!  All kinds of warning lights and check engine lights.  The truck was running fine.  

I went to the Daily Yard in Carlisle.  Talked to the shop and they said my truck had to go to International in Harrisburg for that to be repaired.  I dropped my trailer.  Then we took the truck to Harrisburg and dropped it off.  I checked into the hotel in Carlisle.  I'll be here until it is fixed.  

Wednesday, November 15, 2023

 I left at sunrise this morning.  Some bumper-to-bumper traffic going around Washington DC.  I didn't have my Pennsylvania permit so I stopped at the TA truck stop in Jessup, Maryland to wait for it.  That is the last place to stop before getting to Pennsylvania.  I had just backed into a parking place when my permit came in.  When I tried to print it, the printer broke.  Spent 45 minutes trying to get it to work, but couldn't.  Something was broken inside.  I dropped my trailer there and went down the road to Walmart and bought a new one.  When I returned I hooked back up to my trailer and set up the new printer.  It worked fine.  BUT by this time I couldn't leave because of the curfew in York, PA and Harrisburg, PA.  No place to stop before getting there. SO tomorrow I can't go through York or Harrisburg before 9 AM, because of curfew.  I'll have a very late start in the morning.

Tuesday, November 14, 2023

 I was the first one in the gate this morning.  Loaded a Link-Belt 210X4EX Excavator that is going to Skowhegan Maine.

Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina for the night.  My back is really hurting tonight.  Glad to be lying down, finally.

Monday, November 13, 2023

 I left in the rain this morning and drove the rest of the way to Medley, FL, and delivered the excavator right when they opened.  Then, I headed toward Pooler, GA for my next load.  Took forever to get out of South Florida today.  Lots of heavy traffic and bumper-to-bumper traffic.  But that was expected during rush hour.  I parked for the night outside the place where I am loading in the morning In Pooler, GA.  609 miles today.

Sunday, November 12, 2023

 Early this morning I drove down to the Flying J truck stop in Ft. Pierce, FL until tomorrow morning.  When I got here there was no line at the truck wash so I washed the truck.  That means it will rain tomorrow.

Thursday, November 9, 2023

 Delivered the Caterpillar stuff in Ocala first thing this morning.  Then drove up to Pooler, GA, and loaded a Volvo ECR 145EL Excavator that is going to Medley, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville, FL for my 10 hours.

Wednesday, November 8, 2023

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  Drove 721 miles to the Petro truck stop just north of Ocala.  Stopped with only 4 minutes left on my driving clock today. That's cuttin' it pretty close!!  I'll deliver first thing in the morning.

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

 First thing this morning I loaded a few things for a BIG Caterpillar Excavator.  They are going to Ocala, Florida.

Left there and had a pretty good day.  Some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Houston.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the Love's truck stop in Iowa, Louisiana. 

Monday, November 6, 2023

 When the staff arrived to work this morning I got my paperwork signed and I left to head to Victoria, TX for my next load.  It takes 7+ hours to get there from Odessa so I didn't get there in time to load today.  I stayed there for the night and will load first thing in the morning.

Sunday, November 5, 2023

 I left at midnight EDT (11 PM CDT) and drove the rest of the way to Odessa, Texas.  I arrived at about 7 AM CST.  When I got there the gate was open so I went in and unloaded the motor grader.  There were only a few mechanics working in the shop but no one from shipping/receiving was there.  I didn't expect that there would be.  I was surprised that the gate was open.  After unloading I parked just outside the gate to wait until tomorrow morning.

Saturday, November 4, 2023

 I left at about 1:15 EST this morning.  That's the best time to go through Atlanta.  Drove 662 miles today to the Petro truck stop in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Friday, November 3, 2023

 I left early this morning.  Passed a fatality wreck in Georgia.  It was on the south bound side of I-95.  The south bound side was totally shut down.  It was hard to tell what happened but I saw a semi-truck, tank truck, laying on it's side all burned up.  It was bad!  I think there were other cars involved but couldn't tell.  Anyway, I went to Richhmond Hill, GA and delivered the mini excavator right when they opened.  From there I drove to the Port of Savannah and loaded a Caterpillar 140M Motor Grader that is going to Odessa, Texas. 

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Jackson, Georgia for my 10 hours.  Going to sleep early so I can start early.

Thursday, November 2, 2023

 Another driver had loaded a mini excavator on a step-deck trailer that was going to Richmond Hill, Georgia.  When he got there to deliver they didn't have a ramp for him to unload. He brought it here to the Jacksonville yard and unloaded it.  I put it on my trailer and will deliver it in the morning on my way to Savannah to load.

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

 

Monday, October 30, 2023

 Left Jackson, GA a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Lutz, Florida, and delivered the dozer.  Then drove to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville.  Will be here for a few days.

Sunday, October 29, 2023

 Well, the Gators didn't do very well against Georgis yesterday. But no one expected them to anyway.  At least it wasn't a shutout.

I'm glad I stayed put yesterday.  Traffic was still a mess in Chattanooga at 6 pm last night.

When I left this morning it was a lot better.

When I got to the weigh station in Georgia found that I had a flat tire on the truck.  I stayed there and had road service come out to fix it. 

I finally got out of there at 12:30 pm.  Made it around Atlanta without much trouble. BUT south of Atlanta, it took over 30 minutes to go five miles.

Needless to say, I didn't get very far today.  Stopped at the Pilot truck stop in Jackson, Georgia.  Good thing I stopped when I did. I got one of the last 3 parking spaces left.

Saturday, October 28, 2023

 I was going to leave this morning to time it so that I got to Georgia a half hour after sunrise, BUT there was a multi-vehicle wreck in Chattanooga that totally shut down I-24.  Instead of leaving, I went back to bed.  Woke up an hour later and saw that the Interstate was open again so I left.  After getting through Monteagle, Tennessee I saw that the Interstate in Chattanooga was again shut down.  This time a semi rolled over blocking the Interstate.  I stopped at the Love's truck stop in Jasper, TN to wait it out. I'd rather sit in there than on the Interstate.  

Looks like I'm here for the night.  At 2 pm this is what Chattanooga looked like, a parking lot!!

Hope they get that mess cleaned up by tomorrow morning.

Friday, October 27, 2023

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Nothing interesting at all today.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Oak Grove, Kentucky.

Thursday, October 26, 2023

 Arrived at the Caterpillar dealer in Eau Claire just before they opened.  Delivered the wheel loader.  Then drove down to the John Deere plant in Dubuque, Iowa, and loaded a John Deere 750 Dozer with a blade that is going to Lutz, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Daily Yard in Bettendorf, Iowa for the night. Lots of great autumn color up here.

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Great autumn colors all day (yesterday too).  Did pretty good until I-90/94 in Wisconsin a few miles before I-90 splits off.  Long construction zone down to one lane.  Big traffic back up there.  Then towards the end of the one-lane part, two semi trucks got tangled up and crashed.  One was a flatbed and the other a regular semi-trailer.  What a mess!!!  They were well into the clean-up phase of the wreck when I passed by. It took over 45 minutes just to get to it.

I was hoping to deliver today but that changed things.  I'll deliver in the morning instead.  Stopped for the night, after driving 540 miles, at a truck stop in Tomah, Wisconsin.

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

 Left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Had some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Atlanta.  Drove 541 miles today and stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois.

Monday, October 23, 2023

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Ocala and delivered the wheel loader.  My next load was back up in Pooler, Georgia.  Drove there and loaded a Caterpillar 950 GC Wheel Loader that is going to Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

Left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Jackson, Georgia for the night.

Saturday, October 21, 2023

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning and had an uneventful drive down to the Petro truck stop in Reddick, Florida.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, October 20, 2023

 Left Baytown, TX a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Got stuck in some stop-n-go traffic in Beaumont, TX from a wreck.  Then some more in Baton Rouge, LA.  After that, no more problems.  Stopped for the night at the Oasis truck stop in Robertsdale, Alabama.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

 Left very early this morning.  Wanted to get through Houston before rush hour.  Didn't want a repeat of yesterday.  I got to Dickinson quite a bit before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a Caterpillar 966 Wheel Loader that is going to Ocala, Florida.

While loading, I noticed that a tire on my trailer had lost air.  After securing the load I left and drove to the TA Express truck stop in South Baytown, Texas.  They didn't have a repair shop there so road service was called.  The road service truck arrived and he got the stuff out of his truck to get started BUT one of the air lines from the compressor on his truck broke.  He had to pack up all his stuff and go back to his shop to repair it.  He'd come back when he fixed the hose. He didn't come back until about 4:30 PM CDT.  

Here is the nail in the tire.

I had run out of hours a long time ago so I stayed there for the night.