Sunday, May 12, 2024

 I got up early this morning and did laundry.  Then went to Walmart.  Stopped by the Corn Palace on the way.  

Here is where I spent my time last month...

Saturday, May 11, 2024

 When my 10 hours were up at 9:45 PM CDT, I left.  Drove all night and stopped for the rest of the weekend at a truck stop in Mitchell, South Dakota.  Home of the ...

Friday, May 10, 2024

 I left at about 1:30 AM EDT.  Had no traffic issues all day today.  Made it through Atlanta, Chatanooga, Nashville, and St. Louis easily.   After driving 679 miles today I stopped for my 10 hours at the Flying J truck stop in Pendleton, Missouri.

Thursday, May 9, 2024

 Last night I got an email that said my truck was due for an oil change.  I got up early and got it done.  Was over to the Port in Brunswick when they opened at 8 AM EDT.  At first, they couldn't find my load.  Over an hour later they found it, brought it over, and put it on my trailer.  It is the bucket from a Volvo EC550EL Excavator that is going to Rapid City, South Dakota.

This is the machine it attaches to...

A multi-axle truck will be loading the machine tomorrow.  I left there and headed toward South Dakota.  Drove through a very severe thunderstorm about an hour east of Macon.  Lots of heavy rain and wind.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the TA truck stop in Jackson, Georgia. 

FYI...blog readers in the past 7 days.

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

 I left at about 3 AM CDT and drove the rest of the way to Birmingham, Alabama, and delivered the man lift.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Brunswick, Georgia.  Drove over there.  Had some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Atlanta.  After driving 679 miles I stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Brunswick, GA.

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left. That was about 1:30 AM EDT.  Had a good day on the road.  No traffic issues until about 40 miles north on Chattanooga on I-75.  There was a crash that had the Interstate shut down.  So I stopped a little earlier than I had planned.  Even so, I still got in 514 miles today and was done by about 10:45 AM EDT.  I like that!!!

Monday, May 6, 2024

 I left at 3 AM EDT and drove to Sparrows Point, MD and delivered the generator.  Was very foggy, couldn't see much.  From there I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  I was supposed to swap trailers for a load going to California but that load was not ready and was pushed back.  So, I took a nap while they decided what to do next.  At about 1 PM EDT they got me a different load, one that I didn't have to swap trailers.  GOOD!!  I went down to the JLG plant in Shippensburg, PA and loaded a man lift that is going to Birmingham, Alabama.

From there I went to the TA truck stop in Greenfield, PA for my 10 hours.

Just before I got there This happened.  Another edition of "How stupid are you?"

No, I didn't hit him.

Saturday, May 4, 2024

 When my 10 hours were up at midnight 30, I left.  Drove 546 miles to the AC&T truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.  I'll be here for the rest of the weekend.  After yesterday, I really need a day off to recover. 

Friday, April 3, 2024

 I left at about 1:30 AM CDT this morning and drove to Lafayette, Indiana.  Arrived about 30 minutes before my 10:00 AM EDT loading appointment.  When they brought me back in to load I was loaded with a Caterpillar 3516 Generator and 5 parts boxes.  They are going to Sparrows Point, Maryland.  Once I was loaded I had to go to a different parking lot to tarp it.  85 degrees, no shade, no breeze, and no help.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Whitestown, Indiana.  That cold shower felt wonderful!!  I'm exhausted, my back hurts, and I'm going to sleep. Phone is OFF!

Thursday, May 2, 2024

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Springfield, Missouri.  It started raining just before I got there.  Delivered the dozer in the rain.  From there I went to the TA truck stop in Strafford, MO for the night.  I load tomorrow morning in Lafayette, Indiana.  I'll leave here real early.

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

 I left at sunrise this morning.  Over 2 hours later I finally crossed into Ohio.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Greenfield, Indiana.

Tuesday, April 30, 2024

 I left a tad before 9 AM EDT this morning.  Today my permit route was mostly back roads through the Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania.  There was a little bit of Interstate, but not much. This was my route today, and I still have over two hours to go in Pennsylvania!!  The red arrow points to where I stopped for the night.  It was a little convenience store with about 6 truck parking places, in Mt. Jewett, PA.

No curfews tomorrow so I can start at sunrise.

Monday, April 29, 2024

 I left the yard at sunrise this morning and drove to Shippensburg and delivered the dump truck.  Then I drove back to the Daily Yard in Carlisle and swapped back into my trailer.  The shop did a good job fixing all the problems.  From there I drove to Bensalem, PA to load a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that was going to Springfield, Missouri.  They couldn't find my machine.  After a while they finally found it, but they wouldn't load it because it wasn't paid for.  Had to wait for all that to be done.  In the meantime, I developed a pretty good headache.  Eventually, I was able to load the machine.

My permit route was all back roads, mostly 2 lane.  Lots of heavy traffic.  I stopped at a little truck stop in Coopersberg, PA for the night.  Can't start until almost 9 AM EDT tomorrow morning because of the Allentown curfew.  I'm very tired and still have a headache, although it isn't as bad as it was.   Good night.

Saturday, April 27, 2024

 This morning traffic was much better and I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, April 26, 2024

 I left at sunrise this morning. Drove the rest of the way to Myersville, MD., and delivered the excavator.  From there I drove to the Port in New Castle, Delaware, and loaded a Volvo A25G Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Shippensburg, PA.

Left there and headed toward Shippensburg.  My permit route has me taking back roads all the way to Harrisburg, PA.  There was so much traffic on them I decided to stop at the Rutters in Gap, Pennsylvania for the night.  Tomorrow morning the traffic should be much better.

Thursday, April 25, 2024

 I left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  Not a great day today.  Spent most of the morning in slow-n'-go and bumper-to-bumper traffic.  This was the cause of the longest and slowest backup of the day.  They had just opened up both lanes just before I got there.  That is going to be an expensive cleanup.  There were 5 of those big wreckers there.

Because of all the delays today, I didn't get anywhere near where I wanted to.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia.  Sure hope tomorrow is better!!

Wednesday, April 24, 2024

 I left real early this morning and drove to Spanish Fort, Alabama, and loaded a Caterpillar 317GC Excavator that is going up to Myersville, Maryland.

Left there and had a good day on the road until Atlanta.  It took a long time to get around Atlanta. Lots of stop-n'-go and slow-n'-go traffic. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Commerce, Georgia.  There is a Longhorn Steakhouse across the street from here.  I had a great rib eye steak for dinner!!!! I'll sleep good tonight!!

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

 I left at 3 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to a power plant in Forkland, Alabama, and delivered the thing. Got a flat tire on the trailer while I was there. 

From there I drove to the TA Truck Stop in Meridian, Mississippi, and got a new tire.  My next load is tomorrow morning over near Mobile, AL in Spanish Fort, AL. I'll head that way in the early morning hours.

Yesterday I meant to put this in my blog and forgot.

As I was pulling into the scale on I-81 in Virginia they were pulling this guy over to the inspection pit.

Here is a closer look…

He had two forklifts, a dozer with a blade (facing the wrong way), a straight truck with a pick-up truck on it, and a short stack of steel sheets under the straight truck.  The scale attendant told me that he was 30,000 pounds (13,607 Kg) overweight!!!!  Maximum legal weight is 80,000 pounds (36,287 Kg). He wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.  Plus he will have a hefty fine to go along with it.

Monday, April 22, 2022

 I left at sunrise this morning.  Very good day on the road.  No traffic problems at all.  Drove 586 miles to the TA truck stop in Greenville, Tennessee. I'll be here for the night.

Saturday, April 20, 2024

 I left Carlisle, PA at midnight this morning.  Drove up to Schenectady, New York to the GE plant.  Loaded a "Generator Field" (whatever that is) that is going to Forkland, Alabama.  It weighs 60,000 pounds.  They wrapped it in plastic and then set it on my trailer.

Then it was my turn to wrap it.

I got out of there in real good time!  Because of that, I was able to drive to the Petro in Scranton, Pennsylvania.  I'll be here for the weekend.  Get a good start Monday morning at sunrise.

Friday, April 19, 2024

 At 12:30 AM EDT, when my 10 hours were up, I left.  I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA, and delivered the truck.  689 miles today.  I was selected again for a random DOT drug screen.  I went and peed in a cup for them.  Upon returning to the Daily yard I swapped out of my trailer to another one for my next load.  Tomorrow morning I have a loading appointment at 6 AM in Schenectady, New York.  I will leave here at midnight.  I'm a bit tired so good night.

Thursday, April 18, 2024

 I left Jacksonville at about 3 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to Orlando.  Got there a few minutes before they opened the gate.  Good timing!!  When they opened it, I went in and delivered the compactor.  My next load was back in Jacksonville at the International dealer.  I drove there and loaded a Daily Express truck that needed to go back to Carlisle, PA to the "home office"

After loading, I left and drove to the Flying J truck stop in St. George, South Carolina.  554 miles today.

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

 I left at 2 AM EDT and drove straight through, stopping only once for fuel, to the Daily Terminal in Jacksonville, Florida.  Will deliver in the morning.

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

 This morning the windshield guy arrived at about 8 AM.  After replacing another trucks windshield he fixed the rock chip in my windshield.  Then I went down to Shippensburg, PA and loaded a Volvo SD115B Compactor that is going to Orlando, Florida.  

Left there and got a lot farther than I thought that I would today.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the Davis Travel Center in Stony Creek, Virginia.

Monday, April 15, 2024

 They fixed everything on my truck and trailer today, except for my windshield.  That will be fixed tomorrow morning.  Then I can get outa here!!!

Saturday, April 13, 2024

 I left at midnight and drove to the home office in Carlisle, PA.  Need some work done on both truck and trailer.  Not sure how long I'll be here.

Friday, April 12, 2024

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Again, rain off and on all day.  At the weigh station in New York, I was pulled in for a Level II Inspection.  Came out clean.  Continued on to Newington, CT, and delivered the wheel loader.  I stayed in their parking lot for my 10 hours.  The traffic up here is terrible!!!  I'll leave here for Carlisle, PA at about midnight. Hopefully, the traffic will be much better in the middle of the night.

Thursday, April 11, 2024

 Left before sunrise this morning.  Another uneventful day on the road.  Rain off and on all day.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop on the north side of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

This is where I went last month.

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

 Left a little before sunrise this morning.  Nice day on the road except for Chattanooga, Tennessee.  Traffic was backed up for 2 miles.  Took 45 minutes to get through those two miles.  After that continued on to the TA truck stop in Baileyton, Tennessee for the night.

Tuesday, April 9, 2024

 Left a half hour before sunrise this morning right behind a thunderstorm. Had a good day on the road.  No traffic problems anywhere.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Meridian, Mississippi.

Monday, April 8, 2024

 Went to Legion City, TX this morning.  Had a 9:25 loading appointment.  Didn't get loaded until 11.  Loaded a Caterpillar 972 Wheel Loader that is going to Newington, Connecticut. 

After loading it took another hour and a half to get out of there.  As you can see, it was heavily overcast today.  The eclipse was really a nonissue.  It got a little darker, enough to take my sunglasses off. But if I didn't know there was an eclipse happening, it would just be like any other heavy overcast day.  I left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Beaumont, TX for the night.

Sunday, April 7, 2024

 Early this morning I left and drove to the Daily terminal in Houston.  

Saturday, April 6, 2024

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  Nothing interesting at all today.  Drove 680 miles to the TA truck stop in San Antonio, Texas for my next 10 hours off.

Friday, April 5, 2024

 My next load is Monday in League City, Texas.  I started off that way.  On the way I stopped at a rest area to use "the facilities".  Took a couple photos of the scenery for you.

Continued on to the Petro truck stop in Demming, New Mexico for my 10 hours.

Thursday, April 4, 2024

 Once again I went back to the job site and reconnected with my trailer. Got there at about 6:30 AM MST.  Sat there all day again watching the fighter jets fly over my head.  At 6 PM MST, I FINALLY got empty!!!  I was the last of 5 trucks to unload.  I went back to the Love's truck stop that I had been staying at all week, but it was full and overflowing.  I left there and went to the TA truck stop in Tonopah, Arizona for the night.  Have no idea where I'm going next, but I'll bet it won't be very close by.

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

 The three of us went back over to the job site first thing this morning.  I took off the tarps and put them away.  Then we sat there all day!!!  I enjoyed watching the fighter jets doing touch-n-goes at the nearby Luke Air Force Base.  They are amazing machines!!!  They would fly right over us at about 500 to 1000 feet.  The thunder of the two engines in the F-35 Lightening II is incredible!!!

Internet Photo

The F-16 Fighting Falcons are not as loud, but still very impressive.

Internet Photo

This afternoon they decided that we would not get unloaded again today.  We dropped our trailers and went back to the Love's truck stop in Buckeye, Arizona for the night.

Tuesday, April 2, 2024

 I went over to Walmart first thing this morning and restocked some essentials.  Then went back to the job site.  When I got there found out that it was still too wet and muddy to unload today.  Will try again tomorrow.  Went to a different Love's truck stop to wait.  This one is in Buckeye, Arizona.  A much better place.

Where I'm delivering is very close to Luke Air Force Base.  See a lot of fighter jets doing touch-n-goes.

Internet Photo

Monday, April 1, 2024

 Left this morning timing it so that I didn't get to Tuscon, AZ before 9 AM.  Had no problems with traffic today.  Drove the rest of the way to Waddel, AZ.  When I got to the job site where I'm delivering found out that the crane crew was sent home today because the rain turned the place into a muddy mess.  I almost got stuck in the mud.  I found a place next to the other trucks that were there to unload.  There were three other Daily trucks with stuff to unload.  Their trailers were there but not the trucks.  I dropped my trailer there too.  From there I bobtailed to the Love's truck stop in Tolleson, AZ for the night.

Saturday, March 30, 2024

 Every time I do a tarp load it is normal for the stupid tarps to have to be adjusted at least once along the way.  This load was no different.  The back side of them came loose.

This morning I fixed the mess so that it will hopefully hold until I deliver.  I also did some preventive work on the front to hopefully keep anything else from coming loose.

After that, I did three loads of laundry.  Now I can settle in and rest for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, March 29, 2024

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  No traffic problems at all today.  Not even through the construction in El Paso.  I stopped for the rest of the weekend at the Petro truck stop in Deming, New Mexico.  I got a lot farther than I thought I would today.  I'm tired again tonight.  At least I'll have a few days to get some good sleep.

I almost forgot, a Tesla pickup truck went past me pulling an Airstream travel trailer.  Weird looking!!

Internet Photo

Thursday, March 28, 2024

 I had a 9 AM CDT loading appointment this morning.  I was there at 8:30.  There were two trucks ahead of me.  At about 10:45 They finally loaded me.  I have no idea what this thing is, or what it does, but it is going to Waddell, Arizona.  It is 13 feet wide.

Then the fun began.  It had to be tarped!!

Once that was finished, I left.  Drove to a small convenience store/truck stop in Menard, Texas for the night.   I should sleep well tonight!  I'm tired!!

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

 Left real early this morning and drove the rest of the way to Abilene, TX and delivered the motor grader right when they opened.  My next load is tomorrow in Wacco, Texas.  I drove down there and stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Wacco.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024, Part 2

 By now I'm sure you all have heard about and seen the video of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland.  I thought I'd give you a little perspective on where it is in relation to where I load or unload at the Port of Baltimore.

In the internet photo below the red arrow points to where I load most of the time.  

In the next internet photo, you will see a green ship behind the damaged ship and collapsed bridge. On the other side of that green ship is where I load and unload most of the time.  Also the red arrow in the above photo shows where that green ship is at the dock.

Hope that helps put things in perspective.

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

 I lest at about 1 AM CDT.  No traffic problems anywhere.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Terrell, Texas.

Monday, March 25, 2024

 This morning I went over to the Port of Savannah.  Loaded a Caterpillar 140 Motor Grader that is going to Abilene, Texas.  This one has a steering wheel and 8 levers to control it.  I don't like these as much as I like the ones without a steering wheel and everything is controlled with 2 joysticks.

I left there at 9 AM EDT. That's pretty good!!  Had no traffic problems going around Atlanta.  That's even better!!! Drove to the Petro truck stop in McCalla, Alabama for my 10 hours.

Sunday, March 24, 2024

 Time to go back to work.  I load Monday morning at the Port of Savannah.  This morning I drove up to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, Georgia.