Tuesday, June 11, 2024

 There are quite a few trucks loading here today.  All going to the same place.  We were to wait at the truck stop until called to go in to load, there wasn't very much room in there.  At about 10 AM CDT they called and I went in to load.  Loaded a Caterpillar Generator that is going to Phoenix, Arizona.

Then the back end had to be tarped!! 100 degrees, no shade, no breeze, and no help.

That one really took its toll on me.  I left there and went to the first truck stop I came to, where I stopped for the night.  Stopped at the Love's truck stop in Comfort, Texas.  Took a vary long and cold shower.  Ate dinner and went to bed!!!!!  Phone is off!!!!

Monday, June 10, 2024

 I left at 11 PM CDT last night and drove the rest of the way to Whitsett, Texas.  Had no rain at all from Pennsylvania until about 10 miles from delivery, then very heavy rain and thunderstorm.   Delivered the telehandler in the rain, but after it slowed down a lot. My next load is tomorrow morning in Seguin, Texas.  Drove over to the Love's truck stop in Seguin for the night.  633 miles today.

Saturday, June 8, 2024

 I left at about 1:45 AM EDT.  Drove until I took the required 30-minute break.  Took an hour and a half nap then continued on.  Drove non-stop until I got to the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana.  Got the truck washed when I got there.  I'm parked for the rest of the weekend.  688 miles today.

Blog readers for the past 7 days.

Friday, June 7, 2024

 I went to McConnellsburg, PA this morning. Arrived at 6 AM EDT.  Got loaded right away with a JLG Skytrak 10042 Telehandler that is going to Whitsett, Texas.

I was out of there by 6:45 AM.  That doesn't happen very often!!!  Left there and headed south.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Greeneville, Tennessee.  561 miles today.

Thursday, June 6, 2024

 I left at 1:45 AM EDT and drove to Charleston, West Virginia.  Delivered the backhoe.  My next load was to be at the Daily Yard in Carlisle, PA.  I drove as far as I could today, 683 miles, but had to stop at the AC&T truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.  I had only 6 minutes left on my clock when I stopped.  I emailed my dispatcher asking him where the paperwork would be left for me since I would get there in the middle of the night.  He called me on the phone and told me that he "FORGOT" to tell me that it wouldn't be in Carlisle and that I would have to load it tomorrow morning in McConnellsburg, PA.  It is so frustrating when having to rely on someone who "forgets" to do his job!!!! I could have reloaded today.  

Wednesday, June 5, 2024

 I left at 3 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to Piscataway, NJ and delivered the wheel loader.  Was out of there before 7 AM !!!  My next load was at the Port of Baltimore.  I drove down there.  The ship that hit the Key Bridge was tied up at the Port.  Drove right past it, although I couldn't get a photo of it because of the traffic.  They still have not started to unload it.  I went to an area of the Port I have not been to before.  They were very busy.  When I got there to check in I was the 24th person in line.  It took two and a half hours just to check-in.  Once I got checked in I was given a dock to park in front of and they would bring my machine to me.  Over two hours later they finally brought it.  Loaded a Case 580 Back Hoe that is going to Charleston, West Virginia.

From there I went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for my ten hours.  I'll sleep good tonight!!

Tuesday, June 4, 2024

 This morning I was at Caterpillar in Clayton, North Carolina before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a Caterpillar 930 Wheel Loader that is going to Piscataway, New Jersey.  

Left there and headed that way.  Lots of bumper-to-bumper and slow-n'-go traffic in Washington DC then more north of DC.  I got tired of all that so I stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Jessup, Maryland.  I'll leave in the middle of the night. Hopefully, the traffic will be more tolerable then.

Monday, June 3, 2024

 Early this morning I drove the rest of the way to Chantilly, Virginia.  Got there before they opened.  The lace was right at the edge of the Dulles International Airport property. Once they opened I delivered the stuff.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Clayton, North Carolina.  I drove down there and stopped at the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC for the night.

 This morning I drove to the Flying J truck stop in Ruther Glen, Virginia.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, May 31, 2024

 I left at about 1:30 AM EDT.  Stopped a little early today since I'm not in any hurry.  I don't deliver until 7:30 AM Monday morning.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina for the night.  I did a couple of loads of laundry to get that out of the way.  Then took a nap.  Boy did that feel good!! Tomorrow will be a very short day too.

Thursday, May 30, 2024

 I left at about 2:30 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to Riverview, FL, and delivered the telehandler. From there I drove to Ocala, FL, and loaded a bunch of parts for a very large generator. They are going to Chantilly. Virginia.  Thats right next to Dulles Airport.

 

I left there and drove back to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville for the night.  I am really tired tonight!!! 458 miles today.

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

 At 1:30 AM EDT, when my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove 634 miles to the Daily Yard in Jacksonville, Florida.  I'll leave again in the middle of the night.

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

 Had a small trailer issue repaired this morning.  After that I drove to McConnellsburg, PA and loaded a Caterpillar TL1055 Telahandler that is going to Riverview, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Raphine, VA for my ten hours.  Feels good to be moving again.

Monday, May 27, 2024

 Last Monday I delivered the box, then went to the Daily Yard in Carlisle, PA.  To make a long story short, I had to go to the hospital.  That's why there have been no updates for the past week.  Otherwise, I'm doing much better and will be back at work tomorrow.

Thomas The Train decided to spend the holiday weekend at the Daily Yard with us.

Saturday, May 18, 2024

 I left at about 12:30 AM EDT.  Good day on the road.  Nothing interesting.  Drove 579 miles today to the Flying J truck stop in Ruther Glen, Virginia.  Got here before 11:00 AM.  There is a Golden Corral restaurant here.  I ate so much for lunch that it hurt!!!   I'll be here until early Monday morning.

Thursday, May 17, 2024

 I left this morning timing it so that I would arrive at the staging/check-in area in Orlando a little after 5 AM EDT.  We couldn't go in before 5.  Glad I went early.  About 50 trucks were checking in to get loaded.  Fortunately, I was one of the first.  After a while, I was called to go in.  From the staging area, I drove over to the Orange County Convention Center, West Wing.  When I got to the OCC there was another staging area.  From there I was led to the convention center.  The guy I was following dropped off at the entrance to the building.  Another guy took over from there.  I followed him inside the OCC and he took me to where I was loading.  See the video below.

They placed a big box that is going to York, Pennsylvania on my trailer.

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

By the time I finished, there were about a dozen other trucks in there loading.  I was able to maneuver my way out.  I always wanted to drive inside the convention center.  I can check off another item on my bucket list.  I left there and drove back to the TA truck stop in Brunswick, Georgia for my 10 hours.

Phone is off.  Going to sleep.  Good night.

Thursday, May 16, 2024

 I left at about 1:45 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to Savannah, GA, and delivered the stuff.  My next load is in Orlando, Florida.  I started off the way but ran out of hours.  Stopped at the TA truck stop in Brunswick, GA for the night.  597 miles today.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

 I left at 3 AM CDT and drove to Lafayette, Indiana.  I made a good decision not to drive through Chicago until today.  I had no traffic issues at all.  I was very early for my loading appointment so I waited hoping that they would load me early.  I got lucky!!  Was loaded with 6 boxes of generator parts and out of there by 10:30 AM EDT.  They are going to Savannah, Georgia.

Left there and drove to a truck stop in London, Kentucky for my 10 hours. I'll start again at about 1:40 AM EDT.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  I was going to stop at the Petro in Albert Lea, Minnesota, and get fuel.  As I was going around on the exit ramp There was a fresh kill deer carcass in the road.  I was unable to go around it so I ran over it.  I must have been the second one to hit it because the truck that initially hit and killed it was on the side of the road where the ramp merges into the travel lane.  When I stopped at the fuel pumps I checked my truck. There was no damage but I had deer guts all over the left side, undercarriage, and trailer. Yuk!!  I didn't feel like dealing with Chicago traffic today so I stopped at the Flying J truck stop in South Beloit, Illinois.  

Monday, May 13, 2024

 I left at 3 AM CDT and drove the rest of the way to Rapid City, SD, and delivered the bucket.  While there I found an air leak in the trailer.  

Fortunately, they were able to repair it for me right there.

My next load is way back in Lafayette, Indiana.  I started off in that direction.  Ellsworth Air Force Base is in Rapid City.  Could see the B1-B Bombers flying around.  Very cool!!!

Internet Photo

Internet Photo

On the way back across South Dakota I saw quite a few Pronghorn Elk and Prairie Dogs.

Internet Photo

Internet Photo

Stopped for my 10 hours at the Love's truck stop in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  627 miles today.

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.