Thursday, August 8, 2024

 Yesterday afternoon I checked in at 3 PM at the repair shop at the Love's truck stop to get my trailer tire replaced.  At 9 PM they brought me in to work on it.  They jacked up the axle and there it sat for another 45 minutes.  Here is what the tire looked like...

When they finished, I parked my truck and went to bed.

This morning I left a half hour after sunrise.  Had some bumper-to-bumper traffic before Atlanta and some more after leaving Atlanta.  In Alabama, I passed a very bad crash that had the eastbound side of I-20 completely shut down.  A semi and a car got tangled up.  The semi was blocking both lanes and had burned to the frame. They had heavy equipment attempting to clean it up. It was still smoldering as I passed.  The car was a crashed-up mess in the median.  It looked like there was at least one fatality.  The eastbound side was at a standstill and backed up for about 3 miles.  They were diverting all traffic off at the exit before that.  They weren't moving either.  That backup was at least 5 miles and they too were at a standstill.  So glad I was going the other way!!  I continued on to a convenience store with some truck parking in Tallulah, Louisiana for the night.  594 miles today.

Wednesday, August 7, 2024

 Time to go back to work.  Hurricane Debby has passed.  The ports are back open again.  I drove up to the Keen's new load yard across from the Port in Brunswick, Georgia this morning.  Nice place.  They did a good job.  Loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer going to Aubrey, Texas.

I left there but had to stop much earlier than I had planned. I had a trailer tire blow out while driving on I-75.  Stopped at the Love's truck stop in Cordele, Georgia for the night and to get it fixed.

Wednesday, July 24, 2024

 Delivered the backhoe in Spanish Fort, Alabama first thing this morning when they opened.  From there I drove home to Jacksonville, Florida.  Will be home for a few days.

Tuesday, July 23, 2024

 I left very early this morning to beat the rush hour traffic.  Got to the Caterpillar dealer in Houston before they opened.  When they opened I delivered the skid steer.  My next load was in Hammond, Louisiana.  I drove over there and loaded a caterpillar 420XE Back Hoe that is going to Spanish Fort, Alabama.

I was just around the corner from the Petro truck stop in Hammond and I went there for the night.  441 miles today.  Lots of rain too.

Monday, July 22, 2024

 When they opened I loaded a Caterpillar 299 Skid Steer going to Houston, Texas.

Left there and drove 405 miles to the Love's truck stop in Hearne, Texas for the night.

Saturday, July 22, 2024

 Left this morning and drove the rest of the way to Lubbock, TX, and parked in the parking lot of the place I'm loading Monday.  There for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, July 19, 2024

 Didn't get my next load until this morning.  It loads Monday in Lubbock, Texas.  I started off in that direction.  Drove through the White Sands Missle Range again.  Stopped for the night at a convenience store with a truck parking lot in Hondo, New Mexico. 479 miles today.

Thursday, July 18, 2024

 Checked out of my hotel this morning and was back at Thermokin before 7 AM PST.  They didn't bring my truck in to work on my APU until 11.  They quickly diagnosed the problem and fixed it.  A few hours later it was all fixed.  Another 110-degree day here.  I drove to the TA truck stop in Eloy (Casa Grande), Arizona to wait for them to tell me where my next load is.  

Wednesday, July 17, 2024

 I got called to go in and deliver at 9:30 AM PST.  Went in and delivered the generator.  From there I went to Thermoking to get my APU fixed.  I checked in but they could not look at it until at least tomorrow morning.  I dropped my trailer there and drove to another hotel for the night.  It has been very hot here.  About 110 degrees F. (43.3 degrees C.)

Tuesday, July 16, 2024

 Another day of waiting.  In the meantime, here is a Google Maps satellite view of the construction site where I'll deliver the generator.  This is an older photo.  The arrows point to where the buildings are. Each building is a massive data center.

Here is a closer view of one of the buildings.  Along the upper side of the building, you see a row of small grey rectangles. The arrow points to only one of them.  Each one of those grey rectangles is one of the generators that I have.  They set the generator on a 10,000-gallon fuel tank. Then an enclosure is placed over the generator. The grey rectangle is the enclosure.  Each of these data center buildings has 34 generators that supply backup power in the event of a power failure.

Kinda gives you an idea of the size of this over-a-billion-dollar project.

Monday, July 15, 2024

 I don't unload until Wednesday.  This morning I checked out of that wonderful Motel 6 and went up much closer to Phoenix to be a lot closer to where I deliver.  Now I'm at a much better hotel, The Comfort Inn in Chandler, AZ.  

Sunday, July 14, 2024 Part II

I got this warning on my phone.

Well, they were right.  Dust storm came rolling in.

Then the thunderstorm came in behind the dust storm.  Not so much thunder and lightning, but heavy rain and heavy wind.

Never a dull moment!!

Sunday, July 14, 2024

I left a half hour before sunrise this morning and drove 400 miles to the Petro truck stop in Eloy (Casa Grande), Arizona. That is the staging area for the trucks delivering up there in Phoenix at the massive data center project. Hope I deliver tomorrow, but who knows when I'll deliver. I could be here a few days.

This evening my APU quit working again.

So I went to a Motel 6 just down the street.  Definitely not a 5-star place!!

Saturday, July 13, 2024

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Lots and lots of dust devils today in West Texas.  Some of them were really big!

Internet Photo

Drove 578 miles today to the Petro truck stop in El Paso, Texas for the night.

Friday, July 12, 2024

 I left this morning and drove to the Love's truck stop in Seguin, TX.  That is the staging area for where we load.  A few other trucks were loading this morning too. Waited there until they called us in to load. Got called in just before noon.  Got there in time for them to go on lunch break.  When they got back from lunch, it started to rain.  Loaded, secured, and tarped in the rain.  This generator is another one going out to that huge data center project in Phoenix, Arizona.

Just as I finished and was ready to leave, the rain stopped.  I drove back to the Love's truck stop to stay there for the night.

Thursday, July 11, 2024

I checked out of the hotel at about 1:30 AM CDT.  Drove the rest of the way to Odessa and delivered the compactor.  From there I went to Thermoking in Odessa.  It didn't take too long for them to pull the truck in to start working on it.  Fortunately, it was a minor problem and easy to fix.  I left there at about noon.  My next load is in Seguin, Texas.  It loads tomorrow morning.  I started in that direction and stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Junction, TX.  516 miles today.

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  Drove to Amarillo, Texas.  When I got there I got fuel, then drove over to The Big Texan to get a good steak.  When I got there I was backing into a parking spot and sunk in the mud.  Had to get a wrecker to pull me out.

THEN my APU quit working!! While waiting on the wrecker I made hotel arrangements.

When I got unstuck, I parked and went in and ate. Had another good rib eye steak.

After dinner, I drove to the Best Western and checked in.  Brand new hotel. Very nice!! 667 miles today.  I'm tired. Good night.

Tuesday, July 9, 2024

 This morning I went over to Elk River, MN, and loaded a Caterpillar CS12 Compactor that is going to Odessa, Texas.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Cameron, Missouri for my 10 hours.

Monday, July 8, 2024

 I went over to the Caterpillar dealer first thing this morning and delivered the wheel loader. Then went back to the Petro truck stop so they could finish working on my trailer.  I dropped the trailer in the bay and parked the truck in the lot. Then took a nap.  They finished my trailer at 3 PM CDT.  I hooked up to it and drove to the Petro truck stop in Clearwater, Minnesota for the night.  I had the prime rib again tonight.  It was so darn good!!!!!  I'll load not too far from here tomorrow.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

 I left at about 11 PM CDT last night and drove 480 miles to the Petro truck stop in Fargo, North Dakota.  My trailer was due for an inspection so I had that done when I arrived.  They found a bunch of things wrong and fixed all but one problem.  They can't get parts until tomorrow.  After I deliver in the morning I'll come back and get the rest fixed. It's always something!!!

Saturday, July 6, 2024

 As soon as my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove 612 miles to the Petro truck stop in Portage, Wisconsin.  Got the truck washed when I got here.  Looks good.

Friday, July 5, 2024

 Last night the truck stop, Kenly 95, and the town of Kenly, NC put on a very good fireworks display right here on the truck stop property.  The place filled up with a lot of people to watch the fireworks.  

Internet Photo

This morning I drove to Clayton, NC, and loaded a Caterpillar 926 Wheel Loader that is going to Fargo, North Dakota.

Left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Bidwell, Ohio for my 10 hours.

This is where I went last month...

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Wednesday, July 3, 2024

 I left at 2:10 AM EDT this morning and drove the rest of the way to La Crosse, Virginia, and delivered the blade.  From there I drove to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina.  I'll be here until Friday morning.  Load in Clayton, NC.  653 miles today.

Tuesday, July 2, 2024

 This morning I drove over to Creve Coeur and when they opened, I loaded a blade for a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that is going to La Crosse, Virginia. I love loads like this!!!  Very easy!!!!

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

Monday, July 1, 2024

 This morning I left, drove the rest of the way to New Century, Kansas, and delivered the stuff. My next load is up in Creve Coeur, Illinois tomorrow morning.  I drove to the Daily terminal in Morton, Illinois for the night.

Sunday, June 30, 2024

 My blog readers for the past 7 days.

Friday, June 28, 2024

 This morning I went to Machesney Park and loaded some parts for a large generator going to New Century, Kansas.

Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Oak Grove Missouri.  I'll be here until Monday morning when I deliver.  529 miles today.

Thursday, June 27, 2024

 At 3 AM CDT I left and drove to the Flying J truck stop in South Beloit, Illinois.  I'll be here until tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

 I left at 3 AM CDT and drove the rest of the way to Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Loaded a couple of generator radiators that are going to Lafayette, Indiana.

They had some kind of computer problem in the office and had to wait until they got it straightened out before I could get my paperwork.  A little after 8 they finally got it figured out and I got my paperwork.  I drove to Lafayette, Indiana and delivered the radiators.  My next load is Friday in Machesney, Park, Illinois.  I started off that way but ran out of hours.  Stopped at the Petro truck stop in  Remington, Indiana with 4 minutes left on my clock for today.  576 miles today.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

 I left at 3 AM CDT, drove the rest of the way to Bemidji, MN, and got there just as they opened.  Delivered the wheel loader.  Last night I got an email saying my truck was due for an oil change.  After I delivered, I went back to the Petro truck stop in Clearwater, MN, and got that done.  My next load is tomorrow in Cedar Falls, Iowa. I started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  495 miles today.

Blog readers for the past 7 days...

Monday, June 24, 2024

 I am doing a reset here.  The bakery is amazing!!! Hard to believe that this is a Petro truck stop.

I couldn't resist and had the prime rib again for dinner tonight.  Melt in your mouth delicious!!!!

sunday, June 23, 2024

 I left at about 11:30 PM EDT last night.  No traffic issues at all.  Going through Chicago in the middle of the night is the best time to go through.  Drove 633 miles to the Petro truck stop in Clearwater, Minnesota.  It is the best Petro in the country!!  They have a bakery here that is fantastic!!!!! I bought some cinnamon bread.  It was great!!!

Had lunch (my dinner) in the restaurant.  I had the prime rib.  It was about an inch and a half thick, just the way I like it.  It came with a salad, baked potato, and fresh bread. Ate it all.  It was delicious!!!!!! 

Going to sleep good today!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, June 22, 2024

 After my 10-hour break was over I left.  Had a good day on the road.  I love driving at night!!   Drove 614 miles to the Flying J truck stop in Lebanon, Indiana.  I'll start again at about midnight.

Friday, June 21, 2024

 I drove the rest of the way to Newberry, SC, and delivered the bailer.  My next load was up in Clayton, North Carolina.  I drove there and loaded a Caterpillar 930 Wheel Loader that is going to Bemidji, Minnesota.

I left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Mebane, NC.  A bunch of bumper-to-bumper traffic along the way caused by a lot of road construction.  Glad to get in bed.  My back really hurts tonight.  Hard to get in the truck after I had dinner.  It will be better tomorrow.  A good night's sleep usually does the trick!

Thursday, June 20, 2024

 I left really early this morning.  Another good day on the road. Some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Atlanta. As I was driving toward the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport I saw a lot of black smoke.  That's never a good sign near a very busy international airport.  I could see that the air traffic coming into and out of the airport seemed to be normal.  So I wasn't too concerned.  Once I got to the area where the Interstate goes under the runway I could see that the smoke was from a brush fire next to the taxiway next to runway 28.  So much for today's excitement.  Another 600+ mile day today.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Batesburg-Leesville, South Carolina.  I'll deliver in the morning.

Wednesday, June 19, 2024

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a great day on the road.  No traffic issues anywhere, not even Dallas!!  Drove 642 miles to the Love's truck stop in Vicksburg, Mississippi for the night.