Friday, October 17, 2025

Tomorrow!

But first, today...

I went over to Saint Joseph, Minnesota, this morning to load.  I got there at 7:40 AM CDT.  I was loading a CNC Machine that weighs 20,000 pounds, which is going to Texas.  It was supposed to be a legal load (not over-dimensional or overweight).  It wasn't ready.  It was still welded to the floor.  The rigging company that was hired to get the thing out the door and onto my trailer wasn't given the proper information and didn't have the equipment to do the job.  A second company was hired and wasn't due to arrive until 10:30.

The other company arrived and got to work.  I waited.  A second truck arrived that was taking the rest of the machine parts.  They loaded him, and he left.  

The initial plan was for them to lift the machine up, I was to back inside the building, and they were going to set it on my trailer.  Well, that didn't work.  Couldn't get the thing up high enough.  It would hit the overhead lights and sprinkler system piping.  So they brought in a little remote-controlled sled (for lack of a better word) that has little tracks under it.  They set the thing on it and very slowly inched it out of the building.

Putting the rear wheels under the machine

Once it was outside the building, they put it on my trailer.  I secured it to the trailer and drove to the back of the building, where there was more room, and we didn't block the only driveway in and out.  The second piece was loaded on my trailer, and I secured it.  I don't have photos of this yet. I was too busy to take any photos.  Here is the second piece when it was still in the building.

Then the fun began!!!!  They had to be tarped!!!!  Put the tarps on the two tall sections, but didn't have enough to cover the entire thing.  By now, the sun is setting.  I dropped the trailer and went to Home Depot and bought one of the largest tarps they had, returned and put it on.  By now, the sun had set, and I was working by the lights from my headlights.  I put it on enough so that the wind wouldn't blow it off.  I was done for today!!!!  The thing measured out to be 14 feet, 6 inches high.  That means it is now a permit load.  Can't get any permits until Monday.  I left there at 8 PM CDT.  I drove back to the Petro truck stop where I was last night.  I had the prime rib again.  This time, I remembered to take a photo of it.

After dinner, I took a very much-needed shower.  As you might guess, I'm exhausted!!  I'll finish bundling it up on Sunday.  My body, especially my back, needs a day of recuperation.

Thursday, October 16, 2025

 I left Gary, Indiana, last night at about 10:30 PM CDT.  Drove to Savage, Minnesota, and was a little bit early.  When they got there, I unloaded the wheel loader.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Saint Joseph, Minnesota.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Cleawater, MN.  This place has the BEST, by far, truck stop restaurant in the country!!!   They have an unbelievable bakery. 

I got a caramel roll.  It was amazingly good!!!!

For dinner, I had the prime rib. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of it.  It is the best I have ever had!!  It is so good.  I look forward to having it every time I come here. For dessert, I had hot apple pie à la mode.  It, like everything else in here, was fantastic!!!  It is all expensive, but oh so worth it!!!!

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

 I left the yard in Carlisle, PA, at about midnight 30 EDT.  Drove 681 miles, stopping only once for the required stupid 30-minute break.  Ended my day with only 20 minutes left on my clock at the Petro truck stop in Gary, Indiana.

Tuesday, October 14, 2025

 I was going to go to the Port of Baltimore this morning after my dispatcher confirmed that the load was ready.  When the Port opened, he called them and found out that it had not cleared Customs yet and would not be ready until sometime next week.  So he gave me something else.  I received a loading appointment of 12:30 PM EDT at the Keen yard, about 3 miles from our yard in Carlisle.  When the time came, I went over and loaded a Komatsu WA200-8Y Wheel Loader that is going to Savage, Minnesota.

I went back to the Daily yard, parked, and went to sleep so that I could leave around midnight.  I'd much rather drive at night, when I can.

Monday. October 13, 2025

 I left a half hour before sunrise this morning and made my way to Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, and delivered the genset.  I had a few trailer lights that needed to be rewired, so I went to the "home office"  in Carlisle, PA, and had that taken care of.  Stayed there for the night.

Sunday, October 12, 2025

 

Saturday, October 11, 2025

 This morning loaded a Caterpillar 3516E Genset that is going to Mount Joy, Pennsylvania.  Fortunately, I didn't have to tarp it.  It was already done.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Seville, Ohio. I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, October 10, 2025

 This morning, I drove the rest of the way to Springfield, Missouri, and delivered the motor grader.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Lafayette, Indiana.  I drove up there and parked outside in the truck staging area for the night.  623 miles today.

Blog readers for the past seven days...

Thursday, October 9, 2025

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove 649 miles today and stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Cuba, Missouri.

Wednesday, October 8, 2025

 This morning, I loaded a Caterpillar 140 Motor Grader at the Port of Baltimore that is going to Springfield, Missouri.

I like driving the ones with joystick controls.  So much better than steering wheel and levers.  I left there and had some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Baltimore.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Wheeling, West Virginia. I'm incredibly tired tonight, and my back really hurts!  Good night.

Tuesday, October 7, 2025

 I left Florence, SC, this morning at about 4 AM EDT.  Had to stop at the Virginia state line because my Virginia permit had not come in yet.  It took about an hour for it to come in.  I used the time to take a nap.  Once I got back on the road again, I drove the rest of the way to Sterling, Virginia, and delivered the loader.  My next load is at the Port of Baltimore.  I started off that way, but couldn't get there before they stopped loading for the day.  So, I went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.

Monday, October 6, 2025

 I left early this morning, but it didn't matter.  Got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic caused by a wreck.  It took 30 minutes to go 5 miles.  Once I got through that, I drove to Savannah and delivered the generator.  From there, I drove down to the Port in Brunswick, Georgia, and loaded a Caterpillar 963 Track Loader that is going to Sterling, Virginia.

I left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Florence, South Carolina, for the night.

Sunday, October 5, 2025

 

The truck was due for an oil change, so I got that done this morning.  Did a couple loads of laundry too.

Saturday, October 4, 2025

 I left at midnight-30.  Drove 528 miles to the Love's truck stop in Pooler, Georgia.  Now it it time to settle in for another great afternoon of SEC football.  Go Gators!!!!

Gator Fans Watch This!!!!

 I left Racine, Wisconsin, this morning at 2 AM CDT and drove to Lafayette, Indiana.  Loaded a Caterpillar Generator that is going to Savannah, Georgia.

I left there in pretty good time.  Traffic was heavy all day.  I was able to go around a large traffic backup from construction in Kentucky.  Wasn't able to get around the other three areas of construction back-ups. Stopped for my 10 hours at the Love's truck stop in Corbin, Kentucky.  539 miles today.

Thursday, October 2, 2025

 At midnight-30, when my 10 hours were up, I left Hurricane, West Virginia.  I hit Chicago right in the middle of rush hour.  LOTS of bumper-to-bumper traffic getting through there. I drove the rest of the way to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and delivered the wheel loader.   Being short on hours, I drove to the Petro truck stop in Racine, WI, for the night. 615 miles today.

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

 I drove to Clayton, North Carolina, this morning, arriving a little bit before they opened.  When they opened, loaded a Caterpillar 930 Wheel Loader that is going to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Got out of there in pretty good time.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Hurricane, West Virginia, for my 10 hours.

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

 I left early this morning.  Got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Baltimore beltway that was caused by a crash.  Once I made it past that mess, I continued on to Salem, Virginia, and delivered the dump truck.  My next load is in Clayton, North Carolina.  I started that way.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Mebane, NC.  I'll load in the morning.

Monday, September 29, 2025

 The shop fixed my truck and trailer this morning, then I left for the Port of Baltimore for my next load.  Of course, I got there just in time for them to go to lunch.  They go to lunch from 11:30 to 1:00. I didn't have all the necessary paperwork and tried to get it from Daily before the Port folks got back from lunch. That didn't happen.  So, I went from being first in line to check in to 10th.  I finally got what I needed and loaded a Caterpillar 730 Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Salem, Virginia.

 Security was very heavy in and around the Port today.  I have never seen it like this. I left there and went over to the TA truck stop in Baltimore, Maryland, for the night.

Saturday, September 27, 2025

 I left last night at 10:30 PM when my 10 hours were up.  Drove back to Carlisle, PA.  Will be here until at least Monday.   After getting some sleep, it's a SEC football weekend!!  Gators are off this weekend.  

Friday, September 26, 2025

Another driver picked up a Caterpillar 319 Excavator in Brunswick, GA, and was taking it to Massachusetts.  He didn't have a (People's Republic of) New York HUT sticker and couldn't get one, so he couldn't enter New York.  He dropped off the machine at the Daily yard in Carlisle.  Yesterday afternoon, after my truck was finished in the shop, I loaded it onto my trailer - in the rain.

At 3 AM, I left Carlisle and took it up to Milford, Massachusetts, and delivered it.  From there, I went to the TA truck stop in Willington, Connecticut, for some food and sleep.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was at midnight-30.  Drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA.  Stopped and got the truck and trailer washed on the way.  The shop needs to do routine maintenance on my truck.  Have no idea how long I'll be here.  Hopefully, not long.

Wednesday, September 24, 2025

 I left early this morning.  Had to time it so that I didn't get to Pennsylvania before a half hour before sunrise.  I drove the rest of the way to Newington, Connecticut, and delivered the excavator. Being very short on available hours, I went to the TA truck stop in Milldale, Connecticut, for my 10 hours. 559 miles today.  I'm tired. Good night.

Tuesday, September 23, 2025

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia for the night.  

Monday September 22, 2025

 This morning I delivered the wheel loader in Lutz, Florida.  Then, I drove to the Port in Brunswick, Georgia.  There, I loaded a Caterpillar 319 Wheeled Excavator that is going to Newington, Connecticut. 

From there, I drove to the Pilot truck stop in Hardeeville, South Carolina for my 10 hours.

Sunday, September 21, 2025

 

Well, the Gators didn't do very well last night.

Saturday, September 20, 2025

 I left last night at 11:45 PM EDT.  Drove to the Flying J truck stop in San Antonio, Florida. I'll be here until Monday morning.  576 miles today. Now it is time to settle in for an afternoon of SEC football!!!!

Friday, September 19, 2025

 I left early this morning and drove to Bloomington, Indiana. Arrived before they opened.  I had the mini excavator unloaded before they got there.  After they got there, I left and headed toward Florida.  Made it through Nashville without any problems.  That is rare in the daytime!!!  Stopped for my 10 hours at the Love's truck stop in Jasper, Tennessee.  Only 476 miles today.

Thursday, September 18, 2025

 This morning, I drove up to Davenport, Iowa, and loaded a John Deere 524 Wheel Loader and a John Deere 35P Mini Excavator.  The excavator is going to Bloomington, Indiana, and the wheel loader is going to Lutz, Florida.

I left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Crawfordsville, Indiana for the night.  534 miles today.

Wednesday, September 17, 2025

 I left Jackson, Georgia at about 11:30 PM last night.  Drove to Fenton, Missouri and delivered the track loader.  From there, I went to the TA truck stop in Troy, Illinois.  Got there with only 22 minutes left on my clock.  672 miles today.

Tuesday, September 16, 2025

 I left early this morning and got to the Port in Brunswick, Georgia, just before they opened.  When they opened, I went in and loaded a Caterpillar 953 Track Loader that is going to Fenton, Missouri.

I left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Jackson, Georgia for my 10 hours.  513 miles today.

Monday, September 15, 2025

 I left Jacksonville this morning and timed it to get to Orlando before they opened.  The gate was open, and I went in and had the machine unloaded when they arrived.  After that, I drove up to Ocala and loaded a Caterpillar 725 Articulating Dump Truck that was going to Macon, Georgia.

Left there and drove up to Macon and delivered the dump truck.  When I finished, I went to the Love's truck stop just down the street in Macon for the night. 512 miles today.

Sunday, September 14, 2025

 I was right, it wasn't pretty.