Wednesday, October 19, 2011

This morning drove down to Galveston, TX to the port for my next load.  Picked up a brand new Caterpillar Excavator.  I had to load it, by myself, on my trailer.  Having never driven one of these before, I was really looking forward to doing that.  Backed up to the loading ramp then went searching for it. There were two long lines of excavators there. I got lucky and found it quickly. Got in, started it up, drove it over to the truck, up the ramp, and onto the trailer. No problem.  I forgot to mention that it was wider than my trailer.  It was FUN!!  I love this job!!  I get to play with the "big boy toys"!!  This is my first (of many) oversize loads with Daily Express.  Chained it down and got on the road.  Stopped at the scales and found out that I had too much weight on the trailer axles so I had to un-chain it and move it up a few feet. Re-chained it and got back on the scales again. This time it was OK. I am 82,500 pounds and 10' 6" wide. 

Got back on the road and drove to a small truck stop south of Dallas for the night.  I cannot drive through Dallas during rush hour so I had to stop early. Can't start tomorrow until 9 am CDT when Dallas rush hour is over.  I deliver this in Topeka, KS.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Drove on into Port Arthur, Texas first thing this morning. It took them forever to unload the trailer.  Finally got it emptied.  Then I went out to the Petro truck stop in Beaumont, TX.  I'll be here until Wednesday on a reset.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Left Knoxville, TN early this morning and drove down to Egan, Louisiana to the Petro truck stop. Will deliver first thing in the morning in Port Arthur, Texas.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Washed the truck this morning then went to Shady Grove, PA to a huge place that makes/builds all types of cranes.  I was there with four other trucks picking up parts of a crane going to Port Arthur, Texas.  We didn't get all the parts of the crane, there had to be a lot more trucks picking up sections of this crane.  It is a big one!  Here is what I got:

You wouldn't know that they are crane parts if I didn't tell you. Got on the road and headed toward Texas. Got to Knoxville, TN just as the LSU at Tennessee game was letting out.  Bumper to bumper traffic with a whole lot of depressed Tennessee fans. Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop west of Knoxville just in time to see the Gator game.

Friday, October 14, 2011

The crane unloaded the last piece from my trailer first thing this morning.  It was done in less than 10 minutes.  Then off to Shady Grove, PA for my next load.  While on the way they called and said that they were backed up and couldn't load me until tomorrow.  I stopped at the TA truck stop in Greencastle, PA for the rest of the day.  It is about one mile from where I get loaded tomorrow.  Made for a very short day today.  Really didn't mind 'cus it was still raining and I had a pretty bad headache.  Hope it is gone soon.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Went into Manassas, VA to the delivery location.  They unloaded the smaller stuff.  The crane came in this afternoon and got set up for tomorrows unloading.  The other two trucks arrived with the big stuff.  I'll get unloaded first in the morning. Hope the rain stops by then.  Then off to Pennsylvania for my next load.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

The rain that Florida had has moved up the east coast.  I left this morning in the rain and didn't drive out of it.  Rained all day.  Tried to get some photos of the fall colors as I went through the West Virginia mountains.  Here are a few.

Since I have not put a video in here in a long time, here is a short (not very exciting) video of the fall colors in rainy West Virginia. 

Sorry that the photos aren't better but "Mother Nature" didn't cooperate very much today.

Stopped for the night at the Wilco Hess truck stop in Tom's Brook, Virginia.

Tuesday October 11, 2011

Drove into Edelstein, IL this morning and picked up the last two pieces of this load.

Somewhere between Minonk (where I slept last night) and Edelstein I got a flat tire on the trailer. Right front inside tire.

I drove to the Daily Express terminal in Morton, IL ( that's just west of Peoria, IL) because I wasn't too far from there.  Called the shop and they sent a guy over to change both tires.

Now I have two new trailer tires!!

After that two hour delay I got back on the road.  Really enjoying the fall tree colors.  Drove to Hebron, Ohio (just east of Columbus) to the TA truck stop for the night.

Monday, October 10, 2011

This morning went into Darien, WI to a place that makes HUGE Caterpillar generators.  There are two other trucks transporting the really big stuff that is going where I'm going.  I'm bringing the smaller stuff.  Got my stuff loaded after they loaded one of the other trucks. 

From here I have to go down to Edelstein, Illinois to pick up some more stuff for this load.  I get that in the morning.  Drove to a truck stop in Minonk, IL for the night.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

At least it wasn't a shutout. 

Friday, October 7, 2011

Drove into Mequon, Wisconsin and delivered first thing this morning.  My next load isn't until Monday morning in Darien, WI.  Went to the Pilot truck stop in East Troy, WI for the rest of the weekend.  Caught up on a lot of paperwork that I have been putting off.  Also did some projects with the truck that I have also been putting off.  Now I can relax and enjoy a quiet weekend of football.  Hope the Gators don't get too creamed by LSU tomorrow.  I'm afraid it is going to be a massacre though.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Went and got my trailer at the yard.  It is definitely not as nice as the JRC trailer.  48 foot step deck.  It is pretty beat up.  Oh well, it works.  Then went over and picked up my first Daily Express load.  I'm not sure what they are except the paperwork says that they are steel castings.  Doesn't tell you very much, does it?  Anyway, there are 44,700 pounds of them and they are going to Wisconsin.

Finally got on the road.  Sure feels good to be back on the road again.  Drove to Gary, Indiana and stopped at the TA truck stop for the night.

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Last day of orientation!!  Its done!!  I'm an official Daily Express driver now.  LOL  So far I'm very impressed with the entire organization. Very professional.  Everyone here, from the guys in the shop to all the office staff, are very nice and pleasent to talk with.  They really make you feel welcomed.  

They finished with my truck in the shop.  Here is my new look:

They also finished putting on my new (used) headache rack.  Looks pretty good.

Then I got all my stuff put on it - chains and binders.

The trailer is still not ready yet.  They have one thing on it to fix.  The shop will do that tonight and I'll pick it up in the morning.  Then it is over to pick up my load.  I'll be VERY glad to get back on the road again. 

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Orientation day today.  Got a bunch done.  One more day of orientation tomorrow.  I have a load waiting for me when its done.  Thats a good thing!!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Pulled into the Daily Express yard in Carlisle, PA first thing this morning.  Glad I got here a day early.  Got a few things done already.  The truck is in the shop and has had their inspection done on it already.  I'm checked into the hotel.  Orientation starts tomorrow at 8 am. So far so good.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

I'm all moved in up in Jacksonville.  Really enjoyed having a few days off.  Especially spending them with loved ones!!  Back to the road today.  Drove bobtail from Jax up to Hagerstown, MD today.  On my way to Carlisle, PA to the "home office" of Daily Express. Have orientation Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

This morning took the blown tire off the RV.  Looked at the one on the opposite side and it too was ready to blow.  I took that one off and took them both to be replaced.  $400 later I had 2 new tires.  Went back and put them on. Now I'm broke again!! 

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Moved from Pierson today.  I now live in Jacksonville.  Made two trips.  First one taking the big truck up and Mom followed.  We then went back for my RV.  She went home and I went back to Jax with the RV.  Going through Jax I blew a tire on the RV.  Made it home and I'll fix it in the morning.  Its always something!!

Monday, September 26, 2011

Drove down to Miami this morning and delivered first thing.  Then drove back home.  Stopped and got the truck washed on the way.  Nice to be home!!

After I was home a while I talked to my dispatcher and told him that I was terminating my lease with JRC Transportation.  I am transferring to a different trucking company.  My new company is Daily Express.  Their home office is in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  They have an office in Jacksonville.  That's the one I'll work out of.  To see more info on it go to this web site:      http://www.dailyexp.com/index.html      It is a very good site with lots of info and photos.    I cleaned all of my stuff out of the trailer and dropped the trailer in the yard.  Boy do I have a lot of stuff!!   More details to come in the days ahead.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Got on the road very early today.  Drove home.  Was home and in bed by 8:30 this morning.  Will leave very early in the morning so I can deliver this thing first thing in Miami.