Friday, January 31, 2014

Last night I came back from dinner and found that my generator had quit working.  Had to idle the truck all night.  

Started at sun rise this morning and drove to Lake Charles, LA.  Dropped my trailer at a truck stop and went over to Cummins / Onan and had my generator fixed.  When it was done I went back and picked up my trailer again and hit the road.  Stopped for the night at the TA Truck Stop in Baytown, Texas for the night.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

The roads had improved enough so we could go.  Left at almost 9 am local time.  On I-85 passed a few left over wrecks from the last couple days.  Here is one of them.

Most places the roads were in pretty good shape.  The parts in the shade, under and on top of the bridges were not so good.

Then my "black cloud" arrived again.  A chunk of ice hit the window of the dozer shattering it.

Stopped and got a couple mud flaps to cover the hole.

Then cardboard on top of the mud flaps.

That seemed to do the trick.  

Passed another wreck.

Stopped for the night at the Petro Truck Stop in Hammond, Louisiana.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Last night It snowed pretty hard.  This is what it looked like after dinner when I went back to the truck.

Up north this would be no big deal. Down here they have no snow plows, no sanders, or salt spreaders.  I'm really glad I got through Atlanta before this hit.  What a mess!!!!

Today was a beautiful sunny day.  BUT the temperatures didn't go above freezing so the roads, especially the bridges, remained iced over.  Large portions of the interstate highways were closed.  The interchange of I-85 and I-65 in Montgomery was closed all morning but finally opened this afternoon.  Permit loads were still not allowed to move in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and several other states. Hopefully tomorrow we can move again.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Went over and loaded first thing this morning.  Loaded a Case 2050 Dozer that is going to Brownsville, Texas.  

Started snowing just north of Atlanta.  Just a dusting, no biggie.  On I-85 north of the Alabama line it started with freezing rain.  The roads rapidly deteriorated.  Passed a bunch of crashes.  Most of them from iced over bridges.  Here are a few of them.

I had to stop for the rest of the day because my permit won't allow driving in those conditions.  Stopped at a truck stop in Cusseta, Alabama on I-85 at exit 70.  South from here at mile marker 57 was a very bad head on crash with fatalities.  Traffic was diverted off the interstate.  In Montgomery there was a crash on the bridge at the I-65 and I-85 interchange involving two semi trucks.  The interchange was shut down.  My Alabama escort arrived and I sent him to find a hotel for the rest of the day.  We will see what the weather looks like tomorrow morning.  Hopefully it will improve.  Here is what my load looked like when I stopped at the truck stop.  That is what is on the roads, especially the bridges.

Monday, January 27, 2014

While I was here I had some work done on the trailer.  Had that air valve that was sticking replaced.

Also had a chronic problem fixed hopefully for the last time.  There was a problem with the welds breaking in the back corners of the trailer.  They have been re-welded multiple times.  This time heavy angle iron was welded there to strengthen the area.  That should do the trick!!  Also had six "D" rings added, two toward the front of the trailer (not shown), and four in the back.  They will help a lot!!

I got a load for tomorrow up in Calhoun, GA.  That is north of Atlanta.  After lunch I left for Calhoun.  Had a very nice day on the road until the Macon bypass.  I was cruising along in the right lane (of three lanes) and passing another semi truck that was in the middle lane.  All of a sudden I felt something pulling on the truck.  I though I had a mechanical problem.  Then I looked in the mirror and saw that the truck I was passing had changed lanes right into the side of my trailer.  When we separated we both pulled to the shoulder of the road.  He said that he bent down to pick up a bottle of water and the next thing he knew, he was in the side of my trailer.  That black cloud that has been following me just won't go away!!  Here is what he did to my trailer.  Yes, that is a piece of his truck on my trailer.

I have a very good trailer!!!!

Now here is what he did to his truck.

I took a zillion photos and called the cops.  Macon showed up.

Took our information, filled out an accident report and I was on my way.  Finished my trip up to Calhoun, GA and stopped for the night at a Wilco/Hess truck stop there.  Load a few miles from here in the mornnig

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

First thing this morning went over and delivered the chiller.  Was back home by 9 am.  Will be here for a few days.  

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Got a late start this morning.  Had to wait for my Alabama permit.  The permit office was closed yesterday for the "Holiday". It finally arrived and off I went.  Drove all the way home.  Just before I got there ran into a huge thunderstorm.  Nickle size hail and blinding downpour.  Fortunately it didn't last long and no damage to my truck or the load. I'll deliver first thing tomorrow morning.

Monday, January 20, 2014

Left early this morning to get in front of the San Antonio curfew.  When I got to Houston I was about an hour early so I waited at a closed weigh station.  While I was waiting I took a couple photos.

At 9 am, local time, when the Houston curfew was over I hit the road again.  Had a very good day on the road.  Even made it through Louisiana without any problems.  Stopped for the night at the TA Truck Stop in Grand Bay, Alabama.  

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Went over to load first thing this morning but it wasn't ready.  Said it would be ready sometime this afternoon. They took my phone number and said they would call me.  I went back to the truck stop to wait. This afternoon I got the truck and trailer washed.  Needed it real bad!!

And hand dried too!!

While I was getting the truck washed they called and said the load was ready. So I went to load right after that.  Loaded a Chiller that is going to Jacksonville, Florida, about two miles from home!!.

By the time I finished getting loaded and the thing secured to the trailer it was a little too late to go anywhere.  I went back to the Petro truck stop for the rest of the weekend.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Got started just before sunrise and drove the rest of the way in to Houston and delivered the thing.  My next load is over in San Antonio, TX.  Hit the road and drove to the Petro truck stop in San Antoino, TX. for the night.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

A very good day on the road.  Good weather too.  When we got to Texas our second escort car dropped off.  Only need one in Texas.  Stopped for the night at a very small place (but it had great food!!) in Longview, Texas. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Got started this morning right at sunrise in the snow.  It snowed pretty heavy for about an hour or so.  When we got to Kentucky out third escort dropped off and we continued on. Every time we got to a city it snowed.  Wierd!  Stopped for the night at the North 40 Truck Stop in Holladay, Tennessee.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Went a few miles from the truck stop in Baltimore and loaded a crane lower unit.  Basically what it is, is a section of a tower crane.  The section I have is the second one from the bottom or base of the crane.  It is not especially heavy but it is a bit wide, 15 feet, 1 inch.  It is also heavier on one side so it has to sit on the trailer with more hanging over on one side than the other.   There are a bunch of these going to Houston, Texas.

 My pilot cars arrived right on time and once I finished securing the thing we took off. I will have two all the way to Houston.  In West Virginia, they require three.

When we got to the West Virginia line our third pilot car was waiting for us.

We all stopped for the night at the truck stop in Jane Lew, West Virginia.

Monday, January 13, 2014

Nothing special, drove the rest of the way in to Baltimore.  Load tomorrow morning.

Friday, January 10, 2014

The weather timed it perfectly!!  As I was waiting for the Port to open this morning the freezing rain and sleet started.  Once I got in and starting to load the trailer was covered in wet ice.  Loaded another Caterpillar 324EL Excavator that is also going to Murrysville, PA.  Nothing like loading a large excavator in the freezing rain on a wet ice covered trailer.  Gross weight is just under 102,000 pounds.

By the time I finished the temperature had risen enough for it to be just rain.  Of course I was soaked through to the skin. Drove over to Murrysville, PA and delivered it.  Of course it rained all the way and was still raining when I unloaded. Next load is back in Baltimore again.  It is going to be an interesting one.  Probably won't load until Tuesday.  The only hint I'll give is that I have my West Virginia permit already and it says that I have to have three escorts. 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

My Maryland permit didn't arrive until after 10 this morning so I couldn't leave till then.  Finally got on the road and drove over to Murrysville, PA, that's north of Pittsburgh, and delivered the excavator.  Turned around and drove back to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.  I load another one at the Port in the morning.  Ice storm supposed to be here tomorrow morning too. May not be going anywhere.

Wednesday, Janbuary 8, 2014

They weren't as quick to unload as I had hoped.  But still got the thing off and I headed up to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, MD for my next load.  Loaded a Caterpillar 324EL Excavator that is taking a short ride over to Murrysville, PA.

Unfortunately, I couldn't get out of the port fast enough to beat the Baltimore curfew so I had to stop at the TA truck stop in Baltimore, MD for the night.  Can sleep in tomorrow, can't leave until 9 am.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

My escort arrived right on time this morning with a fresh, hot cup of coffee for me.  He did GOOD!!  Off we went right at sunrise.

Stopped at a rest area because my trailer lights quit working.  Fixed that problem but found another.  Had an air leak from what looks like a pop off valve.  Wasn't causing a problem as my compressor could keep up with it.

Continued on up to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC to get it fixed.  I checked it again and somehow it fixed itself.  Must have hit a bump or something.  Whatever happened, it worked.  We continued on.  Had to wait at the bridge over the river on I-295 (Richmond By-pass) for the State Police.  Had to shut down the interstate so that when I went over the bridge there were no other vehicles on it with me.  That didn't sit very well with all those that had to wait for me to cross the bridge.  Oh well.

Unbelievably we made it all the way up to I-495 almost to I-66 before we hit bumper to bumper traffic.  Fortunately there wasn't much of it. That too, is amazing!!  Picked up my front escort along I-66, now I have two.  Went the rest of the way in to Chantilly, VA to where I am delivering tomorrow morning.  They showed me where to park for the night.  Got stuff ready for the morning so I can (hopefully) get out of here quick.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Went into downtown Jacksonville this morning and loaded a Caterpillar generator that is inside an enclosure. As usual, as soon as we started to load it started to rain.  It stopped when I finished securing it to the trailer.  It is going up to Chantilly, Virginia.

Because I am 12 feet, 6 inches wide (I'm also 14 feet high) I have to have an escort in Florida, North Carolina, and Virginia.  My Florida escort arrived and off we went.  At Georgia he dropped off and I continued on.  Stopped for the night at the North Carolina Welcome Center Rest Area on I-95.  My next escort will meet me here at sunrise tomorrow morning.

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Spent the holidays with family and friends.  Had a great time.  But now its back to work.

Swapped into a step deck trailer this morning and went over to the Port of Jacksonville.  Loaded 10 crates of various parts to a crane.  

Quick trip.  Took them up to the port of Savannah, Georgia.  Delivered them and returned back to the Daily yard in Jacksonville for the weekend.  Next load is Monday in Jacksonville.