Thursday, December 17, 2020

 Was worried that the fog this morning would delay my start for a few hours.  Fortunately, the fog had lifted just enough so that I could go at sunrise as planned.  Drove 515 miles down to the TA truck stop on the south side of Jacksonville, Florida for the night.  

Wednesday, December 16, 2020

 Got unloaded first thing this morning then headed for Kernersville, NC.  Saw quite a few Ohio and West Virginia road department trucks were staged and ready for the snow that was coming.  

The weather didn't start until I got south of I-70.  Started off as snow.  Didn't stick to the roads.  After a while, it changed to snow/rain mix.  Then some sleet.  And for the rest of the day until I got to North Carolina, rain.  I passed three big truck wrecks today on the way south.  The roads never did cover over or get slick.  Because of that, I was able to make it all the way to Kernersville just in time to be the last machine that they loaded today.  BOY did I get lucky!!!!  Loaded a John Deere 250GLC Excavator that is going to Miami, Florida.

After securing it to the trailer I pulled out front and parked for the night.  I'll be able to get a good start in the morning.  Hopefully, with luck, I'll be able to deliver this on Friday.

Tuesday, December 15, 2020

 This morning went over to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  Loaded a blade for a Caterpillar D8 Dozer, the swing arms, and a parts box.  All going to a landfill in Dover, Ohio. 

I tried to make it a legal load (not needing permits) and thought I had it.  But it didn't work.  When I started to move the blade shifted.  Had to go back and have the forklift re-position it.  Now it was a permit load.  Oh well, I tried.  Left there and drove straight through to Dover, Ohio landfill, 408 miles.  There was plenty of room for me to park overnight.  There is a snow/ice storm on the way.  I pushed it hard to get there.  Didn't want to be stuck at a truck stop an hour or less away.  At least when I'm empty I can still drive in the snow or ice.  Can't with a permit load.  So I will get empty first thing in the morning.  My next load is in Kernersville, North Carolina.  That puts me driving right through the heart of the snow/ice storm through the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia and North Carolina in the morning.  Tomorrow will be an interesting day.

Monday, December 14, 2020

 Didn't get my next load until noon.  It is up at the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  I left and drove to the TA truck stop in Baltimore. Rained all the way.  Had some bumper to bumper traffic in several places in the Washington DC area.  Didn't get up there in time to be able to load today, plus I didn't get the paperwork needed until 4 this afternoon.  So, I'll go over first thing in the morning and load.

Saturday, December 12, 2020

 The Country Pride Restaurant at this TA truck stop is closed.  So stupid!!!!   I wasn't about to sit there all weekend and eat Popey's Chicken and Pizza Hut.  This morning I fueled up and left.  Stopped at Wal-Mart and restocked a few things,  Then drove up to the Flying J truck stop in Ruther Glen, VA.  It was only 22 miles up the Interstate.  They have a fully functioning Denny's restaurant and a Cinnabon.   I'll stay here until they figure out where to send me next.  

Friday, December 11, 2020

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left this morning.  Drove to Mechanicsville, Virginia, and delivered the excavator.  Fortunately no traffic issues today!!  I do not have another load yet so I went to the TA truck stop in Ashland, VA to wait.  After two unanswered emails to my dispatcher, I still have nothing.  I guess I'll be here for the weekend.

Thursday, December 10, 2020

 Today was not a very good day at all.  I got up early and went across the parking lot to the truck wash and finally got this thing clean.  In the process, I noticed that someone had stolen the beacon lights off the back of my trailer last night. Glad I keep a spare.  Went a few miles down the road and loaded a Caterpillar 316 Excavator that is going to Mechanicsville, Virginia.  

Left there in really good time, much earlier than I thought I would.  Did pretty good until I got to Georgia on I-59.  Just before exit 11, a semi-truck flipped over on it's side blocking the entire Interstate. It had just happened.  I was about 1/4 mile from it.  Could see it from where I sat.

Here is the above photo zoomed in.

Then the wrecker uprighted it.

Sat there for 2 hours and 25 minutes until they were able to clear enough road to let us get by.  Fortunately, there was no fuel spill so there was no other clean-up needed. Fortunately, I can drive at night in Tennessee.  Made it to Chatanooga and had a lot more bumper to bumper traffic.  Finally got through there and continued up to the Petro truck stop in Knoxville for the night.  Sure hope tomorrow is better!!

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

 Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Baton, Rouge, Louisiana and delivered the excavator.  My next load is up in Flowood, Mississippi.  I drove to the Petro truck stop in Jackson, MS for the night.  Load a few miles from here.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020

 Had a late start this morning.  Had to wait for another permit to come in.  Finally got on the road.  Had no traffic issues going through Atlanta.  Surprise surprise!!!  Stopped for the night at a crappy Petro truck stop in Shorter, Alabama.

Monday, December 7, 2020

 

First thing this morning loaded a John Deere 200 Excavator that is going to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. I have all my permits except for North Carolina.  

I left there and went to a truck stop to scale and wait for my permit.  Had a good breakfast there too.  Wasted an entire day waiting for my permit that Carlisle didn't even order until 1:47 this afternoon!!! Incredibly frustrating!!

At 2:30 my North Carolina permit came in.  I went to a truck stop that I thought would be on my route based on where I was to enter South Carolina.  Turns out, I was wrong.  N.C. routed me a different way into S.C which meant I need a new S.C permit.  It also meant I was way off route.  I backtracked to get back on route.  Then stopped for the night, and to wait for my other permits to come in, at the TA truck stop in Mocksville, N.C. Food isn't near as good here!!  Thought I would deliver tomorrow, well that ain't gonna happen now.

Sunday, December 6, 2020

 This morning I moved about 35 miles over to the John Deere plant in Kernersville, NC.  I load here in the morning.

Saturday, December 5, 2020

 

Friday, December 4, 2020

 I left really early this morning. Drove straight through to Charlotte, North Carolina, and delivered the dozer.  Surprised myself.  Didn't think I'd make it today.  My next load is Monday in Kernersville, NC.  I drove up to the TA truck stop in Winsett, NC for the weekend.  Another 630 miles today. 

Thursday, December 3, 2020

 Looks like I made the right decision to go to the Morton yard.  I got my next load and it was right across the street.  Loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that is going to Charlotte, North Carolina.  

I was so fast that I had to wait about an hour for my permit to arrive. Once it got there I left.  Didn't get very far.  Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Seymour, Indiana.

Wednesday, December 2, 2020

 Left real early this morning and drove to the Caterpillar dealer in Eau Claire, WI.  I got there a little early, but that was not a bad thing.  I had plenty of time to get all my stuff off the machine so that when they opened All I had to do was back it off.  It worked out well!!  In the process found that a mud flap on the trailer had broken.  I guess it was too cold for it because it was very brittle.

I tied it up with a Bungie cord until I could get it replaced.

After unloading I still didn't have another load so I started off for Illinois.  Stopped along the way and got the mud flap replaced.

Continued on to the Daily yard in Morton, Illinois until they figure out what is next for me.  620 miles today.  Not too shabby!

Tuesday, December 1, 2020

 Left at about 2 am this morning.  Had to time my arrival at the Illinois State line to get there at a half-hour before sunrise.  I was a bit early so I stopped for a bit to wait.  Once it was ok to continue on, I did.  Drove straight through Illinois to the Pilot truck stop in Beloit, Wisconsin for the night. 666 miles today.  Hope that is not a bad sign!   Got here with only 15 minutes left on my clock for the day.  Will get another very early start tomorrow and deliver as soon as they open in Eau Claire. The phone is off again, good night.

Monday, November 30, 2020

 Went over to Pooler this morning and loaded a Caterpillar 950GC Wheel Loader that is going up to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. I lost my sunglasses in the process.  Have no idea where they went.

Left there right at 9 am.  Had no traffic issues through Atlanta to speak of.  In the very north of Georgia, it started to snow then bumper to bumper traffic to Chattanooga. It finally cleared up but the snow kept coming.  Up top of Monteagle, it was starting to stick on the grass. The plow/salt trucks were getting ready.  I was going to stop there for the night but thought it would probably be a better idea to get to the other side of the mountain.  Who knows what the roads will be like up there later on.  I stopped at a small truck stop in Manchester, Tennessee. As soon as my 10 hours is up I'll be outa here.  It is still snowing here, but not as hard.  Going to sleep real soon.  The phone is off.  Good night.

Sunday, November 29, 2020

 Over the weekend I swapped back to my trailer, did laundry, and restocked the truck with various supplies.  This morning I drove up to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, Georgia.  I load tomorrow morning in Pooler.

Monday, November 23, 2020

 Left a half-hour before sunrise and drove down to Ft. Lauderdale.  Delivered at a job site where they are building a new power plant.  I was lucky today.  Had help getting the tarps off and folded up.  It was very MUCH appreciated.  Got that thing off and I headed north.  Drove to the Daily yard in Jacksonville.  Off for the holiday.  Next load is Monday morning in Savannah, Georgia.  I get my trailer back too.

Sunday, November 22, 2020

 Left at sunrise this morning.  Had a pretty good day on the road.  Some rain in places.  Heavy traffic everywhere today. Drove 613 miles to the South Bound Rest Area on I-95 in Scottsmore, Florida for the night.  Deliver tomorrow.