Monday, June 23, 2025

 The day didn't start off very well.  My pole car would not start this morning.  She had to wait for AAA to come and jump-start her van.  She finally made it over to me, and we were on the road by 9:30 AM EDT.  We drove the hour and a half to Bristow, VA, and delivered the plenum.  My next load was at the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.  I drove there and loaded a Caterpillar 140 Motor Grader that is going to Springfield, Missouri.

Getting that blade tucked in under the machine can be a bit tricky.  It is very easy to put the blade through one of the tires while doing it.  Have to go very slow.  I left there and went over to the Baltimore TA truck stop for my 10 hours.  

Sunday, June 22, 2025

 We left at sunrise this morning.  Easy day.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.  That's the closest place to park until tomorrow's delivery.

Saturday, June 21, 2025

 My pole car arrived on time this morning, and we left at sunrise.  Had a good day on the road.  Some bumper-to-bumper traffic in Knoxville, Tennessee, and south of Bristol in Tennessee.  While stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, I started to experience an air leak in the tire next to the one I had fixed the day before.  I was able to make it to the Petro in Glade Spring, Virginia, where we had planned on stopping for the night.  The shop there was very backed up.  There were 8 trucks ahead of me for repairs.  She didn't think that they could get to me until tomorrow.  She took my number and said she would call me if there was any way she could get me in sooner.  I dropped my trailer, got fuel, and waited. 553 miles today.

They finished fixing my tire, and I was parked for the rest of the night by 11:15 PM EDT.

Friday, June 20, 2025

 Last evening, I received a text stating that the pole car en route to meet me was involved in a crash.  He was struck from behind and would not be able to meet me today.  

I left at sunrise this morning and drove to the Petro truck stop in West Memphis, Arkansas, to wait for the office to find me another pole car.  While there had a tire repaired that had a small nail in it.

They found another pole car, but it won't be here until tomorrow morning.  So I settled in for the rest of the day.

Thursday, June 19, 2025

 This morning I loaded another Plenum that is going to Bristow, Virginia.  

This one is a lot smaller than the last one.  It is only 10 feet wide and 14 feet 11 inches high.  Don't need any escort cars in Texas or Arkansas.  I'll get a pole car when I get to Tennessee and have it until I deliver.  Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Prescott, Arkansas, for the night.

Wednesday, June 18, 2025

 We left at 6:30 CDT this morning and drove the rest of the way to Irving, Texas.  Passed a fatal motorcycle crash on the way.  The body was still on the road. Delivered the plenum.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Waco, Texas.  I drove to the Flying J truck stop in Waco for the night.

Tuesday, June 17, 2025

 We left a half an hour before sunrise this morning. Very good day on the road.  Went through at least 5 thunderstorms, but nothing serious.  Drove 660 miles to the TA truck stop in Greenville, Louisiana for the night.

Monday, June 16, 2025

 This morning, I drove to Ocala, Florida, and loaded what is called a Plenum, a couple of pipes, and a crate.  I have no idea what that is or what it does.  It is 13 feet wide and 15 feet 6 inches high.  It is going to Irving, Texas.  I have two pilot escort cars, a pole car in front and a chase car in the rear.

We left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Marianna, Florida, for the night.  My back hurts a lot tonight.  Hard to get in the truck.  Very glad to be lying down. It will be better in the morning.

Thursday, June 12, 2025

 I left half an hour after sunrise this morning.  Got stuck in a lot of Atlanta rush hour bumper-to-bumper, stop-n'-go traffic on the way up to Calhoun, GA. Made it there and delivered the excavator.  Heading back to Jacksonville for the weekend.  I got stuck in a lot more traffic in Atlanta coming back!!  I was so sick of bumper-to-bumper traffic that I decided to stop at the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA, and wait until tonight when traffic was better.  I'll leave around 11 or 12 tonight.

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

 This morning, I drove to the Port in Brunswick, Georgia, and loaded a Caterpillar 320 Excavator that is going to Calhoun, Georgia.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Jackson, Georgia, for the night.

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

 I left at 1 AM EDT this morning and drove the rest of the way to Birmingham, Alabama, and delivered the wheel loader.  My next load is tomorrow morning in Brunswick, Georgia.  I started off that way, but ran out of hours.  Stopped at a small truck stop in Pulaski, Georgia, for the night.  667 miles today.

Monday, June 9, 2025

 This morning I went to Volvo in Shippensburg, PA, and loaded a Volvo L110H Wheel Loader that is going to Birmingham, Alabama.

Left there in pretty good time and drove to the TA truck stop in Greeneville, Tennessee for my 10 hours. 461 miles today.

Saturday, June 7, 2025

 This evening was the  Daily Express annual Safety Banquet.  I didn't think it was as good as in years past, but it was still good.  Also seemed that the attendance was a bit lower than in years past.  The food was good.

The door prizes were definitely not as good.  I was the second to last one called, so by that time, there was nothing worth a flip left.  I got a tape measure.

I was very surprised that I was one of only two people this year inducted into the Daily Express Million Mile Club.  They gave me a nice watch.

Friday, June 6, 2025

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  That was at about midnight 30.  Drove up to Washington, New York and delivered the wheel loader. From there I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, Pennsylvania for the weekend. Got there with only 16 minutes left on my drive time clock.  646 miles today.  Daily is having their annual banquet Saturday night so I'll be going to that.  The food is pretty good, and they have great door prizes. They also get us a hotel room for the night.  

Thursday, June 5, 2024

 I left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Washington, North Carolina.  Delivered the dump truck.  My next load was at Clayton, NC.  I drove over there and loaded a Caterpillar 930 Wheel Loader that is going to Bloomingburg, New York.

I left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Ashland, Virginia.  I'm very tired and my back really hurts tonight.  Hard to get in the truck.  Going to sleep so it will feel better when I wake up.  Good night.

Wednesday, June 4, 2025

 This morning I drove up to Brunswick, Georgia.  Sat for an hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic that was caused by a wreck.  Didn't start to rain hard until I went to get out of the truck.  I got soaked!!  Loaded a Caterpillar 725 Articulating Dump Truck that is going to Washington, North Carolina.

Left there and drove to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC for the night. 449 miles today.

Friday, May 30, 2025

 I left this morning and drove the rest of the way to Hazlehurst, Georgia and delivered the wheel loader.  From there I drove to the Daily yard in Jacksonville, FL for the weekend.

Thursday, May 29, 2025

 I left at sunrise this morning.  Did good this morning until just before Monroe, Louisiana.  That's when traffic came to a standstill. Sat there for almost two hours while they pulled this out.

Here is a closer look...

When I finally got past that, I continued on to the TA truck stop in Lincoln, Alabama for the night.  514 miles today.

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

 I left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  Drove 485 miles to the TA truck stop in Greenwood, Louisiana for the night.

Tuesday, May, 27, 2025

 My long holiday weekend is over and it is back to "the grind".  I went back and got my trailer and delivered the excavator when they opened.  From there, I drove over to Odessa, Texas for my next load.  That was 5 hours away.  When I got there, I loaded a Caterpillar IT62H Wheel Loader that is going to auction in Hazlehurst, Georgia.  

You can see why it is going to auction.  I left there but didn't go very far.. Stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Big Springs, Texas.