Saturday, March 3, 2018

Left this morning a half hour before sunrise.  At the Texas / Arkansas state line in Texarkana my pilot escort car fell in behind me and we continued on.  Lots of flooding in Arkansas.  The Arkansas and Mississippi River's are both very high.  Stopped at the Love's truck stop in Dickson, Tennessee.  Will be here until very early Monday morning.

Friday, March 2, 2018

At 9 am I left the Daily yard and went into Houston to load.  It was tricky getting in there.  It was a huge challenge once I got there.  Had to go in and turn around in order to load.  With the trailer stretched all the way out made that maneuvering quite a sight to see. I am 103 feet long.  But I did it without hitting anything and they loaded  the thing on the trailer.

Getting back out of there was even more fun.  Left turns going in.  Right turns going back out.  Rounded two corners missing a telephone pole by only centimeters. I attract a lot of attention doing that.  I think they want to see me take out the pole!!  Made it back to the Interstate and the driving was much easier.  Stopped for the night at a convenience store with a few truck parking places in Atlanta, Texas.  Tomorrow morning I'll get to Arkansas where I'll pick up my pilot escort car.  That too will make things a lot easier for me.  Having someone to block traffic while I make those tight maneuvers is a huge help.  

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Spent several hours this morning with the mechanics working on a problem I found with the trailer.  Then took a much needed nap!  Felt great!!  All set to go tomorrow. 

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Left at sunrise this morning.  there was a little fog but not enough to keep me from going.  Drove the rest of the way to Sulphur, Louisiana.  Had a bunch of bumper to bumper traffic in Baton Rouge.  But I finally made it and delivered the excavator.  My next load is a lot different.  It is in Houston.  I drove to the Daily terminal in Houston and swapped out of my trailer and into another one.  My next load requires a stretch trailer.  Took the rest of the afternoon to swap out.  Ruined a pair of jeans and my cell phone case.  Covered in 5th wheel grease.  That stuff does not come out very easy.  After I was done I left the trailer there and drove bobtail to the TA truck stop in Baytown, TX.  Needed some serious showering and de-greasing!!  Now it's time for bed!!  My back hurts!!  Still have a little bit more to do with the trailer tomorrow.  Good thing I don't load till Friday.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Left the Daily yard in Jacksonville a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had an excellent day on the road.  582 miles later I stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana.  Hope it is not foggy in the morning.  If it isn't foggy, I should deliver before noon.

Monday, February 26, 2018

Went up to Pooler, GA this morning and loaded a Linkbelt 350X4 Excavator that is going to Sulphur, Louisiana. 

Left there and drove down to the Jacksonville, Florida terminal for the night.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Got up very early this morning and took the truck through the truck wash.  Got all that mud cleaned off from the job site the other day.  Going real early is really the only time to do that.  Going during the day is usually an hour wait to get in.  The line gets very long.  At 4 am there was no line.  After that was done, I drove to the TA truck stop in Richmond Hill, GA. I load Monday about 15 miles from here.  In the mean time, I'll enjoy the "down time" and sleep - a lot.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Left a half hour after sunrise this morning and drove to Austell and delivered the excavator. Next load is Monday back in Pooler, Ga.  I started that way but stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Jackson, GA.  Too much traffic to continue on today. Especially since there is no hurry to get back.  I'll go early tomorrow morning so I don't have all this traffic.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Back to work today.  Went up to Brunswick, Georgia to a job site in the woods.  Here is the dirt road in and out of the place.  That is the best part of the road too.

Once I got in to the job site, I got stuck.  An excavator pulled me back out.  Then I went over to where the machine was and loaded it.  A Caterpillar 330F Excavator that is going to Austell, Georgia.

Left there and went over to the TA truck stop in Brunswick for the night.  Needed a shower real bad!!!

Monday, February 19, 2018

Left this morning a half hour after sunrise and drove the rest of the way into the Port in Savannah. Delivered the dump truck.  After that drove home to Jacksonville, Florida.  Will be here for a few days.

Sunday, February 18, 2018

Left this morning a half hour after sunrise. Sunday is one of the best days to go through Atlanta.  Had no problems at all.  Drove down to the closest truck stop to Savannah that is on my permit route.  I'm still about an hour away at this place in Metter, Georgia.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Very good day on the road today.  Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Started off dry but quickly changed to light snow, then very heavy snow.  Can't tell from the photo, but the snow flakes were huge. They were about the size of a quarter, so I knew the snow was soon going to change to rain.

Sorry about the windshield wiper in the middle of the shot

About ten miles before I got to Kentucky it had change over to all rain.  Continued to rain the rest of the day.  My pilot escort car was waiting for me at the Illinois / Kentucky state line.  He fell in behind me as I went by.  Had another good one today.  He did an excellent job.  Went through Nashville in the rain and had no traffic problems.  That is rare in Nashville.  Same thing in Chattanooga.  When I crossed over into Georgia he dropped off because I don't need him in Georgia.  I didn't go much further and stopped at a truck stop in Ringgold, Georgia for the night. Tomorrow will be a short day.

Friday, February 16, 2017

Not a great day today.  Left the truck stop at 3 am and drove down to Decatur, Illinois.  Got there at 6:30.  First one there.  They don't start loading until 7:30.  When they opened, I was first in line.  Another typical day of how things go for me.  They loaded two other trucks ahead of me.  Then changed the crane rigging and unloaded another truck.  Then they changed the crane rigging back to the way it was.  Then it was break time.  After their break, they loaded a Caterpillar 772G Dump Truck on my trailer that is going to the Port in Savannah, Georgia.  

They have a scale there so everyone scales up before they leave.  Found out that they loaded me over 2,700 pounds too heavy on the trailer axles.  Now I'm really pissed!!  Pulled back to where I started  and had to remove EVERYTHING, including all the dunage, and basically start over again.   After they had their lunch they brought the crane back over and moved the dump truck forward about 2 feet.  Then I put all ten chains back on, then put the dunage back on the trailer.  Scaled up again.  This time the numbers were just fine - barely.  My gross weight is over 130,000 pounds (58,967 kg).  Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Effingham, Illinois for the night.  Had to stop there because I ran out of hours.  I need a pilot escort car in Kentucky and Tennessee.  He was going to meet me this afternoon at the Illinois / Kentucky line.  He will be meeting me tomorrow morning instead.  My back is really sore and I'm exhausted.  Will be going to bed early tonight and sleeping on the heating pad again.  Good night!!!

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Had absolutely no problems with the St. Paul rush hour traffic. Made it to Hugo, MN and delivered the excavator.  Next load is tomorrow in Decatur, Illinois.  High tailed it that direction.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in South Beloit, Illinois.  Will be starting very early in the morning.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Getting through Dallas was not too bad today.  Had some heavy traffic and a few slow downs, but we all kept moving.  Continued on through Oklahoma and up into Missouri.  Stopped for the night at a truck stop in Lamar, MO.  Tomorrow I have to time my departure to get to Kansas city when the curfew ends at 9 am.  

There was a Pizza Hut about a quarter mile down the road, so I walked down there and got a pizza.  When I got back to the truck I opened the box and found a pizza that was partially cooked.  The crust was still white!!!! It wasn't cooked!!  I was a bit peeved - I'm putting it nicely.  I went back and got my money back.  Then went next door to McDonald's.  

Monday, February 12, 2018

After two very much needed days off, I was in Victoria, Texas bright and early this morning.  Loaded a Caterpillar 336F Excavator that is going up to Hugo, Minnesota. 

Was out of there by 9 am and on the road.  Drove up to the TA truck stop in Dallas for the night.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Left at sunrise this morning and drove down to the Port in Freeport, Texas.  Wasn't sure I would make it today, but I got lucky and did.  Delivered the dump truck chassis.  Those things are really fun to drive.  Next load is over in Victoria, Texas Monday morning.  I drove over to the TA truck stop in Ganado, Texas for the rest of the weekend.  I'm only 31 miles from Victoria.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  Met my escort pilot car at the Missouri state line.  He had it easy in Missouri but when we got to Arkansas he had to work a bit harder.  Most of the way through Arkansas was off the Interstate and on back roads.  Took all day but we made it to the Flying J truck stop in Texarkana, Arkansas for the night.  I'll be back "flying solo" again tomorrow,  Don't need him in Texas.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

We got about an inch of snow.  Went to leave this morning to beat rush hour in Indianapolis but the damn Pilot truck stop parking lot was too small and I couldn't get out without hitting the trucks parked on either side of me.  And I could really only turn left out of my parking place.  The guy on my left would not move, so neither could I.  Had to wait until he decided to go.  I went back to bed.  About 2 hours later he pulled out, but he had difficulty getting out too.  His truck and trailer were much shorter than mine and he was able to get out after several attempts.  Then I pulled out.  Still snowing. Fortunately had no difficulties getting through Indianapolis.  Continued on to Decatur.  Got sleepy on the way.  Had to stop twice!! to take a short nap.  Finally got there and loaded a Caterpillar 775G Dump Truck chassis that is going to Freeport, Texas.

By the time I left there I didn't have a whole lot of hours left.  Drove to the Flying J truck stop in Mt. Vernon, Illinois for the night.  Have to have an escort pilot car in Missouri.  He will meet me at the state line when I get there in the morning.

Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The snow that was forecast came last night.  Fortunately it was only a heavy dusting.  No problems with the roads.  Left just before sunrise this morning.  Met the guy that was to receive the machine where I get off the Interstate and head back into the back roads of Ohio.  He led me in.  Boy was I glad he did.  The first road was only 6 miles long but it was a doozie!! Narrow two lane road with drop offs on both sides.  VERY steep ups and downs and a lot of blind curves, some of them very sharp.  Took over 20 minutes to go those 6 miles.  Very difficult road with an extremely top heavy machine. Then another 25 miles on another two lane road.  This one wasn't as narrow but had a few really wicked curves on steep hills.  

Just a reminder of what it looked like.

Finally made it to the job site.  The entrance was a sharp right turn on a snow covered dirt road that went down and had a couple slight curves in it.   I attempted to get in there several times but was unable to make the turn off the main road.  Luckily there was enough room for me to parallel park the truck just off the road.  We unloaded the machine there.  It was tricky, but it worked.  Glad that one is done!!

Next load is over in Decatur, Illinois.  I started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Pilot truck stop in Mount Comfort, Indiana.  More snow forecast for tonight starting after midnight with the worst of it right at rush hour.  Goodie!!