Saturday, June 13, 2020

As soon as my 10 hours was up I was back on the road.  Stopped at a Wal Mart along the way and bought a brace for my elbow.  That helped a lot, but it still hurts a lot. Very uneventful day on the road.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Avoca, Iowa.

Friday, June 12, 2020

We left a half hour before sunrise this morning.  We were making real good time.  Then about 40 miles from Limon, Colorado he had a tire on his trailer blow out.  He was able to limp it all the way to Limon.  We stopped at the TA truck stop there and got a new tire. That took about 2 1/2 hours.  

By this time we were pushed for time to beat the Denver curfew that started at 3 pm.  We left there and made it to Denver.  Then bumper to bumper traffic.  Once we got past that mess we continued to the Vestas plant in Brighton, Colorado.  We checked in at the guard shack and parked in the truck parking lot.  Took off all the chains and straps to be ready for our 7 am unloading appointment tomorrow.  Just as I was starting to settle in for the night they called on the phone and said to go in and unload.  I was overjoyed!!!  They called us both in.  When I got in I was 8th in line to unload.  It went fairly fast.  They used a huge fork lift to unload instead of a crane.  That makes it a whole lot faster.  After I got empty I drove back to the TA truck stop in Commerce City for the night.  Thoroughly exhausted and hurting all over again, all I wanted to do was eat, shower and sleep.   They had 3 restaurants here.  Only Popeye's Chicken was open.  How stupid!!!!  I wasn't eating that crap.  Had to wait 30 minutes to get my shower.  After that, I had Grub Hub bring me food.  OH!!   and while unloading, I smacked my right elbow on something.  I think I may have chipped a bone in there.  Whatever I did, it hurts like the devil!!!  Can't do much with that arm.  Always something.  

Thursday, June 11, 2020

Had no traffic problems going through Fort Worth.  Got lucky!!!  Pretty uneventful day.  Our permit route was a bit weird.  Stopped for the night at the Love's truck stop in Dumas, Texas.  Felt better today, but still stiff and sore.

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Went in to the Port of Galveston, which was across the street, at 8 am when they opened.  Was second in line to load.  When it was my turn, loaded a gear box for a wind energy nacelle that is going to the factory in Brighton, Colorado. It is a heavy one.  It was very hot, mid to upper 90s and high humidity.  Not pleasant at all.  I have been running with another driver since Kansas.  We have stayed together.  He helped me load and I helped him load.  Fortunately he had a ladder because we needed it to get the upper chains on.  

When we were finished we were both exhausted!!!!  Left there and drove 289 miles to the TA truck stop in Hillsboro, Texas.  Stopped along the way and scaled.  His was fine.  I was way too heavy on the trailer axles. When we got to the TA made some adjustments.  It took a while but finally got the weight right.  Fortunately we will get to sleep in a little.  Can't go through Fort Worth until 9 am.  After today we both can use the extra rest.  I hurt all over and can hardly move.  My back is so sore.  Feels great to lay down.

Tuesday, June 9, 2020

This evening drove down to Galveston and parked just outside the gate to get in to where I load in the morning.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Looks like I'll be loading Wednesday.

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Drove the rest of the way to Houston.  Stopped along the way and got the truck washed.  Boy, did it need it!!! 

Friday, June 5, 2020

At about 1 this afternoon I finally got something to do.  I load next week sometime at the Port in Galveston, Texas.  I left and started that way.  Drove to the Daily terminal in Oklahoma City, OK for the night.  Had Door Dash bring me some dinner when I got there.  

Thursday, June 4, 2020

Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Much to my surprise I went in to unload this morning.  Followed a nacelle in.  On the way in the roads were not as good as before.  Even though they were dry, they were soft in places.  In two places the nacelle was going up hill and lost traction.  Had to back down and try it again.  At the top of one hill his trailer bottomed out.  He had to raise it up all the way.  Even with it all the way up  he still scraped.  I did not have those problems.  My trailer is shorter and my load was not as heavy.   Behind us was a couple tower sections and three blades.  The first tower section was a base.  His truck got stuck on one of the hills.  His truck couldn't pull he hill.  He had everything blocked behind him.  The driver of the Nacelle in front of me dropped his trailer and went back to get the tower section that was stuck.  He hooked up the the base and pulled it up.  The last hill before getting up to where I was, he lost traction and got stuck.  A road grader was with us and pulled him the rest of the way up.  When he got up to level ground he dropped that trailer and got back under his.  The cranes set up and unloaded the nacelle.  Then they unloaded me.  As I was making my way out to head back to get another one I got an email from Daily in Carlisle saying not to go to Garden City, they were shut down.  He didn't know why.  So I went back to the Sac & Fox Truck Stop where I started from.  Will sit here until I know where I'm to go next.  They are really backed up here.  There are 5 hubs, and quite a few nacelles and blades all over the place waiting.

**I just found out why Garden City was shut down.  Someone backed over someone and killed him.  Lots of investigations going on from City, State, OSHA, etc. **

Tuesday, June 2, 2020

Another day of sitting and waiting. 

One of the 2 hubs ahead of me went in today to unload.  One more to go then me. 

Monday, June 1, 2020

Nothing new today.  Nobody moved.  They say it may be a week before they are able to unload us.  The pads at the job site are not ready.  So here I sit.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Flew home last Monday because I had a very important doctor's appointment to go to.  Then flew back again yesterday.  

This morning I left and drove back up to the Sac & Fox truck stop in Powhattan, Kansas.  I may be here a while, there are already 3 other hubs waiting ahead of me.

Friday, May 22, 2020

Last night had a lot of rain and thunderstorms.  That made the place where I load a big muddy mess. Went over first thing this morning and loaded another hub that is going to the same place as all the others, Goff, KS.  Almost got stuck in the mud a couple times.

Since I'm flying out of here Monday I didn't leave there with it.  Went over to a parking area and dropped the trailer there.  Then went to the Love's truck stop for the weekend.  I'll go back Monday and attach to my trailer before I go to the airport.

Thursday, May 21, 2020

Left Salina at 4 am and drove down to the Kenworth dealer in Dodge City.  Was there when they opened.  They took my truck into the shop and fixed the "Check Engine" light.  It was a sensor in the pollution crap in the exhaust.  Left there and went to the Thermo King shop to get my APU fixed.  Much to my surprise he was just finishing up a truck.  Put me in the shop and fixed the APU.  The blower fan was totally shot.  He replaced it and checked out the system.  Could not believe that I got both done today.  That almost never happens!!!!  Left there and drove to a truck stop in Garden City.  I'll go over and load tomorrow morning.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Went in to unload this morning.  Was empty and back on the road at 1:15 CDT.  Heading to the Kenworth dealer in Dodge City to get the "Check Engine" light taken care of.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Salina.

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Drove the rest of the way back to the Sac & Fox.  My home away from home!  There were 2 other hubs already here waiting.  They had been there for four days.  Bad sign!!  I settled in and took a nap.  When I woke up they were gone.  Good sign!!  Hopefully I will go in tomorrow.  There is a lot of other stuff here waiting to go in too.  Only time will tell.  On a different note, my APU A/C fan still doesn't work, so I have to idle the truck.  Today another gremlin popped up - my "Check Engine" light came on.  Hopefully I'll get empty tomorrow so I can get these things fixed before I fly home next week.

Monday, May 18, 2020

Was over to load at 7 am today.  They weren't as busy today as they were the other day.  Didn't take long for them to bring me back to where my hub was sitting waiting.  A little while later they came over and loaded another hub on my trailer.  Fortunately it wasn't very windy this morning.  How exciting!!  Another hub!!!!

Left there in pretty good time.  Drove to the Petro in Salina.  Had to have a mud flap repaired on the trailer.  Shop took me right in and fixed it.  Then I parked for the night.  Wasn't able to beat the Topeka curfew.  The fan on my APU air conditioner quit working tonight.  Have to idle the truck.  It's always something!!!!

Sunday, May 17, 2020

Drove the rest of the way to Garden City this morning.  I'm at the Love's truck stop until tomorrow morning.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

Followed 3 blades and a nacelle in to unload this morning.  They unloaded the three blades then brought the nacelle in and me next to him.  

Fortunately it didn't rain last night so the pad was in pretty good shape.  Also they hadn't dug the hole yet either.  Once the two cranes took care of the nacelle, the one spun around and lifted my hub off and I was outta there!  Heading back to Garden City for another one.  Stopped for the night at the Petro in Salina, KS.