Saturday, September 18, 2021

 I decided to stop and get a hotel for the night.  Stopped in Smithfield, North Carolina. At about 2:00 AM I woke up and decided to get back on the road.  Was having a nice easy drive this morning until I got to mile marker 148, southbound, on I-95 in South Carolina.  Watch the video below and see what happened.

Here is what the car looked like afterward.

Had the Highway Patrol come out and make a report.  Was able to use a strap from my suitcase to tie up the front of the car until I could get to a place to get stuff to hold it better.  

Stopped at a truck stop and got some heavy zip ties and secured it better.

I continued on.  Stopped at the Enterprise Car Rental place at the Jacksonville International Airport and swapped into a different car. Never a dull moment.

Friday, September 17, 2021

 Well, they came up with a car around noon.  I loaded up and headed for home. Be there for at least a week and a half. Probably two.

Thursday, September 16, 2021

 At about 7:45 this morning I was finally brought into the shop to get the trailer tire replaced. 

When the tread flung off it wrapped around the axle.

He had to get in there and cut it off.

And here is what was wrapped around the axle.

Once he finished I was on the road.  Drove to the Port of Baltimore with a few places of bumper-to-bumper traffic.  Delivered the wheel loader.  Next drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, PA with a lot more bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way.  This truck is due for several services including a major recall.  They will have the truck for about two weeks (I'll bet it is longer than that) to do all the work. Daily had reserved a rental car for me but with all of the unforeseen delays, I was very late getting there.  Since I was not there to pick up the car when it was reserved for, they gave my car away.  They said that they won't have a car available until sometime tomorrow afternoon.  Great customer service!!  

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

 Left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a good day on the road right up until the end.  About 2 miles from the Ohio / West Virginia line on I-470 a trailer tire blew.  I was able to limp it to the TA truck stop in Wheeling, WV.  Checked in there to get it fixed.  They were so backed up that they wouldn't be able to get to it until about 8 AM tomorrow.  I parked the truck for the night.  My APU started up as it should but then shut off with a red engine warning light displayed.  Just great!!!  Have to idle the truck all night again.  Always an adventure!!

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

 Left Wheeling, WV at sunrise this morning.  Drove to East Peoria, Illinois, and delivered the Material Handler.  Then re-loaded a military Caterpillar 966H Wheel Loader that is going to the Port of Baltimore.  I guess Biden and the Democrats want to send the Taliban some more of our stuff.

Left there and drove over to the Daily yard in Morton, Illinois for the night.

Monday, September 13, 2021

 Went over to the Port of Baltimore this morning.  When I checked in to unload and to re-load they said that the machine I was to pick up had already been picked up in August.  Ok.  So I sent an email to my dispatcher in Carlile then went and unloaded the tractor.  I packed everything up to leave.  But something didn't seem right.  I decided I would drive around the Port and see if I could find the machine.  Lo and behold, I did.  I took a photo of it and the serial number and went back to the office.  They had to figure out what happened at their end. Once all the paperwork was straightened out, I went back to the machine and loaded it. It is a Caterpillar MH3026 Material Handler going to East Peoria, Illinois.

They can be a pain to load because the outriggers hit the trailer going on.  Have to build a small ramp for the tires to go up on before the trailer.  As you can see, it's up there with no problems.  Left there much later than I wanted to and drove to the TA truck stop in Wheeling, West Virginia for the night.

Also, someone stole my fuel cap over the weekend.  Had to replace it when I got here.

Saturday, September 11, 2021

 I left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Had a couple instances of bumper-to-bumper traffic, but nothing of any significance.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Baltimore. Will be here until Monday morning.

Gators did good today.  They should enjoy this because it won't be this good next week against Alabama.  They are gonna get creamed!!  Just hope they can at least hold their own like they did last year at the SEC Championship game.  

Friday, September 10, 2021

 I left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Nice day on the road.  Again, nothing exciting.  When I got to Morton, Illinois I stopped at the Daily yard, dropped my trailer, and went over to Wal Mart.  Had to re-stock on a few things.  Was getting to critically low Mt. Dew levels.  After that, I got my trailer again and was back on the road. Had a construction re-route in Illinois and Indiana.  Stopped for the night at the  TA truck stop in London, Ohio.

Thursday, September 9, 2021

 Drove the rest of the way into Davenport, IA. Was a bit early.   Unloaded the two alternators in a scrap yard that was very tight to maneuver in.  On the way out a piece of metal cut one of the trailer tires.  From there I drove over to Thermo King in Rock Island.  It was only 15 minutes away.  While they worked on my APU the tire guy was supposed to come out and change the tire but he didn't show up.  2 hours later, I ended up driving to their shop.  Once that was fixed, I went to Waterloo, Iowa and loaded a John Deere 9570 tractor that is going to the Port of Baltimore in Dundalk, Maryland.

Left there and drove to the world-famous Iowa 80 truck stop for the night.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

 As soon as my 10 hours were up I left.  Drove 641 miles to the Flying J truck stop in LaSalle, Illinois for the night.

Tuesday, September 7, 2021

 Left early this morning and drove the rest of the way to Poughkeepsie, NY, and delivered the roller.  Next load was way over in Altoona, PA.  Drove over there to a Norfolk-Southern railroad yard.  Loaded two train alternators that had outlived their usefulness.  They are going to a scrapyard in Davenport, Iowa.

Left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Milesburg, PA for my 10 hours.

Sunday, September 5, 2021

 The Gators got off to an unimpressive but good start last night.  I love this time of year!!!!!

As soon as the Gator game was over I left Kenly, NC, and drove all night up to the TA truck stop in Maybrook, New York.  I'll be here until Tuesday morning because of the holiday tomorrow.

Saturday, September 4, 2021

 Left Cocoa, FL at about 1:30 AM and drove to the Daily yard in Jacksonville.  My next load was waiting there for me.  Loaded another Caterpillar B10 Roller.  This one is going to Poughkeepsie, New York.

Left there and drove up to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, NC.  

Friday, September 3, 2021

 Left Kenly, NC at about 2 AM and drove down to Orlando, Florida, and delivered the excavator.  Didn't have much time left on my clock so I had to find the closest truck stop.  That turned out to be in Cocoa, FL.  I drove over there to the Flying J for the night.  659 miles today and only 23 minutes left on my clock when I stopped.  Going to get some much needed sleep now.  Good night.

Thursday, September 2, 2021

 Left pretty early again this morning. Drove to Carlisle, PA.  Got the truck washed and fueled up before going over to load.  Then loaded a Komatsu PC 170 Excavator that is going to Orlando, Florida.

Left there and drove down to the Petro truck stop in Kenly, North Carolina for the night.

Wednesday, September 1, 2021

 I was on the road by 1:30 AM this morning.  Drove the rest of the way to Bloomingburg, New York.  I drove into the remnants of Hurricane Ida today between Washington D. C. and Frederick, Maryland.  Stayed in rain the rest of the day.  Most of it was very heavy rain.  There was no wind.  Delivered the roller.  My next load is tomorrow in Carlisle, PA.  I started off that way.  Stopped at a small truck stop in Mountain Top, PA for the night.  

Tuesday, August 31, 2021

 Drove up to the Port of Savannah, Georgia this morning and loaded a Caterpillar B10 Roller that is going up to Bloomingburg, New York.

Left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Emporia, Virginia for the night.  As soon as my 10 hours are up, I'll be on the road.

Monday, August 30, 2021

 Over the weekend my APU quit again.  This morning I was at Thermo King when they opened to get it fixed.  Fortunately, they were able to fix it today and did.  I load tomorrow morning at the Port of Savannah.  I'll leave here in the morning to go up there.

Friday, August 27, 2021

 Left early this morning and drove the rest of the way to Washington, Georgia.  Got there before they opened.  Gave me enough time to get all the securement stuff off and put away. Then they got to work and unloaded me.  From there I drove home to Jacksonville, FL for the weekend.  Have a doctor's appointment Monday.  After that, I'll be back at it again.

Thursday, August 26, 2021

 Left at 1 AM this morning.  Drove almost non-stop 689 miles to the Pilot truck stop in Augusta, Georgia.  Had to stop.  Only had 10 minutes left on my drive time clock.  I'll deliver in the morning.