Saturday, March 9, 2024

 Nothing interesting today.  I drove about an hour closer to delivery to a truck stop on a Seneca Indian reservation in Irving, New York.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, March 8, 2024

 When my 10 hours were up, I left.  Had no traffic problems today, even going through Chicago, Toledo, and Cleveland.  Drove 696 miles and stopped for the night at the TA truck stop in Erie, Pennsylvania with only 4 minutes left on my clock for today.  Not too shabby!  

The left turn signal on my trailer quit working yesterday.  Tried to get it fixed yesterday when at the Love's truck stop in Wisconsin.  They found the problem but couldn't get to it because the rollers on the trailer were in the way.  Also, the trailer was too low to the ground and they didn't have a pit.  Today checked in at the shop here at the TA.  They have a pit.  When they were ready, I backed the trailer into the shop over the pit and they were able to get under the trailer and repair the broken wire to the lights.  He also found a couple air leaks and fixed them too.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

 I left very early this morning and arrived in Mason City when they opened.  Delivered the dozer.  My next load was up in Elk River, Minnesota.  I drove up there and loaded two rollers.  The little one is going to Tonawanda, New Your.  The bigger one is going to Washington, North Carolina.

I left there and drove to the Love's truck stop in Oakdale, Wisconsin for my 10 hours.

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

 My day didn't start off very good.  It was raining. When it was time to go, I couldn't.  There was a wreck on the Interstate that had all westbound lanes blocked.

Once that cleared, I left.  Then got into bumper-to-bumper traffic going around Indianapolis.  Finally cleared that and got out of Indy.  Just before I got to Illinois I passed a truck that was having a worse day than me.

The day got better and so did the weather.  I continued on to the Love's truck stop in Newton, Iowa.  I'm directly across the street from the Iowa Speedway.

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

 I left Baltimore very early this morning.  Nice drive today.  Nothing interesting at all.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in New Paris, Ohio.

Monday, March 4, 2024

 This morning I went over and delivered the two crates.  Then drove up to Carlisle, PA, dropped off the stepdeck trailer, and got my trailer back again.  From there I drove to the Port of Baltimore and loaded a Caterpillar D6 Dozer that is going out to Mason City, Iowa.

I left the Port and drove over to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.

Saturday, March 2, 2024

 My loading appointment was for 9 AM EST in Lafayette, Indiana.  I was there at 8 AM.  I was 7t in line.  At about 10 AM I got loaded with two crates that are going to Elkridge, Maryland.

Not much of a load, but that's ok, it gets me back east so I can get my trailer.  I left there and drove to the TA truck stop in Hebron, Ohio for my 10 hours. I'll get started again a little after midnight.

Thursday, February 29, 2024

 My next load is on Saturday in Lafayette, Indiana.  This morning I left and headed that way.  I stopped at Walmart along the way.  I stopped at the Petro truck stop in Remington, Indiana, and will be there until Saturday.

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

I left as soon as my 10 hours were up.  Drove the rest of the way to the airport in Rockford, Illinois.  I was lucky and beat the Chicago rush hour traffic.  The temperature when I left Ohio was 61 degrees.  I drove through the cold front on the way.  When I unloaded it was VERY windy, sunny, and 20 degrees. I also delivered a day early!!!  Not too shabby!!!  I left there and drove to the Petro in Rochelle, Illinois to have 3 trailer tires replaced.  They didn't have the tires in stock.  I then went to the Love's.  They had the tires and took me in right away.  This is what my tires looked like...

Both of these

The one on the right

Then got a nice surprise when they took off one of the tires...

When they finished I went back to the Petro for the night.  

Tuesday, February 27, 2024

 Drove to the Philadelphia International Airport and arrived first thing this morning.  After going through security, I was escorted out on the tarmac to the area where I was loading.  I was directly across from where the airplanes stopped on the runway to take off.  I love the sound of those big jet engines when the throttle up. Anyway, I loaded 4 pallets of stuff.  I have no idea what it is or what it is for.  They are going to the airport in Rockford, Illinois.

After I finished securing it to the trailer, I was escorted back out.  We went right past several airplanes waiting in line on the taxiway to take off.  I always wanted to drive out there at a huge international airport.  Check that one off my bucket list! Made my way back to the Interstate and got in good ole' Philadelphia rush hour bumper-to-bumper traffic.  Once I got out of that mess it was smooth sailing the rest of the day.  Stopped for the night at the service plaza on I-80 in Broadview Heights, Ohio.

Monday, February 26, 2024

 I left real early this morning and arrived at the Port before they opened.  When they started working, I got unloaded.  Then drove back to Shady Grove and loaded another counterweight.

Left there and just before I got to I-81 this happened...

He is lucky he is still alive!

I continued on to the Port in Baltimore and delivered the counterweight.  I'm done with the crane!  My next load is tomorrow morning at the Philidelphia International Airport.  I started off that way.  Stopped for the night at the Flying J truck stop in Elkton, Maryland.

Saturday, February 24, 2024

 I thought you might be interested in seeing what this crane looks like when it is all assembled.  It is the Manitowoc 21000 Lattice Boom Crawler Crane. All of the photos below are internet photos.

The company that bought this already has one just like it but they need another one for a project in Panama.

Friday, February 23, 2024

 Left Baltimore very early this morning and drove back to Shady Grove, PA, and loaded another section of the crane boom. This huge crane is going on an ocean cruise to Panama.

Left there and drove to the Port in Baltimore and delivered it.  Then drove back to Shady Grove and picked up another one.  This one is a bit wider than the last one.  This one is 13 feet wide.

I didn't have time to get back to the Port before they closed for the weekend so I stopped at the AC&T Truck Stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.  I'll deliver this Monday morning.

Thursday, February 22, 2024

 Left early this morning and drove in to Baltimore and delivered the counterweights first thing.  After that I drove back to Carlisle and swapped trailers.  I got a step deck trailer for my next few loads back in Shady Grove.  I went there and loaded a section of a crane boom. It, like all the others, is going to the Port of Baltimore.

Left there and headed to Baltimore.  Got stuck in a long traffic backup caused by a crash with a fatality.  3 lanes down to 1.  It took over an hour to get through it.  But that wasn't the end of it.  Had more bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Baltimore Beltway.  I thought I'd never get to the Port.  I did and delivered the crane boom section.  From there I went to the TA truck stop in Baltimore for the night.  Going back for another one in the morning.

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

 I left real early this morning, still using the shop truck, and drove to the Port of Baltimore and delivered the counterweights.  Left there and got stuck in a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic on the Baltimore Beltway.  It was a mess!!!  Finally, I made it through that and drove back to Carlisle.  My truck was ready so I put the shop truck away and hooked my trailer back to my truck.  I went back to Shady Grove, PA, and loaded a couple more counterweights.

Couldn't make it back to Baltimore in time to unload today so I stopped for the night at a truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

 I left at about 1:30 AM EST and drove to Carlisle, PA.  Stopped and got the truck washed when I got there.  The shop wasn't ready for my truck so I took a nap.  At about 10:30 my truck went into the shop.  While they were working on my truck I got the shop truck, and my trailer and drove to Shady Grove, PA, and loaded two counterweights for a very large crane that is going to the Port of Baltimore.  I had pieces 34 and 35 of 81 that are going.  

Those counterweights each weighs 18,000 pounds.  I took them back to the Daily yard in Carlisle for the night.  I checked into the hotel for the night.

Monday, February 19, 2024

 At 9 AM EST we left and drove the rest of the way to Mooresville, North Carolina, and delivered the thing.  My truck was due for maintenance a while ago.  It is a maintenance that has to be done in Carlisle, so I started off for Carlisle.  Stopped for my 10 hours at the Petro truck stop in Raphine, Virginia.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

 We left a half hour after sunrise this morning.  We had a very short day driving to the Love's truck stop in Blacksburg, South Carolina for the night.  Will have a late start in the morning.  Can't leave until the Charlotte curfew is over at 9 AM EST.  Then we will deliver tomorrow.

Saturday, February 17, 2024

 We left at sunrise this morning.  Had a very uneventful day on the road.  Drove up to the Love's truck stop in Hogansville, Georgia for the night.

Friday, February 16, 2024

 Was back to load first thing this morning.  Rained all day.  Loaded a Transition Duct for an Exhaust System that is going to Mooresville, North Carolina.  I am 14 feet, 7 inches high, and 12 feet, 2 inches wide.  

Once I left Texas I needed a pole car in front and a rear escort car in back.  I met them at the Louisiana Welcome Center on I-10.  We continued on.  A bit of bumper-to-bumper traffic in Baton Rouge, LA.  Aside from that, a very uneventful day.  Stopped for the night at the Petro truck stop in Hammond, Louisiana.