Friday, May 22, 2026

 Nothing much new.  I'm still in a hotel.  My truck has made its way to the paint shop over at Kenworth.  At least they are working on it.  Still have no idea when it will be done.

Blog readers for the past 7 days...

Monday, May 18, 2026

 I left at about 4:45 AM EDT and drove the rest of the way to the Port of Baltimore.  Delivered the parts load.  From there, I drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  Got the truck washed.  Then took the truck to Kenworth to get the deer damage fixed.  I'll be in a hotel for a little while.  They say, at least a week. Hoping I can get a spare truck and do some local stuff while I'm waiting.  We'll see what materializes. 

Saturday, May 16, 2026

 At about 1:45 AM EDT, when my 10 hours were up, I left.  I finally had an uneventful day on the road.  No load issues and no critters running out in front of me.  Drove 546 miles to the AC&T truck stop in Hagerstown, Maryland.  I'll be here until Monday morning.

Friday, May 15, 2026

 I left early this morning and went to Decatur, Illinois.  Almost hit another deer on the way there.

Loaded a bunch of Caterpillar parts that are going to the Port of Baltimore.

Left there and drove 153 miles when two of the straps broke on part of the load, and it fell over.  I immediately pulled over and put it all back together and re-secured it.  There were a lot of paint scratches on it, so Carlisle had to get involved.  I went to the Love's truck stop in Pittsboro, Indiana, to wait for their decision whether to continue or go back to Decatur for them to repair it.  Looks like it is OK to keep going.  I'll get out of here in 10 hours.

Thursday, May 14, 2026

 I left at 2:30 AM CDT and drove the rest of the way to Weston, Wisconsin, and delivered the telehandler.  There was a Thermo Kind dealer about 20 minutes away, so I went there.  I got there just after they opened.  They took my truck right into the shop and started working on it.  Only took a couple of hours, and I was back on the road again.  I drove down to the Daily terminal in Bettendorf, Iowa.  The shop wanted to put the bumper back on and straighten it out so it doesn't hit the tire.  

With that done, I stayed there for the night.  600 miles exactly today.

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

 I left at about 11 PM CDT last night.  Was doing really well until I got north of Des Moines, Iowa.  A deer decided to commit suicide and ran out in front of me.  I struck and killed the deer. Unfortunately, it damaged the truck.  

I had the cops come and make out a report.  Couldn't get anyone to come out to work on the truck until sunrise, when everything opened up for the day.  So I sat on the side of I-35 until someone came out.  They finally arrived at 8:30 AM CDT.

They removed the damaged part of the bumper and replaced the tire.

Then I drove up to the Petro in Albert Lea, Minnesota.  Stopped there because I was very low on hours today.   Parked for the night, and now my APU doesn't work!!!  Good grief!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Have to get that fixed tomorrow after I deliver.

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

 I left at 2 AM CDT when my 10 hours were up.  Had a very good day on the road.  Drove 654 miles to the Love's truck stop in Cameron, Missouri, for my 10 hours.

Monday, May 11, 2026

 Delivered the excavator first thing this morning.  Drove down to Waco, Texas, and loaded a Caterpillar TH1055 Telehandler that is going to Weston, Wisconsin.

Left there and went up to the TA truck stop in Hillsboro, Texas, for my 10 hours.  447 miles today.

Sunday, May 10, 2026

 This morning I went for donuts, and then over to Walmart to resupply a few things.  While I was out, it is not very often I could bobtail around, so I decided to do a few "touristy" things.  I drove out to the Cadillac Ranch.  I have been past it on I-40 a zillion times, but I was never able to stop by and get a closer look.  There were several other cars there and a tour bus.

Back in Amarillo, The Big Texan is trying to cash in on the Cadillac Ranch popularity.  Right next to the Big Texan RV Ranch, which is down the road from the restaurant, they made the Slug Bug Ranch.  

Went back, connected to my trailer, and settled in for the rest of the weekend.

Blog readers for the past 7 days...

Saturday, May 9, 2026

 I left half an hour before sunrise this morning.  Drove 517 miles nonstop to Amarillo, Texas.  Dropped my trailer at the Caterpillar dealer where I am delivering on Monday morning.  Then I went straight over to the Big Texan to eat. 

It was fairly crowded today.  There was one guy doing the 72-oz Steak Challenge.  Unfortunately for him, time ran out before he could finish.  I had the 16-oz prime rib.  I ate it all, plus a salad and 2 rolls (not pictured).  It was delicious!! 

I waddled back to the truck and drove back to the Caterpillar dealer to sit with my trailer for the night.  Gonna sleep good tonight!!!!!

Friday, May 8, 2026

 I left a half-hour before sunrise this morning.  Good day on the road.  Only a small amount of bumper-to-bumper traffic today.  Drove 600 miles to the TA truck stop in Kilgore, Texas, for the night.

Thursday, May 7, 2026

 Well, I'm back to work again.  Feels good to be moving!!  Went up to Brunswick, Georgia, and loaded a Caterpillar 320 Excavator that is going to Amarillo, Texas.

Left there and got a lot farther today than I thought I would, despite all the bumper-to-bumper traffic in Atlanta.  Stopped for the night at a convenience store with truck parking in Heflin, Alabama.  436 miles today.

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

 This morning, I went over to the Port in Jacksonville.  What a screwed-up Port that is!!!  Brunswick is a very well-run Port, Jacksonville is not!! Anyway, I loaded a Caterpillar 950 Wheel  Loader.

I left there and drove to Ocala, Florida, and delivered it.  From there, I went back to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville, stopping to get the truck washed along the way.  I'll be here for a little while, taking care of a medical issue.

Monday, April 27, 2026

 This morning, I went to the Port in Brunswick, Georgia, and loaded a Caterpillar 320 Excavator.

Left there and drove to Ocala, Florida, and delivered it.  From there, I drove back to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville.

Friday, April 24, 2026

 I drove to the Keen yard in Brunswick, Georgia.  It is across the street from the Port.  Their computers went down, and they were working to fix them.  Sat there for over an hour waiting.  I was the 8th truck in line, and there were many lined up behind me.

When I finally got checked in and in to load, they sent me to the wrong place in there, SO I had to go to another area.  Finally got loaded with a Caterpillar 330 undercarriage that is going to CZM in Ellabell, Georgia.  That is just west of Savannah.  

Left and drove up there.  Got stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic at I-95 and I-16.  The geniuses in the road department thought it was a good idea to bring 4 lanes of traffic to one in the daytime to fix a guard rail.  Finally made it and delivered.  From there, I drove back to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville for the weekend.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

 I left at about 1:30 AM EDT and drove to Ocala, Florida, and delivered the wheel loader.  Then drove back to the Daily terminal in Jacksonville.

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

 I left at sunrise this morning and drove the rest of the way to Charlotte, North Carolina.  Got stuck in some slow-n'-go rush hour traffic in Charlotte.  Delivered the dozer.  The next load was back in Clayton, NC.  Drove there and loaded a Caterpillar 938 Wheel Loader that is going to Ocala, Florida.

Left there and drove to the Pilot truck stop in Dunn, North Carolina for the night.

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

 I left Carlisle at about 4:30 AM EDT and drove to the Port of Baltimore.  Loaded a Caterpillar D5 Dozer that is going to Charlotte, North Carolina.

Left there is pretty good time, unfortunately got stuck in a lot of slow-n'-go and bumper-to-bumper traffic going around Baltimore and Washington D.C. After that, it was pretty smooth sailing.  Drove to the Petro truck stop in Mebane, North Carolina, for the night.  475 miles today.

Monday, April 20, 2026

 Went over to the Caterpillar dealer in Perrysburg and delivered the excavator.  In the process of unloading, one of the air lines got cut when the excavator ran over it. 

Fortunately, they were able to fix it there by applying a splice.

My next load is tomorrow morning, back at the Port of Baltimore.  I left there and drove to the "home office" in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.  Took my trailer to the shop and had the air line replaced.  I'll leave here in the morning.

Saturday, April 18, 2026

 I left at about 1 AM EDT when my ten hours were up.  Drove to the TA truck stop in Perrysburg, Ohio.  Will deliver on Monday morning.

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