A day in the life of a lowboy driver

[PartTimeDweller]

My two moves today. Sorry for the crappy picture quality, two words.... camera phone.

Picked this up at the dealer to take as a loaner for one coming in for repairs. JD 225 ZTS. 10' 6" wide, grossed out about 105,000 lbs.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151927667_499459377_0.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151927494_499458775_0.jpg



I picked this one up to take to the dealer for repairs. JD 270 excavator. I was 11' 2" wide, gross weight right around 115,000 lbs. They really had screwed up routing for both of these. My 1st choice has a 15 ton bridge, my 2cnd choice has a width restriction of 9' 6". The state of Illinois choice, turned a 20 mile trip one way into a 60 mile trip.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151927176_499457682_0.jpg

Loaded;
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151925786_499452824_0.jpg

Chained x 4 + one on the boom;

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151926025_499453672_0.jpg

Ready to go;

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151926615_499455733_0-1.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151926948_499456888_0.jpg

As soon as I back out of this dead end street;

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151926314_499454694_0.jpg

Unloading at dealer;

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151925237_499450897_0.jpg

Deere droppings;

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y280/ptdweller/151925444_499451640_0.jpg

[snoope]

Those pix are not that bad PTD....

Our "LowBed " guys are in for another "Switch"...They swapped trailers and now are doing the same with the tractors.......The Tri-axle Pete is now being married back to the 4 axle 55 ton.....And the NEW Pete is going back with the 35 ton......confusing to me :wow: :wow: :wow: ...I will stick to my "Wheeler".....

Anybody carrying that much weight everyday has a high tolerance for PIA's ;) :D :D ......never mind the "beep-beep" to tell you something needs to be moved before tomorrow AM .so the "Crew" can work ;) :) :)


Snoope back quiet

[PartTimeDweller]

We just refurbished our 55 ton 4 axle, should be on the road by the end of the week. This one is a 50 ton tri axle, and we have a 35 ton two axle, which is my preference for light stuff. It is way easier to get around than the other two.

I have a pretty low key boss. He plans things out well, so not much pressure.

[Big_Dave]

Nice pics!

I miss the days when I used to haul dozers, excavators, etc........on a triaxle lowboy. The part I don't miss is the 'clean up' before loading and after unloading.

I pulled a triaxle lowboy and a triaxle Ranco Anvil end dump for a 'season' before I started OTR years ago.

The tractor wasn't too bad. It was a '87 Freightliner Classic short hood (ex road tractor that had the sleeper removed), with a 425 B model Cat and a 15 speed.

[PartTimeDweller]

The part I don't miss is the 'clean up' before loading and after unloading.



Clean up before is supposed to be done by whoever owns the machines we move. Uh huh. Most do a good job, but we have a couple that don't. If I have to shovel, I note it on the ticket, then the boss puts a firm reminder on the bill. 2cnd time with same customer, he adds a shoveling surcharge. If there is a third, he calls and tells them to send someone with a shovel, the truck is waiting, still on the clock. :)

As far as after, it is one job you can get away with sweeping your trailer on to the parking lot. :cheers:

[Big_Dave]

We hauled our own equipment. Sometimes I operated it prior to hauling it off. ;) :wacko: :rofl:

[Pipeman]

The part I don't miss is the 'clean up' before loading and after unloading.



Clean up before is supposed to be done by whoever owns the machines we move. Uh huh. Most do a good job, but we have a couple that don't. If I have to shovel, I note it on the ticket, then the boss puts a firm reminder on the bill. 2cnd time with same customer, he adds a shoveling surcharge. If there is a third, he calls and tells them to send someone with a shovel, the truck is waiting, still on the clock. :)

As far as after, it is one job you can get away with sweeping your trailer on to the parking lot. :cheers:

I used to stick the bucket on the ground and raised the track in the air. Then run that track at high speed and on to the other side. helps get rid of a lot of dirt.