Where is BigRigSteve?

[Western SMT]

USA fuel prices Jan 2009

Below are the regional prices per gallon for diesel as reported by the Department of Energy.

. East Coast: $2.358
· New England: $2.595
· Central Atlantic: $2.498
· Lower Atlantic: $2.268
· Midwest: $2.245
· Gulf Coast: $2.204
· Rocky Mountain: $2.243
· West Coast: $2.325
· California: $2.296

[Western SMT]

USA
Federal Motor Carrier rules etc

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulations/rules-regulations.htm

[Western SMT]

Back on the road again.

[G-CPTN]

Time to re-fuel.
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.372686&lon=-88.428955&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

200 miles to go - Steve should make it today (estimated 8pm local).

Anybody remember this?:- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umvbqPUMoKg

[Western SMT]

No but do remember Car 54 where are you

[G-CPTN]

100 miles left:- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.71393&lon=-84.984741&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

Last stop? 44 miles to go . . .
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.599013&lon=-83.814697&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
7pm local.

[coastie]

No but do remember Car 54 where are you

Yep! Me too, vaguely!:) Didn't one of the "Officers" in that series later become "Lurch" in "The Adams Family"?

Yeah, I know, you don't have to tell me, "Off Topic"!!

[G-CPTN]

Shunting activity.

[G-CPTN]

Rolling - but is Steve mobile again or just repositioning?
Does today count as 'duty'?

[G-CPTN]

This shows a 'Gantry' where trucks park nose-in. Do they have electric hook-up for heaters or for the fridges?

[G-CPTN]

Bigger image.

[G-CPTN]

Moving around the yard - heading out?
N. Baltimore, OH - Napoleon, OH - Maxton, NC (744 miles)
Truck wash next I believe.

[G-CPTN]

On highway now.

[G-CPTN]

Arriving - http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.403596&lon=-84.144287&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
(I think)

[G-CPTN]

Off again . . .

[G-CPTN]

Hundreds of parked trailers.
Row after row . . .

[G-CPTN]

Steve just had to get the yard shunter to 'bump' the front of the parked trailer up a few inches so he could get his tractor under.

[les turnbull]

My first paperwork this morning had the wrong trailer number on it and it took me 20 mins to find the trailer with the right load and we only had 40 trailers left in the yard.
Hope they have the right trailer number on his paperwork.
reguards Les.

[G-CPTN]

Steve has been running on a two-way road - the Grand Army of the Republic Highway . . .
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=41.3705609&lon=-83.9449883&z=14&l=0&m=h&v=2

[Western SMT]

This shows a 'Gantry' where trucks park nose-in. Do they have electric hook-up for heaters or for the fridges?


Looks that way and could be a system as described below

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IdleAire

http://www.todaystrucking.com/features.cfm?intDocID=19839&CFID=471949&CFTOKEN=49757639

[G-CPTN]

Thanks!
The ATE services are delivered by a distinctive yellow tube that hooks into the door window of the truck.
http://eerc.ra.utk.edu/etcfc/pix/IdleAire/InstallingUnit.jpg
http://rv-roadtrips.thefuntimesguide.com/images/blogs/close-up-of-idleaire-in-cab-services.jpg
http://images.google.com/images?q=idleaire

[Western SMT]

Pricing and details

http://www.idleaire.com/imagesLive/Users/Pricing/IdleAire_Pricing_asofAug08.pdf

[G-CPTN]

Don't know whether that's reasonable or expensive.

[Western SMT]

Steve would be the one to ask or a USA forum member.

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=39.552765&lon=-82.971497&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Circleville is home to the Circleville Pumpkin Show. It falls in the third week of every October. It is billed as the Greatest Free Show on Earth

[Western SMT]

Circleville Pumpkin Show
http://www.pumpkinshow.com/


Comments from a USA trucker on Idleaire -

IdleAire was too expensive when fuel was cheap, and when the truckstops finally jumped on the bandwagon, so many drivers had gone to APU systems. IdleAire also takes up so much room that there is less parking where it's been put into place.

APU system
http://www.cumminsonan.com/apu/

[G-CPTN]

Get ready to dance:-
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=38.4944439&lon=-81.2548828&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
The first permanent settlement, Ft. Lee, was built in 1788. In 1791, Daniel Boone was a member of the Kanawha County Assembly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Boone

The airport's construction was one of the most remarkable engineering accomplishments of the 1940s. The original topography of the area where Yeager Airport now stands consisted of three large and four small hilltops on a ridge overlooking the Elk River. In order to create enough flat land for an airport, it was necessary to shear off the tops of all seven hills, and use the soil to fill in the valleys in between. At that time, the construction of Kanawha Airport was reportedly the second-largest earth-moving project in history, behind the construction of the Panama Canal.

[G-CPTN]

Steve seems to have stopped at one of those gantries . . .

[G-CPTN]

115 miles to go:-
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=36.022447&lon=-79.810181&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2

[BigRigSteve]

Howdy folks, longtime no see!

Ya;ll were right on the ball with everything. :)

Yea, that is Idleaire.....and I used them a few times last year. They provide heat/AC, electric, TV, phone, etc.....but at $2.15/hr it is way too much fo rme. Heck, over 24 hours.....that is more than $50....and for that price I can get a hotel room, and have LOTS of room, shower, etc. LOL

Idleaire is in bankruptcy....because they sure dont make any money. Only time I ever park there is when all the rest of the parking slots are full. And I dont use their hookup.

[G-CPTN]

It certainly didn't seem cheap. Do you have a Cummins APU (or does Volvo do one)?

You seemed to take a decent meal-break this afternoon.
What did you eat (and how much was it)?
Are most of your meals fast-food 'snacks' rather than leisurely dining experiences?

[Western SMT]

Idleaire and the financials
http://www.thetrucker.com/News/Stories/2008/8/22/IdleAireheretostayturnaroundspecialistsays.aspx

Video – Idleaire explained at a truckstop
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gw_L9YCNVz8

APU explained
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary_power_unit#Commercial_Vehicles

APU study
http://fleetowner.com/green/auxiliary_power_unit_idling_study_1113/

[G-CPTN]

Rolling again.

[G-CPTN]

Between Carthage and Troy!
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.115415&lon=-79.72229&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

Arrived!
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.928727&lon=-79.810181&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Rockingham is the home of Rockingham Speedway, formerly the North Carolina Speedway, which was a staple of the NASCAR schedule for nearly 40 years, before the race was discontinued in 2004.
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.9752279&lon=-79.6153879&z=15&l=0&m=h&v=2


Looks interesting:- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.929536&lon=-79.8167253&z=16&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

Sorry, false alarm.
Steve is just arriving now . . .
Where next?

[G-CPTN]

Woo hoo!:D
Maxton, NC - North Cove, NC - Houston, TX (1255 miles)

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.070469&lon=-80.612183&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Trail%2C_North_Carolina
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte,_North_Carolina

[G-CPTN]

Lunchtime? 1pm local.
http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.652833&lon=-81.99646&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
The name of Marion came from Francis Marion, the South Carolina Revolutionary War hero, known as the “Swamp Fox” and the man whom the movie "The Patriot" was based on. It was also home to Sgt. Daniel Kanipe, one of only two survivors of General Custer's 7th Cavalry that was massacred at the Battle of Little Bighorn.On Sunday morning of November 25, 1894 a fire sprang up in an old building known as the “Ark” located behind the Courthouse. The fire spread to Main Street and rushed down the street at an incredible pace. The wooden buildings were quickly consumed by the enormous inferno. The few brick buildings on Main Street were also gutted, and because there was no public water supply, bucket brigades were hurridly formed to halt the advance of the fire. It was not enough, however, and most of Main Street was burned to the ground. Showing the resiliency possessed by the citizens, the city came together and took on the rebuilding process, making Marion larger and stronger than before.
The population was 4,943 at the 2000 census.
More at:- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marion%2C_North_Carolina

[G-CPTN]

Arrived at pickup, load wont be ready until later tonight

Lake James is a popular local attraction, and has been the backdrop for movies such as The Last of the Mohicans and The Hunt for Red October.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_James
http://www.ncparks.gov/Visit/parks/laja/main.php

[G-CPTN]

Ozark (Motor Lines) - name on trailers at Steve's pick-up:-
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ozarks

Otherwise:- http://www.ozark-acoustic.com/


http://wikimapia.org/#lat=35.840082&lon=-81.99234&z=14&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

Looks like there's been an upgrade to camera image definition.

[Western SMT]

http://www.ozark.com/default.aspx?p=History

[Ian]

Early start for Steve this morning.

[Western SMT]

Article on USA Truck/Load Thefts

http://www.businessinsurance.com/cgi-bin/article.pl?articleId=27039

[G-CPTN]

Camera image 'inferior' again (IMO).

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=34.393312&lon=-83.199463&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
The Cherokee tribe was indigenous to the area in which Lavonia is located. A sophisticated tribe that typically dwelled in cabins by the 18th century, these Cherokee joined with the British during the American Revolution. When the American colonists prevailed, their land was issued as bounty land to those that had fought in the revolution. As a result, people of European ancestry began to move into the Lavonia area during the 1780s.
The founding of the town of Lavonia came as the result of the expansion of the railroad in northeast Georgia. A railroad line known as the Elberton-Airline Railroad desired another station further to the north. In a move typical for the time, businessmen in the area determined to build a town around the new railroad station. Upon division of the area into town lots and completion of all necessary legal procedures, the town of Lavonia was incorporated in 1880.

[G-CPTN]

Mechanicsville:- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=33.920572&lon=-84.207458&z=12&l=0&m=h&v=2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanicsville_(Atlanta)

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=32.236036&lon=-86.360779&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
The Montgomery area was originally heavily populated by the Alibamu tribe of Native Americans (after which the state is named). By 1800 the Native Americans had been mostly driven out, and white settlers began to permanently occupy the area. From 1800 to 1813, settlers continued to move in, but in 1814 two competing businessmen who would lay the foundation of the capital city arrived. Each seeking his fortune on the fertile lands near the river, they constructed separate towns, East Alabama and New Philadelphia, along the Alabama River. Each town was a success, and their proximity to each other quickly caused them to merge. Incorporated in 1819 when Alabama was admitted to the Union, the new city was named for General Richard Montgomery, who died in the American Revolutionary War attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. Montgomery County, Alabama, was named in memory of Major Lemuel P. Montgomery of Virginia, who fell at the Battle of Horseshoe Bend on March 27, 1814. He was struck in the head by a Redstick musketball, becoming the first man to die in the battle. A statue of Major Montgomery graces the entrance of the Montgomery County Courthouse.

[G-CPTN]

'Bout half way now . . .

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.793756&lon=-88.091125&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Mobile - what can one say? (rude song . . . )

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.42973&lon=-89.115601&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Gulfport is the second largest city in Mississippi. It is the larger (in population and area) of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area,
Gulfport is the east coast home to the US Navy Seabees.

On August 29, 2005, Gulfport was hit by the strong east side of Hurricane Katrina, and much of Gulfport was flooded or destroyed

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.483&lon=-90.289764&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.458144&lon=-90.950317&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Baton Rouge dates back to 1699, when French explorer Sieur d'Iberville leading an exploration party up the Mississippi River saw a reddish cypress pole festooned with bloody animals and fish that marked the boundary between Houma and Bayou Goula tribal hunting grounds. They called the tree "le bâton rouge," or red stick. The native name for the site had been Istrouma. From evidence found along the Mississippi, Comite, and Amite rivers, and in three native mounds remaining in the city, archaeologists have been able to date habitation of the Baton Rouge area to 8000 B.C.

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.259067&lon=-92.013245&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Lafayette has a strong tourism industry, attracted by the Cajun and Creole cultures of the surrounding region. Because of the Cajun culture's affinity for good food, it has one of the highest numbers of restaurants per capita of any U.S. city.

[Western SMT]

Steve has 68 viewers at the moment.

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=30.129688&lon=-93.757324&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
100 miles to go . . .

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.781066&lon=-95.111389&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Houston.

[peach]

I can't believe I have never come across the cam before. It's absolutely facinating. A genius idea! I'm hooked

[Ian]

Yes it is easy to get hooked, but don't miss the rest of the site, feel free to join in with comments and photos.
Oh and a warm welcome from the staff

Ian

[peach]

Thank you :)

[G-CPTN]

Arrived . . . 06.38 local

[G-CPTN]

Heading to San Antonio, Texas for hometime for a few days.Well done on yer, Steve! Enjoy your time-out . . .

[G-CPTN]

140 miles to reach home:- http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.765569&lon=-96.199036&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2

[G-CPTN]

Howdy folks!

[Western SMT]

Enjoy your time off Steve - you deserve it

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.703561&lon=-96.552658&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Columbus is a city in Colorado County, Texas, United States, 74 miles (119 km) west of Houston along Interstate 10, on the Colorado River.
The town history includes the politically motivated Reese-Townsend feud of the late 19th century and early 20th century, which resulted in several people being killed in gunfights.

[G-CPTN]

http://wikimapia.org/#lat=29.482643&lon=-98.243179&z=9&l=0&m=h&v=2
Nearly there!

San Antonio was named for the Portuguese St. Anthony, whose feast day is on June 13, when a Spanish expedition stopped in the area in 1691.
Native Americans originally lived in (near) the San Antonio River Valley, in the San Pedro Springs area, calling the vicinity "Yanaguana," meaning "refreshing waters."

In 1536, Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, a shipwrecked captive of Native Americans, visited the interior of what would later be called Texas. He saw and described the river later to be named the San Antonio.

In 1691, a group of Spanish explorers and missionaries came upon the river and Native American settlement (located in the area of present-day La Villita) on June 13, the feast day of Saint Anthony of Padova, Italy and named the place and river "San Antonio" in his honor.

In 1716, The Spanish Council of War approved a site on the San Antonio River for construction of a fortified presidio (fort). The Domingo Ramón expedition, accompanied by the trader St. Denis from Louisiana (who had come to the site two years previous) established a presidio on the river. That council also approved a request by Father Olivares to establish a Catholic Mission at the site.

In 1718, Martin de Alarcón, then Governor of Texas, reinforced the presidio and the ten soldiers and their families were recognized officially as the beginning of the villa. Alarcón named the presidio San Antonio de Béjar in honor of the Duke of Béjar, in Spain, the viceroy's brother, who died what was considered a hero's death defending Budapest from the Ottoman Empire in 1686.

That same year, the Mission of San Francisco de Solano was moved from the Rio Grande to merge with Mission San Antonio de Padua. Father Olivares renamed his merged mission Mission San Antonio de Valero. The presidio, the villa and the mission comprised the municipality named San Antonio de los Llanos (of the Plains) by Governor Alarcón. One year later, in 1719, Mission San Antonio moved to its second site on the east bank near the present day St. Joseph's Church on Commerce. (The names are in dispute because there are no such saints and only a Pope can name saints.)

In 1721, The Marquis de Aguayo moved the presidio San Antonio de Béjar to its present site on the Plaza de Armas, where permanent quarters were constructed for the soldiers. In 1726 the official settlement population was 200, including 45 military and their families.

The Mission San Antonio was moved to its third and final site on Alamo Plaza in 1724 because of hurricane flooding at the previous location.

At eleven o'clock on the morning of March 9, 1731, sixteen families (56 people) from the Canary Islands, often referred to as the "Canary Islanders," arrived at the Presidio of San Antonio de Bexar in the Province of Texas. By royal decree of the King of Spain, they founded La Villa de San Fernando and established the first civil government in Texas. The Marquis of Casafuerte, Viceroy of Spain, (King of Spain) bestowed upon each Canary Island family titles of nobility. Many descendants of these first settlers still reside in San Antonio.

The Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, and eventually the town would grow to encompass the mission where the battle took place, a mile to the east. This was where 189 defenders, both Mexicans and settlers, were besieged in the old mission against 4,000 Mexican troops led by Antonio López de Santa Anna for 13 days. The defenders were all killed in the final assault on the garrison. Some recent evidence suggests there might have been a few prisoners, Colonel Davy Crockett perhaps among them, that were executed after the battle had ended. The cry "Remember the Alamo" became the rallying point of the Texas Revolution. Texas independence was finally attained at the subsequent Battle of San Jacinto the following April.

Like many municipalities in the American Southwest, San Antonio experiences steady population growth. The city's population has nearly doubled in 35 years, from just over 650,000 in the 1970 census to an estimated 1.2 million in 2005 through both steady population growth and land annexation (considerably enlarging the physical area of the city).

The Alamo is a former Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound. It is maintained as a shrine and museum located in the heart of downtown, and is surrounded by many hotels and tourist attractions. It is clearly San Antonio's best known landmark, and is featured in its flag and seal and in the city's nickname, "The Alamo City." Across the street from the Alamo is the world famous Crockett Hotel, named after the legendary pioneer Davy Crockett.

[dmackay]

Interesting history lesson G-CPTN thanks, Donald :)

[Western SMT]

Have you seen the other camera Steve has let us see, same view but better image and is like watching slow remote CCTV images as it only updates every 2 seconds.

[Western SMT]

Next trip

San Antonio, Tx - Galveston, TX - Dallas, TX (538 Miles)

[G-CPTN]

The link to the 'supercam' seems to have disappeared.
Anyone got a URL?
I tried it last night but it seemed 'inactive'.

[Western SMT]

When I viewed it last night I was using another computer and wiped the history after I was finished so the URL is gone, if someone else viewed it then ‘history’ would be the place to look.

[G-CPTN]

I too was using a different installation (albeit on the same computer) - due to software problems.

[Western SMT]

Change of plans for Steve

San Antonio, Tx - Uvalde, TX - Avondale, PA (1857 Miles)

[Western SMT]

Steve has altered the cam reducing it to 68 viewers with 62 online just now.

[Western SMT]

Change of plans for Steve

San Antonio, Tx - Uvalde, TX - Avondale, PA (1857 Miles)

He is half way and his cam can take 100 viewers with 77 watching at the moment.

[Western SMT]

Steve is doing a poll - no harm to vote

[Western SMT]

Steve has a blog now so easy to catch up with his activities

http://bigrigtravels.blogspot.com/

[G-CPTN]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7918504.stm
I realise that Stephen is 'down south' just now, having escaped the worst of the snow.

[Western SMT]

Steve is now in Arizona with 84 viewers watching him.

[G-CPTN]

I've not been able to logon to the webcam (at http://www.bigrigtravels.com/ ) on my recently-repaired laptop.
Goes from 'connecting to media' to 'ready', though my 'backup' laptop accepts the webcam OK.
Probably a firewall effect - but how to diagnose and fix it?

[Western SMT]

When I first tried the bigrig website with the home computer a box appeared automatically stating I had to 'allow' something to view it (use Norton) but unable to remember what the something was.

[coastie]

Where's he gone? Is he not posting on here anymore?

[Western SMT]

He was featured on a big USA show and this attracted loads of interest and he also set up his blog as mentioned.

http://bigrigtravels.blogspot.com/

[coastie]

Ok, thankyou.

[les turnbull]

When you first go to the webcam a small blue toolbar should appear at the top of your screen asking you to install the activeX to run the webcam.
allow the activeX and the webcam should start to buffer and run.

good luck, Les

[Ian]

Monday 4th May Big Rig Steve his truck is cucumbered Major coolant leak and Headlights keep blowing so he is at Volvo dealers

Ian

[Energumen]

Monday 4th May Big Rig Steve his truck is cucumbered Major coolant leak and Headlights keep blowing so he is at Volvo dealers

Ian

Lettuce Pray for him.

[Western SMT]

Taken from BigRigSteve blog

So what is wrong this time? I have been having to add coolant fluid at the rate of 1 gallon every week. There are no visible leaks, so it must be going somewhere! Regardless of where it is going, I constantly had to add to it, and if I made a sharp turn, the truck would automatically shutdown. Having a truck that does that is NOT good in a big city, much less any place.

[Energumen]

Solved!!!!!

It trips out on the 'Tilt' mechanism Steve. It is a blasted pin ball machine you have there. All joking aside, I wonder how much sophistication you have in your electric equipment. I E. is there a piece of transmission or suspension adjusting/levelling equipment, which comes into play, with sudden changes of load distribution and/or, lateral dynamics?.

If it is associated with that feature of the vehicle performance, it makes me think that the equipment causing the electrical shut down, could be specific to that sharp turning function.

Good luck
Keep Truckin'