Headin' out for Red Bluff ,California in the morning....

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

The company I work for bought a piece of equipment and I'm going to get it. All I know about it right now is the weight 92,500 lbs. and the height 14 ft. 3 in. and it was made special for high-line work.
Not sure of my route yet it does'nt matter how I get out there but coming back to Tennessee I'll have to follow the permits.This will be the second time in my life I've been to California.If you see me in your hood as I cross America give me a wave or shoot me a bird    Picture is the rig I'll be in.

[bsnicely]

Be careful Joe, watch out for truck cops!!   

[Westernbiker]

If ya come through Phoenix giva a yell and I will buy ya breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, Jack, Jose, Jim just pick your preference!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Be careful Joe, watch out for truck cops!!  

Yeah those guys can ruin a beautiful day  

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

If ya come through Phoenix giva a yell and I will buy ya breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, Jack, Jose, Jim just pick your preference!

Phoenix is way out of way but the offer is appreicated just the same 

[F-106]

Joe, if you come out 40 it will bring you in north of LA on the high desert on 58 west pass Edwards AFB . This will take you to Bakersfield and take the 99 north .The 99 will take you right to Red Bluff. When you get to Fresno give me a call i will buy you dinner. If you plan on making fresno a overnight stop i can set you up with a good hotel.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

Joe, if you come out 40 it will bring you in north of LA on the high desert on 58 west pass Edwards AFB . This will take you to Bakersfield and take the 99 north .The 99 will take you right to Red Bluff. When you get to Fresno give me a call i will buy you dinner. If you plan on making fresno a overnight stop i can set you up with a good hotel.

I'm off today resting up from the CBR Ride over the weekend but I'm thinking I'll be coming back that way ( I-40 ) but until I see the permits tomorrow I'm not sure. I'll have my laptop and will post when I near California.

[JimL]

Changing lanes has to be fun in that bad boy!!!  Then of course, if I saw that thing coming I would probably just get the hell out of the way....

[Gear Jammer]

Pre-Tripping that rig is a half-day job in itself!   

[HotRod]

I just sat at the top of a hill today in Utah for an over sized load to come up and over,all blocked by the troopers. I got on the cb to find out what was going on and heard they were coming up the hill.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

A country mile from my neck of the woods, but quite familiar with the lay of the land in the area.  Are you a permit load dead-heading all the way out here?  I-80 to Sacramento, then north on I-5?  Curious the name of the outfit where you are taking possession.  There is a "major" CHP truck scale/inspection terminal, north bound, in that area.  Your rig better be squared away, or you'll be there till its fixed.  Are you a pilot car show both ways?   sheets (CA highway guy).   

All the information I have is a address and person to contact. It's on Hogs Back Rd. in Red Bluff, CA. I don't have pilot / escort with me. The equipment I have is in good shape. I'm outside Marion, Il. right now and will be going the northern route from Tennessee and takin' the southern route back from CA. ( I-40 )

[buffalobill]

Joe,
 I just wanted to say hello and wish ya a safe trip. Also, just want to find out if you want to go double or nothin on the cold one from last years game. I was hoping to ride with you again this year, but have been too busy workin, and Patriot Guard Missions. Those Titans ain't no 0 and 2 team, but my Jets look pretty good right now.

Stab it and steer it,
buffalobill

[NiteRiderF6]

LOL.... Boy O Boy.... Joe! I'm glad it's you and not me hauling a permit load out of CA....

Those "chicken houses" out there can be brutal.... and you can almost hear the cash register switch into overdrive when you pull up on the scales under the bright lights for show time. Make sure it's "right" when you get there because the last time we went out to Bakersfield with one of our trucks, (brand new Mack tractor) it sat at the scales for almost 3 whole days making us late for the job we were going on. I know long haul drivers who won't even take a load to or from CA anymore due to the BS they have out there.

I wish you good luck and a safe trip, maybe you can borrow Brian's badge for the trip and get across that way. Be careful on those dadgum mountains and make sure your brakes are working perfectly and the boosters are adjusted correctly before you load that beast and especially before you pull up on the rack. P.S. Make sure you don't have one drip from anywhere too because they break out the paper on you sometimes. Be careful!

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

LOL.... Boy O Boy.... Joe! I'm glad it's you and not me hauling a permit load out of CA....

Those "chicken houses" out there can be brutal.... and you can almost hear the cash register switch into overdrive when you pull up on the scales under the bright lights for show time. Make sure it's "right" when you get there because the last time we went out to Bakersfield with one of our trucks, (brand new Mack tractor) it sat at the scales for almost 3 whole days making us late for the job we were going on. I know long haul drivers who won't even take a load to or from CA anymore due to the BS they have out there.

I wish you good luck and a safe trip, maybe you can borrow Brian's badge for the trip and get across that way. Be careful on those dadgum mountains and make sure your brakes are working perfectly and the boosters are adjusted correctly before you load that beast and especially before you pull up on the rack. P.S. Make sure you don't have one drip from anywhere too because they break out the paper on you sometimes. Be careful!

To be honest I'm looking forward to this trip and I'm making over-time doing it    One thing I have going for me is I work for the US Goverment maybe those CA Diesel Cops will cut me some slack...If not I'm still makin' money while they fix whatever is wrong  Thanks for the replys 

[f6gal]

takin' the southern route back from CA. ( I-40 )

Hey Joe, let me know when you're going to hit Flagstaff, we'll run up and meet ya for a meal, iffen our schedules coincide.

Leave me a PM or call my cell... 602-663-1723

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

takin' the southern route back from CA. ( I-40 )

Hey Joe, let me know when you're going to hit Flagstaff, we'll run up and meet ya for a meal, iffen our schedules coincide.

Leave me a PM or call my cell... 602-663-1723

iffen our schedules coincide <---That will be the BIG question...But if it does I would enjoy that Connie 

[sheets]

If you're going north just to Red Bluff, you'll miss the CHP terminal I mentioned.  Its a little further north of Red Bluff on I-5.  If you work for the guvm'nt, no doubt your rig is squared away.  I was a "terminal manager" for years so I know the drill, as far a the B.I.T. inspections/requirements go. Your permit will outline the routes based on your size and weight.  Don't rely on a Tom-Tom GPS thingie to suggest an alternate route.  We've (State Hwy Dept.) experienced many major screw-ups from truckers who follow the direction from a GPS. . .  only to get in a serious jackpot along the way.  The interstates were made for rigs like yours.   I can share pictures of a permit load that originated in Mississippi or Louisiana someplace.  Made it to within 50 miles of its destination (Southern Oregon coastal town) and ended up over the bank in a creek (in CA.).  Had a California State route "closed" for four days until we got it out of there.  California sent it north to Oregon.  Oregon decided to send it back to CA, since it was closer to the Oregon destination.  Bad idea.  Tilt.  (literally). Currently experiencing a heat wave out this way.  Might be cooler by the time you get here.  What are you hauling?           

[sheets]

One more thing . . . truck speed limit is 55.  And they take it serious.  Set your cruise control and chill.