Abilene Motor Express....A New Place To Call Home

Got up at Loves in Hamilton, Al this morning to start my day, GPS said 9 hrs to Jacksonville. Figured Id be there to drop at Volvo at 1530 then bounce to the pilot across the state line. Next load picks up in Ridgeville, SC to Shelby, NC walmart to walmart. Figured Id have a nice easy 6 hr day tomorrow then start a 34. Nope….Ga ruined them plans. Soon as I hit Atlanta traffic backed up due to a few accidents. Pretty much backed up all the way down past Macon split then finally opened up for a bit only to jam again off and on all the way to the FL state line. I made it as far as the J in Lake Park then had to shut down. Over ten hrs to go 470 miles….

 

If you're running from Byhalia to Jacksonville, head straight southeast through Birmingham to Columbus, GA. It's US-280, and its mostly two-lane divided highway. Once you're south of Columbus, GA, head to Albany, GA on US-82 and from there it's a short hop to I-75. Just don't let your GPS route you through Downtown Opelika. It's legal, but it's also a pain.

It'll save you 60 miles vs driving through Atlanta (plus will spare you the extra time added because of Atlanta traffic), and you can make it from Byhalia to Jacksonville in one driving day if you want to. There's a truck stop in Cusseta, AL and a PFJ in Albany, GA on the way. Probably a few more that I'm forgetting.

If you're using a trucker GPS, it may not suggest the route. But I've driven it a couple dozen times and it's smooth and legal the whole way.

 

Don’t stay at the Pilot in Albany. It’s a horrible place. There’s a Blocstop and a Loves in Albany that are much better choices. Not too much else along that route. Nice ride, though

 

I have been there before. You think you are lost or were given bad directions. Weird place for a plant.

 

Yeah, my truck GPS always routes me down to 280 to 85 back up to 280 over to Cordele when doing the Jacksonville run but I always force it to go 20 to 75 because I didn’t know what 280 was like. Thanks for the heads up on it.

 

This sure isn’t a good time to travel the south east during all the spring break traffic, lol! Traffic was so bad ppl were getting angry and zipping past me on the shoulder being everyone was hogging the left lane like 3 inches from each other’s bumpers. I was pretty much stuck in the right lane all day. It is getting bad out here with road rage, it is like everyone is mad at the world. They oughta just stay home if they are going to get angry at everyone. Dropped my Jacksonville while was still dark and bounced up to Ridgeville then dropped in Shelby and now at Loves for a 34 cuz I only got 4 hrs left til Wed. Due home Thursday so oughta get a couple more short runs in.

 

I noticed the same on my way to Knoxville, Tn last night and this morning. It was hard to believe that traffic was so heavy during the "wee hours". Had a U haul truck completely stop in the left land @ mm 47 on 1-81 in Va, he missed the exit, so he just stopped, completely, turn his right turn signal on, both lanes came to a stop, so the stupid, idiot could get off at the exit.

 

Thank God, your mom pulled through. She will outlive my mom! Prayers, John!

 

Yep stronger than an 88 year old Cuban!