Sorry Punxsutawney Phil and your six-more-weeks-of-winter prediction, but if you live in New England and are a fan of Red Sox, a sure sign of spring has arrived — Truck Day!

Workers start the loading process. (Steve Silva / Boston.com)

The truck arrived at Fenway Park this morning just after 6:30 a.m. and the packing began at around 7:00 a.m. with a crew of seven workers. The temperature was in the mid-20s, but it’s bright and sunny, just like the place the truck is headed.


The truck rolled out of Yawkey Way just after noon with a crowd of about 100 people gathered for the send-off. A flat-bed truck with Wally the Green Monster and Fenway Ambassadors on board followed the 18-wheeler. The ambassadors tossed soft baseballs to fans on Van Ness Street.

Truck driver Al Hartz of New England Household Moving and Storage, the company that has carted the Sox gear to Florida for the last 12 years, was back to drive the truck for the 12th time himself.

“I’m not expecting any issues with the weather,” Hartz said this morning. “It should be a clean ride all the way down.” Moving was a bit easier this year as much of the gear was moved out of Fenway prior to the Winter Classic hockey game which took place Jan. 1.

We’ve got a photo gallery from today’s scene at Fenway and video from this morning’s packing.

Read more from the Globe’s Christopher Gasper here. And Boston Dirt Dogs has more on the day’s events.

Planning on heading to Fort Myers to catch the Sox at spring training? Be sure to check out our fans guide to the area before you go.


Here are some key Sox spring training dates that are just around the corner:

Thursday, Feb. 18 — Reporting day for Red Sox pitchers and catchers; MLB voluntary reporting date for pitchers, catchers and injured players

Saturday, Feb. 20 — First workout for Red Sox pitchers and catchers

Monday, Feb. 22 — Reporting day for Red Sox positional players

Tuesday, Feb. 23 — MLB voluntary reporting date for other players

Wednesday, Feb. 24 — First Red Sox full-squad workout

Planning on heading to Fort Myers to catch the Sox at spring training? Be sure to check out our fans guide to the area before you go.