WORCESTER, Mass. - The Boston Red Sox are heading to Florida for spring training and their equipment truck made a stop at Polar Park Monday on its way down to JetBlue Park. 

This is the third straight year the truck has stopped on its nearly 1,500 mile journey for a sendoff from fans and mascots.

It's also the 28th straight year Milford native Al Hartz has driven the 53-foot truck. 

He said the trip takes two and a half days.

He expects to arrive in Fort Myers Wednesday. 

“it’s nice, I get to see behind the scenes you know” said Hartz. “It’s enjoyable plus I get to go to Florida in the wintertime so that’s always a good deal. I’m going to get out of here and sit in traffic in New York city. I’m not going to get anywhere. You know, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey I’m going to sit. I’m looking forward to Florida, yeah.”

Hartz will go back to Florida after spring training to bring the equipment back to Boston. 

He said the truck is carrying thousands of items, including 20,000 baseballs, 1,100 bats and 200 pairs of batting gloves and helmets.