Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by wheathauler, May 31, 2009.

  1. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    I believe the engine and labor would have been around 10,500. I spent around 12,000 but I had them do other things to the truck. I would have done a rebuild but the block was bad so the engine was shot. I could have got a rebuilt cat C-12 but would have run 23,000 plus core charges. If you can't exchange cores you have to pay more.

    On a oil sample you take a small sample of oil and have it analyzed.You can buy the kit at truck dealers or have them do it. You mail the oil in a small bottle and they mail you the results later. The sample could tell you if the engine has a problem. Usually do this when you change the oil.

    I had the engine worked on in a small shop. I knew the mechanics, I knew they would do a good job. Luckily I have saved up some money just in case.
     
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  3. LDH26

    LDH26 Light Load Member

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    How much for them to do an oil sample? How much and where for a dyno test? Thanks.
     
  4. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    I believe the kit was between $20 to $30 depending on where you got it. I wouldn't think they would charge much to get the sample. I would think some bigger dealers could do a dyno for you. Not sure what would cost now haven't done one in a long time. I believe in Wichita there's a few that do them. There's a Detroil Diesel and Cat in Wichita

    I would think some one could do the dyno in OKC but Wichita might be as close for you.
     
  5. RW.

    RW. Heavy Load Member

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    I just noticed this thread, since I pull a hopper, thought I'd check in. I don't haul OTR, I have an elevator here at home I haul almost excusively for, usually to terminals on the IL river to be loaded on barges and headed to New Orleans for export. Mostly corn and beans, a little wheat in the summer, a rare load of bean meal coming back to their feed mill.

    My dad runs our other truck, we've got a pair of 41' Wilson hoppers. My T-800 with 62" flat top sleeper and our newer hopper weigh about 26600 full of fuel with driver. I obviously don't use the sleeper much, but I think it is worth having it for the versatility, should there come a need for it, and it is a lot more aerodynamic with that small gap between it and the trailer than the big gap you have with a day cab. Our day cab is a little easier to manuvuer around, ex. blind side backing, but I still like having the bunk, plenty of room to carry food and tools.

    Pharm, where are the Peerless trailers built at? I've never heard of them. Around here, its mostly Wilson and Timptes for the elevators and large farmers, not the OTR stuff like you run. An occasional Merritt, Jet, or Cornhusker, but they're rare.

    Wheathauler, what part of KS are you from? I worked a couple seasons for a harvester in based in Alden, hauled into Hutch quite a bit.

    I just read this whole thread, can't remember who mentioned Cargill not accepting loads over 85,500, (KS legal weight?) I've hauled for Cargill before cleaning up flat storage piles, and they won't let you load anything over 80,000, doesn't matter if it comes up 80,020, you go back and dump off. And for that stuff, you're getting paid by the hour, so it doesn't really matter. But I hope things don't get to the point where they are turning away trucks that are too heavy. I don't want to come across as sounding like an outlaw, I almost always shoot for 80,000 when I'm loading, sometimes I hit it, sometimes I'm a little light, sometimes I'm a little heavy, but nothing obnoxiously heavy. But Cargill is really getting to be a PITA about things. The one I haul into a lot is now having safety meetings every Wed morning and not opening until 8 instead of 7. They must be one of the safest elevators around, and also one of the least productive.
     
    wheathauler Thanks this.
  6. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    I don't know anything about these hopper brands, but I can tell you that Peerless is very proud of them pricewise and I only rent mine. I would guess somewhere in Nebraska. I know last week I was loading up and the guy there was walking around it whistling at it saying this was about the best built trailer he's seen. But that's one opinion. It has chicken lights straight from the factory... 2 rows. whole thing lights up. A few of them are burnt out though and it's not the bulbs, so that's a headache I don't need. I had one fixed but it took almost an hour and at $79 an hour I said no more!

    I looked at the Peerless website but there is no mention at all of hopper trailers. I can't figure out why. I say Nebraska because the company I broker through has a bunch of them and say they get them factory direct and that's where they are.
     
  7. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Sounds like the Cargill in Hutchinson. I thought these guys were slow they have meetings sometimes until 8:30 am. They open at 8 here supposedly but you might not get loaded until 8:30 or 9:00. I thought our cargill was the exception instead of the rule. They only stay open until 4 which is pretty early. If you're loading out have to be in line by 3:45 or won't load you.

    Cargill will load you what you're plated to haul. Around here they all have 85,500 tags, only costs $200 more a year. No Way can haul 85,500 legal with tandem. They have a DOT with scales around here I try to stay around 80,000.

    I know of the harvester in Alden. I haul out of there on occasion. He has a lot of combines.
     
    Last edited: Jun 6, 2009
  8. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Timpte made in David City, Nebraska. Cornhusker made Lincoln, Nebraska. You haul for Esclipse don't you Pharm? Aren't they out of Nebraska?
     
  9. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    Let me tell you something about Cargill, they are one of the main reasons I'm stuck at a truck stop all weekend. I had a load going to Cargill in FL but hadn't picked it up yet in Valdosta, GA. Well I was delayed in Dublin so I called them and they said their receiving hours were 7am to 3pm. At this point it was noon and I hadn't even started the deadhead 3 hours to pick it up. I sent an e-mail to my broker that there was no way. He didnt' get back to me until 2 hours later and says they're open until 7pm.

    So I call Cargill back and ask the same question, What are your receiving hours? They say 7-3. I say that's odd because my broker just said 7pm. So she says "well what are you hauling"? Now I feel my temperature rising, I say WHAT ARE YOUR RECEIVING HOURS?? She says until 3 for dry and 7 for bulk! So I'm about as irate as I get. So when I ask you what your receiving hours are, isn't the correct answer 3 for dry and 7 for bulk???

    So of course it was my fault since I didn't "specify".

    Anyway by then I was in the same spot for 7pm as I was early that day for 3pm. In truth it never would have happened anyway. Even if I got right on it from that last unload it wouldn't have been until 8 or maybe even 10 depending on factors. But this could have potentially cost me the weekend and money, which everything put together did. :biggrin_25512:

    So I'm enjoying my weekend at Love's. But, I've made a friend. The guy who's junk got stuck in the trailer making us lose 6 hours at the last place is here too... we been shooting the #### all day.
     
  10. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    Yes they're in Beatrice Nebraska, where even overnight mail takes 3 days to find.
     
  11. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    What in the world was he hauling to get stuck for six hours? Sounds like cargill have to pry the answers out of them.
     
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