Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

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

  1. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    I pulled out of OH a lot with a hopper . I'd bring poultry meal to Doane's in Washington Court House then usually go to Dayton or Logan to get wheat midds going back south . I have also hauled midds out of Cleveland . Rates were low . As a driver I take home more with the tanker than I grossed with a hopper and work about 10 hours a week less .
     
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  3. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    RickG did you have an extra tall trailer? I pulled MIDDS once and only got 20 tons on there full and it screwed me basically. That stuff is light and I have a 43' trailer. Trying to figure out which trailers these midds are priced for.
     
  4. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Hutch, Kansas
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    I usually just stick to grain around here. One tip I would have is not to haul some of those loads. Some are not worth the time and effort for what it pays. If it pays well that's a different story. They haul small rock around here with a hopper plus soybean meal, wheat midds and fertlizer.

    I don't haul some of that because I have a low sided trailer. It won't haul enough without high sides.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Jun 1, 2009
  5. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Pharm

    I think the rates are set for 78 inch to 84 inch high sides. Then you can get the 54,000 loads or whatever you can haul. Also spread axles are good for this.
     
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  6. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    So is there a trade-off for that weight though? Arent' the high trailers heavier which would have me carry less of the usual stuff? It seems you really need to know your market.

    I carried sunflower seeds (jumbo stripe) once too and that really messed me up. I had no business hauling those.
     
  7. RickG

    RickG Road Train Member

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    Owensboro , KY
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    No , we had low side trailers . In Dayton I'd only get about 22 tons on . Logan would sometimes get 24 tons on . Cleveland actually overloaded me by 2 tons once . It depends how much fines they have in the load .
    Peanut hulls were the same way . We'd haul 2 or 3 loads a day out of GA to Purina in Nashville . We were paid a 24 ton minimum but could never get more than 22 on . One day my boss couldn't cover the loads and brokered one out . The truck that picked the load up had high sides and got 25 tons on . It was one of Garber's trucks and we ended up losing the contract . A high sided trailer would take a minimum of 2 hours to onload though . Peanut hulls didn't come off easy .
     
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  8. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Pharm
    A high side will weigh more than a low side. Whether it's worth the extra weight is what you haul. If you haul light weighing loads more often the weight is worth it if not I wouldn't go that way. I forgot about sunflowers they are very light and need a high side.

    I have a friend who has a 102 inch wide by 78" high sides and he can haul about anything. He is fairly heavy but he has a pete also. He can haul around 51,000
     
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  9. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    How tall would you guess my trailer is? I know it's 43' long but I don't see any markings for height or width. I hauled peanut hulls actually the first time I was a tad overweight. Said they were going to britain to burn for energy... get high BTU's out of 'em.


    [​IMG]
     
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  10. pullingtrucker

    pullingtrucker Road Train Member

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    Fostoria, Ohio
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    I pulled a hopper out in the plains for 2 years doing the wheat harvest then fall crops up in eastern South Dakota and western Minnesota. During the winter I pulled grain and feed products through out Kansas and was based out of Hutchinson, KS. Man those were the days...I just wish it payed better.

    As for the tips. I had a high sided Timpte and hauled wheat midds a lot (nobody else had a high side...oh joy). When unloading I just carried a big rubber mallet and it worked great. On the rare occasion that I did have to climb into the trailer I had a rope mounted to the inside of the hopper slopes (front and rear) with knots tied in it every foot or two. When not in use I just wrapped the rope around the bows. Make sure you keep the trap door rails clean and everything adjusted. This makes life so much easier. I hated pulling someone elses wagon that was out of adjustment. Also watch out for dust and dirt building up on the fifth wheel plate and rear frame. Not only will ya gain weight with the dirt, but it will hold in moisture which will rust out the plate or frame. Carry a extra trap handle or a large enough socket and ratchet depending on what ya got. Don't for get about carrying extra pins for the traps and tarp handles

    By the way nice ride Pharm. Thats a Wilson trailer you got correct?
     
  11. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    Thanks. It's a Peerless.

    Where can I get tarp handles or an extra crank for the hopper doors? I bowed my tarp handle and always worried about leaving the crank behind.

    Also my vibrators are tiny, where can I get some larger ones?

    Thanks again.
     
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