Intermodal: the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Discussion in 'Intermodal Trucking Forum' started by tbrown_sd, Apr 23, 2014.

  1. tbrown_sd

    tbrown_sd Light Load Member

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    Can anyone provide insight into the pros and cons of driving intermodal? My husband signed on for Western regional, but has an opportunity to drive intermodal.

    The deal is supposed to be this:
    Drivers under 2 years experience get a flat $176 p/day - drivers with 2+ years get $200. It's 6 days/2 days home. If I'm figuring this correctly (I divided 365 by 8 - to represent the rolling "week" he would be paid for). I get 45.625 pay periods in the year. Each "week" would then be $1056. Multiply by the 45.625 pay periods and I get $48,180 per year.


    Does this sound right to anyone? If so, I'm thinking there must be some drawbacks to intermodal. By the way, we live in San Diego so we're talking west coast.

    Thanks in advance.:biggrin_25520:
     
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  3. Taipan

    Taipan Light Load Member

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    Drove intermodal San Bernardino for 10yrs home everyday 6 days a wk made 58000 to 60000
     
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  4. Taipan

    Taipan Light Load Member

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    Drop and hook lots of traffic cant. Idle truck most companies
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Will he get the $176.00 a day when the Longshoreman union is on a work slowdown or on strike? Is that $176.00 a day guaranteed? Remember the Longshoremen when working at breakneck speed looks like slow motion to normal people. The port union workers are extremely paranoid and think the universe is out to get them and management has conspired with the federal government to put microchips in their brain to track them. That's what your husband will be dealing with.

    Paranoia /ˌpærəˈnɔɪə is a thought process believed to be heavily influenced by anxiety or fear, often to the point of irrationality and delusion.

    People with paranoid personality disorder are generally characterized by having a long-standing pattern of pervasive distrust and suspiciousness of others.
     
  6. millsjl01

    millsjl01 Light Load Member

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    Fixed it fer ya!! ;)
     
  7. Ebola Guy

    Ebola Guy Heavy Load Member

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    What kind of intermodal? Going to the ports, going to the rails, or a mix of the two?
     
  8. Taipan

    Taipan Light Load Member

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    Rail is where money is you don't want to go to the port
     
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  9. tbrown_sd

    tbrown_sd Light Load Member

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    San Diego, CA
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    As we live in San Diego, my guess it would be port. By some of the cons given by reply, knowing my husband he should avoid the whole deal...unless it's rail ,
     
  10. striker

    striker Road Train Member

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    Denver, Co
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    $176/day depends on the hours he's going to be working, regardless of port or rail. Keep in mind, that flat rate will sound good if he's working 8 to 10 hrs a day, but, intermodal days are typically 10 to 12hrs or 14 hrs during the busy season. The upside to the flat rate, it makes dealing with the snails at the port bearable. I've been doing Intermodal in Denver for 16.5 yrs, wouldn't have it any other way. With the way things are going, in another 5 yrs, intermodal is going to get busier and busier.

    I guess the other part to ask, are their bonuses? What happens after two years? Does he top out at $200? If this is a chance to get his foot in the door for intermodal, then move on to another company that pays better it might be worth it.
     
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  11. tbrown_sd

    tbrown_sd Light Load Member

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    San Diego, CA
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    Thanks Striker! Sounds like really good advice. I do know of a few companies that have intermodal runs. I did want to ask why you believe intermodal is going to grow.
     
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