Running produce to Alaska

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by vikingswen, Feb 15, 2014.

  1. vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

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    I have been thinking about starting this thread for a while and since I am sitting in Anchorage for a 36 hour reset and have time I figured I take a stab at it. I am pretty much a newbie at this and it is my first winter running up North. I am trying to figure out if there are other drivers on here that do the same run. I usually run from Washington and Oregon up to Alaska. It has been pretty much all grocery store loads for me with one pick and multiple drops.

    I don't miss places like Laredo, Salinas and Yuma for sure. Now I spent a couple hours getting loaded and I am off to a 2000 mile plus run. The drops usually go quick and I rarely spent more than an hour at a drop.

    I am trying to compare notes on places to fuel and buy DEF, that can be a pain up North and pretty expensive. Some places charge $7.00 for a Gallon of DEF. Also where to get a free or reasonably priced shower that is clean as well. I have a Petrocard and pretty much stick with the Petropass card locks in Canada. Food places are not to big on my list since I carry lots of food and eat all my meals in the truck.

    Another big one are the HOS rules since ultimately there are four different HOS rules that come into play on the trip North and than the cycles in Canada as well. Also which border crossing does everybody use coming out of Washington into British Columbia?

    I will try to keep this as a drivers thread and not make it about companies. It does not matter who one drives or pulls for, or if one is a company driver or owner operator. I would like to use this as an information exchange and a tool tto learn from the more experienced ones. I will post some pictures of my travels to share some of the common sites.
     
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  3. kw550cat

    kw550cat Medium Load Member

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    I do not run to Alaska, but it has always been interested in it and wanted to try it. This will be an interesting thread. If you don't mind me asking, how are the border crossings to deal with and permits for a longer wheel base truck. Also, where do you get your back hauls from.
     
    Dominick253 Thanks this.
  4. pupeperson

    pupeperson Light Load Member

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    What is the wheelbase of the OP's truck? I thought 244" was the Canadian limit and that Pete looks longer than that, although the pin depth on the trailer seems pretty shallow so maybe its not...
     
  5. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    Looking forward to the replies
     
  6. Jimmbuds

    Jimmbuds Medium Load Member

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    Just curious what route do you take up that way? Thought a few times about going up there to Prudhoe Bay but not sure how to get into Alaska.
     
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  7. vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

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    1230131141.jpg 1230131143.jpg







    These are some of the road hazards in Northern British Columbia. When the snow gets deep they will use the Alcan for easy travels. Be aware at night since they tend to bed down in the road and sleep. I did a trip over Christmas and almost hit the herd during a snow storm at night. They had bedded down in the road during the snow storm and were not easy to spot when covered in snow. By the time I saw them and got stopped a couple had to move to not be knocked over.

    They are stubborn critters and they will test your patients at times to get out of the way. They are also known to go after four wheelers when honked at. When I took those pictures I was on my way back and was watching a Toyota truck that was trying to make it through by honking at them. They would block him and just give him the stink eye. It was funny to watch and I finally just pushed my way through.
     
    Last edited: Feb 16, 2014
  8. vikingswen

    vikingswen Road Train Member

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    I will try to answer some of the questions above. I am not sure, but I don't think my pictures are showing up. Maybe somebody can tell me how to post them correctly.

    The wheelbase is 260" on the truck and you have to get a permit to run a wheelbase that is longer than 244".

    Border crossings are pretty simple if you have your paperwork in order. With produce loads you will need your BOL, in transit manifest and the agricultural inspection. All that has to be faxed ahead of times to Canada and when it is approved you are good to go. On your first trip they will screen you pretty good and make sure you have no arrest record and so on. Also no weapons. That will get you in hot water very quickly if they find one during a search.

    For the route I take:
    I usually cross into BC at Sumas, WA. Then I take Hwy 1 towards Hope and use Hwy7 and 9 to bypass Hope and head up Frazier Canyon. I follow 97 all the way to Prince George and continue through Chetwynd towards Dawson Creek. Some guys will take Hwy 16 and Hwy 37 instead, but some of our contracts do not allow Hwy 37.
    Before Dawson Creek I cut across Braeden Road to the Alcan and shave of a couple of miles. Than it is on to Ft St John and Ft Nelson.
    There is Hwy 29 that goes from Chetwynd to Ft St John that will shave off about 30 miles, but with the four different 10% grades and slower speed limits it is a toss up in my opinion. Also lots of deer and slow B-trains that like to spin out in the winter time.
    From Ft Nelson it is on to Watson Lake beginning of the Yukon, on to Whitehorse and Haines Junction. From there it is North on 1 to Beaver Creek and the Alcan border crossing into Alaska. Now it is about 100 miles to Tok where you either go to Anchorage or Fairbanks. Pretty easy since there is pretty much only one way to go North.
     
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  9. paul 1052

    paul 1052 Heavy Load Member

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    I ran Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta for 5 years with a 270 in w/b but had to permit for 268 in b/c of the limit in Saskatchewan... I think the limit in SK has been changed since.
     
  10. Olympian

    Olympian Medium Load Member

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    I have a friend who is an owner operator that pulls a flatbed throughout the USA, Canada, and Alaska, and he swears by the Truck Stops Plus add on for Streets & Trips. He says it is the only provider of accurate truck specific POIs for Canada and Alaska.
     
  11. Wolfyinc

    Wolfyinc Road Train Member

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    I would love to take a load on up into Alaska just once so I can say I did it and also say I have been to Alaska. I have taken a truck into every state except Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Alaska oh and Hawaii of course lol.
     
    Auctioneer and Dominick253 Thank this.
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