Getting started w/ end dumps

So I've been trying to do as much research on local gigs as possible for when my 1y of slavery is paid to my OTR company. I've been getting more and more interested in driving dumps. Would prefer a tractor-trailer dump over a straight. Problem is ... every job opportunity I find requires on average 3-5 years of dump exp (not just driving). Now where I live (Florida) I know construction/excavating is not very popular. But I've been looking in quite a few states that I may consider moving to (Michigan at the top) and they are all the same. In Michigan all I find are gravel train positions and they all specifically say they expect you to just jump in the truck and start working, no training at all.

Do I need to cry my heart out to a small excavating/dump company asking for a chance? Or will I probably have to start as a crew member? Or what .... ?

Thx in advance

 

You may prefer a tractor trailer over straight truck but get your feet wet where you can. If you can get hired driving a dump truck locally you can get some experience with off road driving, loading, dumping on unlevel surfaces. Then express interest into moving into a dump trailer with that company. Pulling a frameless dump trailer is great, but you can screw up in an instant and get someone hurt or killed. It's not rocket science.....just takes a little experience. Get it how you can.

 

Also look into Beelman trucking. They are a huge outfit here in the Midwest. They run local,regional and OTR plus they pull pneumatics, dumps, flats etc. They may have training, I'm not certain though. It's the best I can come up with for your situation.
www.beelman.com

 

If you want to try tankers, SVTN probably will hire you. SVTN has recently been hiring new CDL grads.
They have a terminal in Saraland.

Kenan probably will hire you, they do a lot of work around Pensacola/Mobile. Ignore experience required and apply anyway.

Probably take home a grand a week at SVTN and Kenan.

 

Yea, ill definitely have to look into some straight dump gigs that have end dump opportunities. I just figured there would be more tractor trailer positions available since they require "A". But idk.

As for tankers, I'm actually not really interested in that tbh.

 

in utah. the number of positions are the same. either you can handle or you can't.

they have dump trucks. truck and pups. end dumps. and bellies. double bellies with 2 - 3 axles. not them short bellies with single axles that cali has.

the pay is the same no matter what you drive. there are tricks to learn into handling each type.

it's best to start off with a simple dump truck. not go head first into a end dump or double belly. cuz you can hurt and possible kill yourself real easy.

some guys never make it past the single dump truck stage. it's not rocket science but does require some type of brain. cuz even them things tip over.

 

I am Michigan gravel train driver. There a few companies who will train you with no experience. I work around the metro Detroit area and love my job.

I have hauled end dumps and doubles on and off through out my driving career and this is my first season in a gravel train. It is very intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of what your doing its a very good job
Its always a challange, and i like that in a job. The company i work for is small. We only have 10 trucks so its like a very close family. If your truely looking to make the move to michigan i would suggest waiting until next season (April of 2014).

If you like a little hard work, and city driving i think its a #### good job. I have pulled almost every kind of trailer out there and i think i have finally found my self a home in the gravel train industry.

Its not an easy job, if so anyone could do.it. but its rewarding. Nothing like telling people you can back up 2 trailers at the same time around a 90 degree turn.

Yea its a pride and ego booster kind of thing.

 

Any type of dump can get you in trouble fast if you do not pay attention. Where I started we would move between dump trucks, roll offs and flat bed dumps. They each had there own challenges but I liked the flat bed, roll off and dump trucks in that order.

 

Oh sweet. I figured each state would use whatever they can put the most into. So lets talk Michigan just for discussion sake. I see them running gravel trains whenever I go through there. I haven't been through there too much but can't remember seeing too many straight dumps or end dumps. At best they had straight dumps with pups. I would definitely prefer to get my feet wet with a simple dump machine before venturing to the doubles/pups/etc. You think they would have just as many opportunities for that or is it kinda state specific?

Yea, I wouldn't even know where to begin lol ....

Figuring that out real fast from this thread.


Keep the advice/tips coming!
What's the difference between end dumps, belly dumps and side dumps? Ive heard of them but thought bellys and sides were used only for farm feed. They are different types of tractor trailer dumps right?

 

Personally I prefer tractor-trailer types (end-dump,belly etc) to truck and pup configuration for gravel hauling.

Smoother straighter ride. But then of course the bigger off track is a disadvantage with tractor-trailers and end-dumps have the dubious trait of flopping over. I've even seen one totally straight up-down and just as the load was about to shift and slide down the trailerdug in on the right side and over he went.
As well I nearly flopped one too. The silly oil consultant insisted I spread shale on a dirt road......at night......after a slight rain.....and the road has a slight crown. I insisted that it was "not wise" ..... he insisted that I try. He even told me I look square and level. Slowly release the clutch to get her rolling with the box already up 60% or so. The truck immediately slipped from the crown of the wet road.....the truck slightly twisted to the trailer which caused the right side of the trailer to torque down into the previous spread.......and she immediately started leaning REAL bad. Luckily I had my hand on the lift handle and power dumped the box. It came down so fast with the load on that a portion of my hydraulic oil shot out the res and ended up all over the truck. Needless to say I was sweaty and not too impressed.
And looking later......I was NOT square on the road......which wss why it slipped sideways. The consultant and dozer operator both insisted I was square......and being it was pitch blackout I STUPIDLY trusted them rather than getting out and looking my self.

Belly dumps or clams are used up here for road and lease building as well as laying hot asphalt in front of a paver. Side dumps generally used up here for pipe line work but don't see them often.
End-dumps up here do road/lease building and haul contaminated soil to disposal.

Truck and pups are the universal style and have the advantage of shoot and scoot hauling after dropping their pup trailer. If there's jobs where short trucks are needed then these trucks have that advantage.