Do OTR household movers drive alone?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Badmon, Oct 10, 2014.

  1. Badmon

    Badmon Heavy Load Member

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    I'm not talking box trucks, I mean the united van lines trucks with the 123'' sleeper for example or an Atlas truck. What I really want to know is, wouldn't it take like 3/4 guys to unload the whole truck? Or would you make multiple stops on different drops? Thanks in advance :biggrin_25520:
     
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  3. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    I think typically there are 2 driver/workers and they team drive across long distances. (I've never seen a loaded moving truck taking a 10 hr break). Then they have worker contractors they hire when/where needed to assist in more difficult moves where more man-power is called for
     
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  4. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Yeah. most of the time, they hire from the local agency 2 guys to help. If not, they have to find help anywhere they can.
     
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  5. milkman83

    milkman83 Light Load Member

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    I've seen 4 people climb out of an OTR moving truck. This was just a normal-sized truck with a condo sleeper (upper and lower bunks). I don't know how many of the four were drivers, but that had to be uncomfortable. From time to time you'll spot a couple with a small child or two in a truck, or a driver with multiple pets. These things I just can't abide.
     
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  6. lcfd15

    lcfd15 Medium Load Member

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    This is what both my dad and step dad did for a long time with North American and recently Allied. They drive solo and than when they got into the area for a delivery, they would contact their local location and get lumpers.
     
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  7. Lepton1

    Lepton1 Road Train Member

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    I broke into trucking in '77 as a "bedbugger", driving with my brother. For normal loads we did all the loading and unloading ourselves. If we had big pieces, like a baby grand piano going up three flights of stairs, then we hired local help. In fact before I drove I spent a couple of summers hiring out to bedbuggers, going to the local truck stop and knocking on doors to see if anyone wanted help the next morning. Most times I hired on with a driver that was going solo, it was rare to hire on with a team as they did it all themselves.

    Usually a van will be loaded with several households, rarely will a household fill an entire van. Although as the size of housing increased since the '70's that may have changed.
     
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  8. tumblin dice

    tumblin dice Light Load Member

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    When you see those fancy moving rigs with the 123" sleepers you can bet they are owner operators. I used to work for a local moving company. They would often send us out to help load/unload the OTR drivers. They usually ran solo but often I'd see husband and wife teams. I've heard the "bedbuggers" make the best money in the biz but they earn every penny of it for sure!
     
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  9. born&raisedintheusa

    born&raisedintheusa Road Train Member

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    Personally, this strikes me as both UNHEALTHY & UNSAFE!
     
  10. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    back in the day, when i worked for a temp agency. i was the temp, with 3 company full timers, and the 2 drivers that drove the goods from maine. moving a couple to the town on the other side of the hills from the city. the truck was part of the company.

    the 4 of us took the company van and met the truck out there. lot of heavy stuff.
     
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  11. kemosabi49

    kemosabi49 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I used to run for a van lines doing electronics/exhibits pulling an enclosed crane trailer. I ran solo, but could have had either a co-driver or just ride along helper (like my wife). When I needed extra labor, I contacted local moving companies or a temp agency in advance to arrange labor. Company pretty much didn't care how I got my labor. Extra labor was an accessorial and normally a money maker.
     
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