Containers for Dummies

Lots of can haulers in the Baltimore area drive beat up trucks for numerous reasons. Low rates, only driving about 10 miles from the Port and other moronic drivers running into you all call for putting zero money into your equipment. It's like anything else. You can set a goal and make it happen if you're determined enough. I've seen some people really make something out of intermodal as a steeping stone and I've seen some very nice trucks pulling cans too. It's all what you make it, driver.

 

I haul containers. I do regional runs. 200-300 miles out then head back. I'm home every night. Definitely worth it for me.

 

I've heard tell of people around the country making good money pulling containers, but it's not that way around here.

Most of the container hauling around here are from Memphis to Nashville. it's some of the cheapest freight around here.

 

There are painted yellow squares. Park inside and wait for the thump. Yer done. Go.

=)

 

I do own my own truck now. After being a company driver for 3 years. Hauling cans was my first kind of trucking job so I stuck with it. I do advice to go in as a company driver first since you have no experience as an owner op, or hauling cans. Depending on the company, wether you get paid % or per hour, you can make decent money. But I work out of Chicago, it can be a different world where you're from.

 

I was a can hauler in Baltimore myself and I can attest to the condition of the trucks.

My Company "Port East" would have me in a short early 60's mack with the back window gone, exhaust weedburning fumes and all coming into the cab all day and half the stuff in the tractor electrically not working. I literally would evaluate the weather for both Norfolk and Baltimore and see if I will have a problem with frost, ice or whatever. Because there isnt any defroster, heat or any of that. Nothing. I carried a spool of wiring 10 gauge and twisted or bypassed busted lights to light em up with a bucket of spares.

Even a rag or two large enough to wrap pigtails. That was usually enough to get out of a citation when Baltimore Tunnel Police pulled me over because I had no container lights. I finally moved on from Port East because frankly the poorly maintained (or none at all...) equiptment combined with 30 plus hour days where you arrive at midnight, find the can and be in Norfolk by 5 am and then sit and wait until like 5 or after PM for the can or chassis back to baltimore all #### day. No sleeper then either. Nothing. Lives were at risk too many times due to my addiction to caffinee pills which wore off in tolerance and almost hurt or killed people from going to sleep at highway speed on 95.

This is not a post about whining. We go to the port, get the can and do what we have to do with that can all day if necessary. And then get back home when finished, not a minute before. I left the owner a huge write up on exit interview stating essentially that he needs a 24/7 shop and a small sleeper fleet wide to give us day cab people a chance. I think he implemented some of these things after I left there were many newer Rs with sleepers (Really small ones) added to the area afterwards. Just not with me as part of that work.

Going into Baltimore docks were a toss up. It could be a hour before you got a box. Or 3 PM before you got a box and out of there. Finally. Maybe to park in yard and try again tomorrow to finish the run.

There was one other thing in that company that was a eye opener to me back then. A total we will get to it when we get around to it and not a minute before. There were times everyone was in the break room telling stories for hours while nothing moved in that yard because no one in dispatch was hollaring for these loads to be going somewhere now. That was not something I needed in my life, all that lost time. I tell you what. If I became that slow in life in that outfit, I'll still be there talking about 5 wives, 12 children and all sorts of issues in that city by now. UGH.