Any heavy haulers here?

Thanks johndeere4020. Can I ask how you got started on your HH journey? You're one of the more experienced members in this sub so thought I'd ask.

 

Accidentally, I started hauling grain, then moving combines and tractors for the harvest crew. After I came home a friend was working at a construction company and they needed a driver and I needed a job, just escalated from there. I just had a knack for it and stayed because the kept paying more.

 

Best thing I can tell you is find someone who will take you under their wing so to speak. In the equipment transporting there's not much room for an oops I messed up. These machines are big and heavy and can easily do quite a lot of damage to people, cars, etc. You need someone to kind of watch over you and teach you little by little. Second best thing I can tell you is go to your local truck stop and just try to talk to some HH drivers. Some might just blow you off but then some will actually talk to you and want to talk about securement and loading/unloading.

 

I think it’s really common to want to rush into osow, but getting regular flat bed or step deck experience is really the best starting point imo. I’ve been in the same boat as you for a while now.
Unless you can find a mentor or somewhere small to speed up the process like shaker said. I’d go along with what everyone preaches, start at the bottom and work your way up.
if you can make the right moves to keep progressing successfully you’ll get to wherever you want to be sooner than you’d probably imagine.
It’s kinda like being handed a million dollars or working all the way to the million.

As far as local there’s stuff out there, definitely. but it takes some real looking around and some good timing/luck
having the right experience is the biggest factor I think. especially for the pay to be up there. Most places locally, at least around me seem like they don’t want to train or they have too many applicants to consider you if you don’t already have it.
I made a post about looking for local stuff a few months ago. Hope this helps Good luck

 

oilfield rig moving, or construction. once you've proven your abilities in either of those fields you'll be able to get into specialized heavy haul.

I fell into it, started working for my pops in the early 90's after working different oilfield and construction jobs, had a new pickup and was making payments and needed work, went crawling to dad and he gave me a job driving. best/worst trainer a guy could ever have lol.

 

Yeah my dad taught me to drive my first semi. Looking back we made some great memories but I think it would've been easier had it been just a random person teaching me to drive HA! I know with my dad at least he holds the bar higher for me than Joe blow.

 

my dad will be 74 tomorrow, he still jumps in a truck once in a while when I get busy. then gets pissy with me if I try and do all the work for him, chaining down his equipment loads etc. can't keep a good hand down I guess.

I know guys that have learned on other people's equipment and have very little respect or knowledge of the mechanical side of things. sure learn appreciation for the iron when it's your old man chewing your ### out for breaking or neglecting your bread and butter.

 

As @johndeere4020 had said. Work your way up, once the opportunity arrives for you to go into OSOW world. You will have some exposure under your belt.

Best comment that was told to me.

Heavy haul is like diamond cutters, you don't just jump in cutting a diamond. One slip and it could cost you dearly.