Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by wheathauler, May 31, 2009.

  1. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    Shoot, WE haul it cheaper than WE can haul it!
     
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  3. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Yes, sadly that's true. If some of these cutthroat outfits would go out of business it might help. Seems though like one folds and three will take its place. That's the trouble with hoppers you don't need special equipment or training.

    Anymore doesn't seem like they care about service just the price. Forget about loyalty, doesn't matter if you hauled for them for years, they will drop you for someone cheaper.
     
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  4. M.Enterprises

    M.Enterprises Medium Load Member

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    I think you are right about that. I think it is necessary to start off with brokers, though. If you start off with your own contacts, your already in the industry, not just starting out.
     
  5. M.Enterprises

    M.Enterprises Medium Load Member

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    Take some bulldozers to every DOT office and watch the freight pay much better. Of course, then everyone and their brother would become a truck driver, so it will be short lived.

    Until then.....thaaaaaaaaat's truckin'! lol

    Oh btw Pharm, I called you the other day just to tell you how funny your video is. The trucking with cows one. I watched it three times and couldn't stop laughing! The best part had to be your quote "I said let's go trucking...it'll be fun!" and "No I'm the stupid one..." LOL I feel for ya.
     
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  6. Pawnd

    Pawnd Medium Load Member

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    NO MORE DOT ! ! !. . . The more DOT the better . . . if you keep your books and truck legal who cares how many DOT inspections, chicken coups, ect ? Run all the marginal no/minimal maintenance trucks off the road.....

    Then freight will pay better.
     
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  7. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    If the DOT would just enforce the existing rules it would help. I can't figure out how anybody can be driving a truck without knowing some English.
     
    Last edited: Jun 20, 2009
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  8. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    Raining today so no wheat cutting. The guaranteed truckers are hauling from small elevators into Hutch. They're not going to let them sit and draw pay.

    One year it rained so much they hauled almost all the grain during harvest. Took locals off the hauling and let them do it.
     
  9. Wheat Light

    Wheat Light Light Load Member

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    I've got a quick question. I know this is an O/O thread, but does anyone know any companies I could get on pulling a hopper bottom for in the southeastern US? They don't have to be from around here, but willing to hire a driver from here. Looked around, but can't find much. Been a company driver all along. I've always wanted to pull a hopper bottom, but never had the chance. Back home in Illinois I worked at an elevator part time. Loaded and unloaded lots of them.

    Anyway. Thanks for your help.
     
  10. PharmPhail

    PharmPhail Road Train Member

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    The hopper business really seems to be dominated by O/O's. All the companies I can think of are either brokers or lease-ons. The rest is handled by the farmers themselves. Maybe someone else knows.
     
  11. wheathauler

    wheathauler Trucker

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    The only thing I could think of would be to try to find a small fleet owner with hoppers. We have some small fleets here that hire a few drivers. We do have one here that employs around 20 drivers but he never has trouble filling them.

    I suppose you could talk to elevators and see if any hopper fleets haul out of them. To answer the question I really don't know of any in the SE.

    Might be some other hopper drivers on here, that are from SE, that know of some.
     
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