I am a month out of graduating from Tech Driving school and I have been in contact with a recruitter at Gordon Trucking out in Washington and have sent in an application and been invited to orientation ,my recruitter has said that their Heavy Haul Division will offer the best hometime does anyone have any information about Heavy Haul what type of loads ,do you have a sleeper etc...![]()
need info about Heavy Haul
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bobbyw, Dec 3, 2006.
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Uhmm, I was uder the understanding that "heavy haul " offered the least hometime. If you want hometime shoot for regional or dedicated, which will be very hard for you to get, just being out of school.
I do not know about loads, because every company is different.
And yes you most likely will have a sleeper. -
Heavy haul work can be interesting, although sometimes complications will happen. Sometimes, a crane will be required for unloading. Maybe someone forgot to schedule the crane. So guess what, you're stuck there until a crane shows up. But with something that is still mobile, you can unload it yourself and go on about your business.
You will be primarily hauling heavy equipment and/or related items, as some manner of machinery requires disassembly for transport, such as a 385 CAT excavator. Each track is one flatbed load. The counterweight, bucket, stick, and small parts are two loads themselves, so you need 5 trucks to move one of those. Any load that can be reduced, must be.
You would be running mostly during the day, as nighttime driving with a oversize load requires a police escort from whatever state's police you are in.
Permit regulations vary greatly from state to state and you must have one for every state you'll be travelling through.
In most states, such as PA, routing is done by the permit agency, if they find a problem with the routing the company selected, such as work zone or a light bridge. Do not deviate from the routing on the permit, or try to sneak through towns after curfew, as PA will arrest and incarcerate you for this.
In NJ, you can select your own routing, but you must enter and leave the state at the designated points.
VA is very strict on axle weights. For example, they will allow you a permit for 75k on 3 axles, but not off the interstate.
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The few heavy haulers I have spoken with lead me to belive it is a good career choice. Just about always have to have your 2 years experience OTR to get in, though. Check into it (that means talk to the company). You may find a route in from where you are. If Gordon will accept you and train you as a Noob, that's a good opportunity, IMO.
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Gordons heavy haul is different than what most think of. They use a 3 axle tractor and a 3 axle van trailer. They run the northwest where it is permitted day and night without escort or flags. Home time will be Ok but the weekly miles will suck. Those loads have to stay in a few states so there is no real long hauls involved. If you live up there and want home time go for it.
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Heavy haul is interesting. I have never did it personally, but I did load some APC's. Heavy enough that the securement is just for decoration.
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Gordon Heavy Haul (HH) uses drop 3rd drives on Truck (2005-2006 frightliner Coronado's & Classics) and drop 3rd&4th TRLR axles. They HH guys haul paper products and beer primarily. GTI does not have flat beds, curtain sides, or doubles/trips. They use only 53' dry vans and 53' reefers.
The HH guys are treated like rock starts by there DM's and HH Managers & run pretty steady schedules. :smt023
If you are able to run into canada (passport etc) I recommend volunteering for the HH stuff in to BC. The HH staff really takes care of you.
Only worked at GTI for a short time (no fault to anyone), and would go back in a minute if I was back in he great NorthWest They are a Class Act IMHO.:smt023
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