Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

CSA 2010 is only as good as what information is/is not, reported. I drove for a company a couple of years ago that was owned by someone with pull. The people over the trucking side did not know one thing about regs. Their job was to move the product any way possible. We did no pre-hire durg test, no background DMV test at all, neither pre-hire or yearly. Log books were suggested to be turned in, but you had to buy your own, the company would not supply them. At one time my medical was 1.5 years out of date before I renewed it. They didn't know or care.

Local drivers were discouraged from keeping time, as we were paid per load. Everything was day cab, even trips 600 miles each way. I watched drivers run local 10 hours in the day. go home for a couple hours, and hook to a 250 mile load to be unloaded first thing in the morning, and pickup supplies to bring back by that evening.

There were several wrecks on the route trucks, several on the day cab local and OTR. At least two roll overs, with one driver killed, trailers that were two or more years past a DOT inspection, no trailer brakes and few lights. Several drivers doing 80 hours a week or more. I could go on and on. The only thing that ever showed up on safestat was a couple log book violations and a bad tire on a trailer.

I ran local with a dedicated truck and trailer, and flat out refused to run illegal, my trailer was almost new, and all tractors were lease, so those were kept up. But, the drivers that could be intimitated, or were greedy, were ran to the ground.

So, it all depends on who you know, and if you sneak by without being inspected. I haven't had a full inspection since 1986. A log book looked at here and there, or a truck paperwork inspection, but nothing more. There have been some close calls with DOT, and a few small tickets from them years ago, but nothing else, thank goodness. So, if you don't get stopped, you don't get scored.

 

The place I described pulled their own products. If the scales were open both ways, I would cross a total of four times a day. This was on a major intenterstate. In three years off and on I was never stopped, while those in front and rear of me were inspected. I wonder if the owner being a major political figure had anything to do with our good rating and lack of checks.

 

"Hoploads", tend to have mainly "backhaul" rates, good if you are needing a little extra income on the way home. But, I havent seen too many "full rate" jobs listed.(Maybe I am missing them?)(lol)
Jim

 

any of you guys know anything about ST Joseph MO.thinking about buying a house there and moving from Florida. thanks for any replys. Walt

 

Anywhere is better than FLOOR-IDA

 

It's ok, I think. I don't do much but pass through there. About an hour and a half north of KC, was it?

 

Doesn't snow that much, putting aside this year. When it does, it tends to pile up and melt within a day or two. I don't know how humid it is down in Florida, you might have to get used to the air here. People from Cali can hardly breathe at all in the summer. Driving is also fun. Welcome to the land of Dale Earnhart. As in, everyone and their mother thinks they are Dale Earnhart.

 

I spent 10 years of my life in Missouri, and most of it by choice A couple of the years were enlisted, and then I moved there a few years later from CALIFORNIA. That being said, Kaji has it right - the summers took some adjusting to, but coming from Floor-ida the humidity won't take any getting used to. I don't know the St. Jo area that well because I lived in the middle of Missouri the whole time, but I can tell you that Missouri isn't a bad place to live.

As far as trucking goes, you're in the middle of the US, and you can get anywhere in a couple of days time. The 70 runs flat out most of the time through the place, and there are more truck stops than you can shake a stick at. Fuel is usually cheaper through there, and there's plenty of freight most of the year.

The winters are livable, it doesn't get below freezing until December or January - and usually only lasts a month or 2. When it does snow, it gets 6 inches or a foot deep at a time, and mostly melts off in a few days - sometimes a week. They rarely can't keep up on the roads, and I don't remember a time when it was unsafe to go anywhere (compared to frekkin Georgia of all places).

A buddy of mine moved from the Lake of the Ozarks up to KC a few years ago, and if you need anything from around there (rental guides, real estate mags, newspapers, etc) I can probably reach him and have him hook you up. For that matter, I might be able to find you a real estate agent you could trust up there, I'd have to ask some friends.

Personally, I'd move back to the middle of Missouri without blinking, but I always liked peace and quiet myself - St. Joseph is probably a better area for freight. And from what I've heard from alot of people - anything is an improvement from Florida