Muck Boots 'n' Slickers - Life of a Livestock Hauler

Shoot, we may have met somewhere along the way!

 

It is a small world sometimes.

 

That hits….

 

I think I found that formula in a Hot Rod Magazine back when I was in my teens, almost 30 years ago. (Man, that makes me feel old.) I like to know how to find the answer, not just know what the answer is.
If you want to make me grumpy when I ask a question, just say “Google it.”
Another formula I carry around in my head that is supremely useful when driving an old truck is, how to use a stopwatch and a calculator to figure your mph.

 

Speaking of an abacus, once upon a time I was in LA on a Friday afternoon, and the only load I could find was a load of pig hides. I got to where I loaded. The Chinese guy asked me how I wanted them loaded, and I asked him what the pallets weighed. There was this older Chinese woman there, and he asked her in Chinese what they weighed, and she drug out her abacus board and her fingers moved so dam fast I couldn't keep up with them. She said 2050. That's the only English I heard her speak. So I told him to belly load me. The next morning I crossed into Arizona and was told at the scales to pull over, and I sat there all dam day. The pallets weighed 2500, not 2050. I don't doubt her abacus board figures, but her English had something to be desired.

 

#### Russ you made me feel old. You need to be more mindful of the older crowd.

 

I’m about to run to Walmart to grab supplies then I’m going to Saint Simon island and sit by the water and bake like a potato. Happy Memorial Day to all you scalawags. Eat lots of beef and pork products and drink lots of cold snacks!! It’s the American way

 

Well I actually knew what it was just not its proper name lol

 

@Oxbow ..That is a history to remember. People today cannot conceive as to what life on the road was years ago.
As an aside, hinds are handier. With the netting intact; still cold enough to congeal blood, toss it over your right shoulder and steer with the leg while you hike along.
But a fore quarter. Flip it up on your shoulder; skin side to your face, leg tight against your right ribs. Bop along; from the cooler rail into the trailer,
and to the hook man. If he is good, you twist left, lean in and dump it forward. Westbrooks had a long hook and never missed sticking it.
(I sorta laugh at the comment we hear of "Swingin Meat." " It is "swung" but when Westbrooks (Main loader at Bryans") fitted it fore swallowing a hind, you had a tight load. The actual is it is about an equal top/middle position load, just taller than boxed beef on pallets.

Course it was not to dangerous for us, as an F8 Ford, (5 and 2 speed), dragging 32' Nabors reefer thru LA, MS, AL SC, NC, and FL. hitting 55 / 58 in rolling country then.