Hopper, Dump O/O's & Drivers

Sounds like about a dozen places I've been to in the past year Almost makes me want to show up with my tools and materials and fix the place up some! Some places are tiny and are set up spot-on, and then there's some that have it wrong given all the room in the world.

It looks to me like things are going to have to change on my end for awhile, I can't afford to keep paying out everything I take in and calling it a job (I've had cheaper hobbies). While the repairs ($4k for emissions equip?! + $3k in lost revenue because of it) have been one thing, my insurance and trailer has been so stupid expensive I'm making money for everyone else.

Although I've really enjoyed some of the places I've been to pulling a hopper, I can say I won't miss sweeping one out for awhile (after 3 loads of poultry meal back to back). If I owned a cheaper truck, and a good working trailer it might work out alright - but everytime I get a load on that has to wait I can feel myself slipping backwards. The load I'm under right now was a 210 mile deadhead from the house last night, and I found out today I'm not allowed to call the customer and ask them to take it early........ so after sitting for an entire day, I'll still be about 18 hours early when I get close in tomorrow evening.

Hope everyone had a good weekend and enjoyed the weather!

 

So far, the 3 days I've hauled out of the field for 2 different farmers, one had a guy helping him who was on his first day ever running a grain cart (and my guess would also be first day ever running a tractor). The farmer I was hauling for today was 86 and could only see out of one eye. His son was running the combine and he was in the tractor with cart. But for being 86, he didn't do too bad, I would have guessed he was only 70 something. He did let me run it and load myself once it got dark, I was thankful for that. Amazingly, haven't had any incidents with these operators yet, and only a minimum of corn spilled. But they have really made me nervous! Lord, grant me patience............and luck.

 

Wheathauler and Highside. Have you seen the new bunch of amigos. Garcia Trucking out of ulysses, i bet theres atleast 20 of them they come in packs i guess. They had cereal foods all clogged up yesterday and today. John was about to pull his hair out they no speak much hehehe, i told him to make his sign in spanish lol.

 

Did you stop and take you a nap along the way?

 

Haven't seen them yet, but I'm sure I'll have the "priveledge" of meeting them soon enough!

 

I'd call DOT and then call the local action news team. They like stuff like that. You want drive? You speaks ze english.

 

You cant miss them they have a huge horse shoe on the door with there name in it .

 

I 've got 2 questions, my boss bought a 50' hopper with a tag axle lift. My question is what size wheel base does the tractor have to be to get 1000 to 1200 bu. #2, how do you check to see what size wheel base you have.
THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.