Pritchett Trucking

552 miles............What does this mean to me? Well it's my mileage for Friday, I ran 2 loads of trash from Tallahassee to Campbellton and around noon time got the call that my sludge run was back up and running and needed to go to Valdosta, a little over 100 miles one way. Anyway at the end of the day I was suprised to see that 552 miles was my total for the day, I typically average 524 miles for 3 loads of trash, sometimes I'll do less depending on what I'm doing for the day. The moral of the story is; just because I drive a daycab doesn't mean I'm not out here busting my hump, my 2010 Mack is 11 months old and just rolled over 93,000 miles, I'm proud to say I'm responsible for all of those miles. We have a driver here that hasn't had his truck quite a year yet and has already turned over 118,000 miles, again these are all miles accumulated with trash, that dude puts the miles down no questions asked. Anyway, just a little more insight into my world, local is not always the walk in the park people think it is, we bust our ##### just like anyone else out there on the road.

 

Here's a bit of an update.....My sludge loads are now going to Veolia landfill in Valdosta, for the last year and a few months I've ran them to the same landfill I haul my trash to in Campbellton, Fl. Well the product works on contracts just like the hauling does and obviously Veolia wanted it more than WM so instead of running an hour and a half west, I'm now running two hours east. I was initially excited about the change but it's taking some getting used to, the new landfill is not in the best of conditions and can be very sketchy at times dumping my trailer. The ground is unlevel and you definately have to be on your toes, so far I'm the only dump trailer that I've seen out there, I just take my time and if it starts to lean I immediately drop it down, it's been half and half so far, some good days and some I'd rather forget. The hill is also much larger than the one I'm used to, nearly 300 foot high I would guess with a gradual climb to the top, but the last 300 yards has to be a 6% or better grade, not much fun when it's wet, I've already spun out once and had to back down the hill loaded Talk about an oh crap moment. Anyhow, hopefully it shapes up a bit, I do like the running much better and the scenery is a nice change, now if all the other variables would come together like I wish they would and I do believe I would have the "perfect" run.

 

Well my single stack Mack with a window in the back now has tinted windows I know this time of year I won't really see then benefit of it, but I'm sure come summer time I'll be glad I made the investment. Hell it was only 80 dollars so really that's not bad and the guy came to the yard to do it so I didn't have to drive anywhere. I'll try to post up some pics once I get a truck wash this week, Veolia likes to water their road a little to heavily thus resulting in a nasty truck, not real happy about that.

 

I said I would try to get up some pics of the ol' ride so here she is hooked to my little dump wagon. I also pull a 53' foot trash trailer, and a 45' foot chip wagon.

 

Worst thing about hauling trash??????? Essentially no days off what so ever, luckily enough I got Thanksgiving off but I will have to work tomorrow and Saturday in an attempt to play catch up from everyones holiday trash. For all the others on here who have time off, enjoy the time with family and friends and throw everything away, as they say "one mans trash is another mans treasure", or in my case my paycheck

 

I know my thread is dead but I will keep it updated for myself I guess so I can see how the past year has progressed. This past week was busy, very busy, right at 2,600 miles in my 65mph daycab, can you say tired?? I'm only 27 but this profession will make an old man out of you quick and by Fridays I'm definately ready for the weekend refresher. I've been running to Valdosta on a pretty regular schedule, the landfill in general sucks but I'm making the best of it. I've never been more nervous pulling a dump trailer though, I just hope I make it through this year contract unscathed and hope that things get better in the future. I'll post in a few weeks and give a yearly statement in case anyone was wondering, I should be right around 43-44,000 which isn't all that bad for local drivers in Florida. If anyone is interested in opportunities in Florida, S. Georgia let me know, maybe I can help.