Hello everyone, Received both a Email and phone call today from Phoenix, and asked if I would be willing to run intermodal out of the Columbus terminal, and stay MWest, out 2 weeks and home 2 days. No slip seating at that terminal. Will be mostly running the rail yards in Columbus, Chicago, Indy, St. Louis and two others. Miles 2500/wk, average. I can handles this for now. Could not believe, switch from OTR to Regional, and a truck opens up and a Oriention soon than planned. If anyone hears know about the intermodal division, would like to hear from you. I have no exp as far as container being placed on a Chassis.
When you pick them up, they are already on the chassis. All you have to do is go around and make sure all four corners are latched. Latches are fairly self-explanatory. Look at one and you'll figure it out. Otherwise, it's pretty much like any other trailer. Woo-HOO! No more sweating this one, yeah?
Ensure the 4 corners are locked down like Injun said. Usually they are ziptied as well. You'll have to cut those ties when you drop it at BNSF railways. And another problem that I had was on sharp turns, the red glad hand would pop off because they (glad hand connects) are low on the chassis compared to the spring mounted air lines which are held high to keep from rubbing the catwalk. I knew something was wrong because it was very difficult to stop as there were only the tractor brakes working then. I used some short 1' pieces of 3/8ths inch rope to secure the glad hands but would have preferred tie wire.
unless you've got air-lines that were stretched, just unhook the lines from the spring, and they SHOULD stay off the catwalk. What happens when you tie rope to the airlines, and take a tight turn? I'd prefer to use a bungie, cause atleast that has some give. or do what i've done over the past year...and refuse to do rail loads/intermodals. last 6 months as a company and i've never been to a railhead since being L/O. They all got p!zz poor attitudes, and think they're better than you. Not to mention they all think you've been there before and think you know where you're going. And i dont think i've ever had a rail load EVER NOT have a problem with billing or some information is missing or incorrect, thus making a 30 min stop closer to 2 hrs.....
I only did it once and it was too much. Had to drive through this giant Xray/bomb detection/radiation detection machine just to get inside the railyard. Then I had to drive up to this kiosk island and input a whole bunch of data which didn't work and they instructed me to go to the guard shack down the road anyway. Had to stand in line there for 20 minutes to get a special pass to be on the property blah blah my 14 hours ran out right there. BNSF says you cannot do your 10 hour break on their property. So I went to line 4, dropped my trailer in the slot they designated and drove the wrong way on the one way road on their property back to the shack area and closed my curtains lol. When it came time to leave, I had to go back through the Xray and the exit kiosk started shaking and smoking when it said there was an error that I had been there for longer than 2 hours. I just looked at the camera, ####ed my head to the side and said "Really?" -- they opened the swing gate arm for me. It has just got to be a better system for the guys who do that every day over the OTR guys who do it once in a blue moon.
yeah...been there too.....all the rail yards in chicago suck. I actually ahd a t-call at BNSF on Indiana St. and they declined the trailer cause the headder looked like it was bulging, and they didnt want to take it thinking the load shifted. the lady who checked me in refused to give me her name...so i snapped a picture of her on my way out....and she about went all postal on me....getting her manager, etc...and i said i needed her pic cause she refused to give me her name to document the trailer refusal. I get to take it back to the shipper, where they unloaded the whole trailer, and nothing ever shifted. thats okay...bonus miles for me =)
I forgot to mention, yes I was fingerprinted at BNSF Alliance Texas. I should have just whipped out my TWIC card lol.
TWIC makes it a lot easier. Picked up in Philly at the port a while back. Just as they were snapping on the gloves for a body cavity search with an odd look of glee, I handed over my TWIC card. And the guard's face fell....as he waved me on through. I'll be staying the night here on the yard. After my trailer marker light is fixed.
Thanks everyone. Recruitting sent me some more info on the intermodal division. I think that I will like it. The other two rail yards, North Baltimore, OH and St. Paul. Avg pay about $900/week, and the ability to get a 34 hour every week along with my two days off every week.
