Containers as an O/O ... help me decide..

I haul the cans every day and it sucks!! Been doing it a year next month. I clear between $1,000 - $1,500 a week and it's long hours. Dealing with the ports suck, dealing with the tires suck, and the DOT are always looking to pull over a container because they know the chassis are junk and they'll get you for something(count on it). I think it would be VERY HARD for a man with a bad back. Sometimes they stage the contains so #### close to each other you have to craw on your hands and knees to get into it to crank the dollie wheels. Some of the drivers don't know how to drop a trl and you'll be cranking your butt off to get it lower or higher to get under it. It's a very stressful job.. If you can find something different( I would. ) So far this year I'm at $87,000 but I'm home every night and off weekends but it still sucks. I would love to do something different but I'm not so sure if there is REALLY anything better with the way thing's are right now? All the big companies talk a good game but I wonder?? Bill

 

Bill, I did cans for 5yrs out of Chicago for Schneider and I have to give you credit if you are pulling the rag-tag stuff. I would always see you guys waiting in line for hours to get a can on a chassis, a swap ect ect.... I lucked out with SNI and everything was always pre-staged and we gr the good chassis lol

Might I suggest a set of rail ramps added to your rear frame rails and an air-dump is a MUST of pulling containers.

 

Have the air dump but no rail ramps on the old shaker! LOL

I did a load on a 20 FT'er today which went 183 miles one way and 183 return that paid $667.00 to the truck... I would do one a day and would be as happy as a pig in ####. LOL

 

If the truck is paid for and you have no bills, that's not bad. I'd have to get a bit more, but I got lots of toys to pay for lol.

 

I feel for brother....I'm in the same boat with the back...can't get a doc to do surgery....yet.

Have you considered pulling a dump wagon? 39' end dump with a grain door. When I lived up in Asheville, I used to bring lime, sand, grain etc. down to your area. Then would load potatoes, scrap aluminium back out.

The only real effort/downside is you may have to climb up into the bed to move the tarp bows to keep the guy running the frontend loader from bending them with his bucket. If you don't mind bent bows then you can keep your feet planted on the ground.

I really enjoyed that line of work. No real fisical effort other than rolling the tarp open to load and sometimes to unload and to stand at the back to run the grain door while delivering feed to a farmer or a feed store.

As you are, I am pursuing getting my own truck and dump trailer to do the "local" thing here in Fla. Can be home every nite if I want to & off on the weekends and still make a pretty good living.

Just some food for thought. I wish you well with your endeavor and take care of that back! We need them when we retire so we can go play golf!!!! LOL

 

I have some bills and a truck note but it's pretty low of a note.. I sold all my toys back in 09 LOL. I would like more myself.. I need more! LOL!

I ran for North American Van Lines for close to 30 yrs but when the housing market went south I had to get out and sell everything. This all took place in 7/09. Had a 2007 W900, 1972 ss nova street/ race car, 2008 inclosed 28ft trl & a new duramax pickup trk.. I was in up to my ears!!LOL I was at one point taking $16,000 pay loads out to LA but those day's are long gone!LOL. Now I work for pennies! LOL I do play the OHIO LOTTERY every week. LOL

 

in portland or seattle area hauling containers is financial suicide.
Good luck.