Roehl EVO I starts tomorrow 12/28

Very few truckers load/unload their trailers unless they're in flatbed. If you're driving a dry van or a reefer, it'll be rare you'll have to unload/load.

 

Pins, I'm scratching my head here. I think you have it backwards. Can you clarify? I'll drag on here and see if I can guess what you're saying, as what you've posted didn't fit what I saw.

Flatbed drivers don't have to load/unload, as far as I know. Crane operators and such do the loading of the pipe, coils, whatever that a flatbed would carry. I guess if the driver actually operates the loading machinery, then yes, flatbedders would load/unload.

Van drivers are not often expected to touch freight. And reefer drivers? Driver-loading is rare in reefer, but most of the time, fridge pullers are expected to unload the freight. This is the main reason reefer companies have the highest turnover. Well, it's this, the poor pay, and the attitudes at docks.

Most of the time they are asked to unload, and in reefer this will be on MOST loads, van and reefer drivers simply hire lumpers to do it. So I guess in this sense, drivers in those modes don't load or unload. I will assume this is what you mean in your post.

 

I guess what I meant about flatbed is that you have to do a lot of WORK to tarp your loads, etc., which a lot of flatbed drivers have to do. No, you never unload a flatbed.... sorry.

Every company I've talked to and/or we've worked for, we NEVER unload any freight. There is always someone there with a forklift to do it (when you're pulling reefer). We pulled a reefer almost continuously for months and never ever unloaded it. Never had to hire the lumpers, either - the company arranged that ahead of time if there was no one already there to do it.

Maybe things are different in different parts of the country. That, I don't know.

 

Okay, I see what you're saying in that other post now.

If your company makes sure there is someone on both ends to do the loading and unloading duty on every run with no lumpers ever being involved, I'd say it's a good one. It's a great one if those doing that duty start working you as soon as you get in place.

I quit shopping at Wal-mart long ago, and not because of what they do to middle-class mom and pops in towns and cities. That's bad, sure, but I quit shopping there because of how they treated me at docks when I made deliveries to their DCs. I also quit shopping at Smith's, Alberton's, Foodlion, K-mart, and some others. I've quit patronizing so many places because of how they treat drivers, I have had to move out of the USA. It's this or I start grubbing for roots and making my own clothes and shoes. Boycotting EVERYBODY comes with a price, ya know what I mean?

 

You looking for miracles? LOL!!! We'd sit to unload and reload a LOT with that company.

With the company he's with now, they move their butts and unload/reload FAST. This company is huge and obviously has a relationship with the main food mover around here because we NEVER sit. It's SOOO nice!!!!

One place we went to in Jersey had three FULL trucks unloaded in less than 30 minutes!! THAT was cool!! Especially since it was a 5 a.m. delivery. But if they're going to ask you to get there at 5 a.m. and you're out of there at 5:30 a.m., I have no problem with it. When you're asked to be there for 5 a.m. and you're still there at 4:00 p.m., I have a HUGE problem with that and I know it goes on everywhere.

If Mike DOES have to sit now, they pay him full pay by the hour for every minute he sits. Didn't know companies like this really existed!! We're staying put for life, hopefully... I keep waiting for the other shoe to fall but so far it hasn't.

I don't know any drivers who load or unload their trucks, though, who work for the main companies you see around the northeastern USA and Canada:

Midland
Armour
King Freight
Day & Ross
AYR
Easson's
Tom MacDonald
Robert
Erb
Maritime-Ontario
Brookville
Bison


That's all I can think of for now.

 

thankyou two for your info. at first i was thinking flatbed, cause i do a little of both in a strait truck. but the climbing on a load to tarp it hmmm, i know i could do the loads that were two-three feet off the bed its the tall ones i,d have a hard time with. i also think i have a fair knowlege of chaining things down and i prefer flatbed.

the reefer i think would be a little stressfull for a new driver and have concidered that but i leaning toward the van at least to learn the driving ,finding your stop, and backing.then through asking other drivers i might try something else.

 

Go with a dry box at first. Reefer is too aggravating and too demanding for a greenie. Get some experience in before going with reefer.