anyone hauled bee's before

heck if the shipper tarps and secures the load then i would say its a pretty decent gig considering those are high loads and i wouldnt want anything to do with getting on top of bee hives none the less that high up to tarp but if they do it for you sounds like a good gig. heck for me half the battle of any load is tarping and securing

 

They use nets, for air flow and to keep temperatures down. Tarps would cook and suffocate the bees.

 

Yup.And for the O.P.-I had to help geting the load ready..One climbed on top to put the "fish nets" on and lay the V-boards out as I handed them up to him. B-hives.V-boards. Bees. Don't take curves any faster than needed;or stop all of a "sudden". I'm sure you would realize that..Still needed to say it. To ah.."be" certain.

 

Actually, you drive them at night and park during the day. The load I hauled had mandated that I drive from 8pm-7am and then I had to park. It was only a 2 day run so I stopped at the WY scale rest haven.

 

maybe it was a different season but we hauled them in the summer and it was mandatory to stay moving in the hottest parts of the day.

 

I hauled mine in April from California up to Wyoming. They loaded me at 7pm and told me to drive till 7am and then stop because the bees would be awake and go out to pollinate. And they told me I could start driving again about 8pm and go to the farm I was delivering them to. That was the only load I hauled of them and I doubt I'll ever haul one again

 

Keep your Windows wound UP...........

 

You've received a lot of good advice on here, heed it.

Bee suit and veil, elastic gloves, duct tape around your boots. Bees crawl and will find a way into your suit.

You will get stung, accept that. Do not fear it. I carry Epipens, not because I'm allergic but supposedly the body can only take so many stings and I've had plenty.

Ask the owner of the bee's the route he/she wants you to take and then take it. Often times your better off on 395 out of cali for instance as it keeps your elevation higher. Bees need to stay cool.

Not questioning anyone but I've never heard of driving at night with a load of bees. You must drive all daylight hours. This will involve creative logging. If you are not willing to do that, don't take the load.

Expect to have a windrow or two of dead bees along the side of your trailer under the net. Sometimes the guys have over loaded hives and you cannot prevent death loss. Bees have a short life span and losing 5-10 percent enroute is not uncommon. I've seen it where I only had a five gallon pail full of dead bees and I've had it where I'm pretty certain I did something wrong.

Fuel at night when you stop. Water the hives at that time also. Not a fine mist, saturate them. Grab your food for the day and I limit my stops to only restroom during the day.

Everyone is correct about receiving at dusk mostly. Do not arrive early. You need to keep moving and as MNdriver said it may mean 40mph on a back road but you must keep moving.

Bees are expensive, you've been given a lot of responsibility.

You will need 10 2x6 by 8 to go across the top of the hives and strap tight. Check straps frequently for first 100 miles.

At the back of the trailer use your 2 inch straps to make an X on the back of the hives. Check this frequently too.

You may or may not be asked to strap and unstrap, had it both ways. Strapping is usually pretty mellow if time and temp is right. Typically the beekeeper will "smoke" the bees at the time of loading. This is done to deaden the warning sensors of the guard bees and results in more mellow bees.

If you must unstrap and pull nets, do it as quickly and efficiently as you can. Set them to the side and get back in your truck. I've found it best to take a nap for an hour or two after the bees are off your trailer and then fold nets and roll straps but really dependant upon temperature and time.

Bee hauling is a different deal but one which can be accomplished without issue if you simply do all the right things. Do exactly what the bee owner tells you.

I'm sure I've forgotten things but this is a good start for you.

Jay

 

Mine were Pa to WI and were daylight running, only. Infact, after loading, they told me were the truckstop was, 5 miles away and told me get a good night's sleep and to roll out at about 9AM, the next morning. When I contacted the reciever and told him where I was, he told me to slow down, or he would have me driving laps around the county, until dusk.

 

HA!!!! No way in H E Double Hockey Sticks, would I come within 50 miles of that load ... That looks insane to me