Produce Loads

Discussion in 'Refrigerated Trucking Forum' started by AchioteCoyote, May 10, 2013.

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  1. May 10, 2013 #1
    AchioteCoyote

    AchioteCoyote Light Load Member

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    So... I am on my very first fresh produce load and am amazed that there are drivers that actually do this regularly, and maybe even exclusively.

    How in the heck does a driver make any freaking money when you're waiting all freaking day for these produce people to do anything?!

    Had an 1130 appointment this morning. Arrived 1/2 hour before appointment. Shipper tells me to come back at 1800. I'm like, what?! Yeah.... come back at 1800 and we'll get you a door.

    So... I arrive back here at 1800 and was pretty excited when I was able to check-in. Problem is that I've been sitting here for one hour and am hearing that some drivers have been sitting here waiting on their door for four hours.

    I realize that this is minimal, considering that I have heard horror stories on Road Dog Trucking regarding fresh produce loads taking days to get loaded.

    Who does this produce regularly? How do you put up with it? How do you survive?

    Just wanted to vent for a minute.
     
    AchioteCoyote, May 10, 2013
    AchioteCoyote, May 10, 2013
    #1
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  3. May 10, 2013 #2
    MNdriver

    MNdriver Road Train Member

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    think about WHAT you are picking up...


    Fresh produce. You know, the stuff that GROWS in fields...

    It's NOT able to just be stored indefinitely in a warehouse like a machine. During the DAY, they are PICKING your load most times. At best, it might have sat in a cooler overnight.

    If they are telling you to come back at 1800, it's because they are still in the field harvesting it.
     
    MNdriver, May 10, 2013
    MNdriver, May 10, 2013
    #2
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  4. May 10, 2013 #3
    bigdad7

    bigdad7 Road Train Member

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    High rates and aggressive detention is how u survive.......just saying on my way to deliver pork and pu tomatos sun and mon
     
    bigdad7, May 10, 2013
    bigdad7, May 10, 2013
    #3
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  5. May 10, 2013 #4
    2hellandback

    2hellandback Heavy Load Member

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    Dec 19, 2007
    Blackfoot Idaho
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    Thats why you get 4.00 a mile then wait till you get to billy bob produce back east and they reject it for quality and you wait 3-4 hours to find out you noe need to take it to joses produce and they bought it at 1/3 the org cost then sell it back to billy bobs produce for 1/2 of it org price...
     
    Last edited: May 10, 2013
    2hellandback, May 10, 2013
    2hellandback, May 10, 2013
    #4
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  7. May 10, 2013 #5
    Logan76

    Logan76 Crusty In Training

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    ^ that happens with the food grade tanker work I do sometimes...
     
    Logan76, May 10, 2013
    Logan76, May 10, 2013
    #5
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  8. May 10, 2013 #6
    Psyched

    Psyched Light Load Member

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    It's not just that they are picking, but if the commodity is in short supply, and you are not going to a target customer, then you might get laid over. Picking up strawberries... Shortest fruit in us right now
     
    Psyched, May 10, 2013
    Psyched, May 10, 2013
    #6
  9. May 11, 2013 #7
    ‘Olhand

    ‘Olhand Cantankerous Crusty

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    All been addressed b4--search thru reefer forum--YOU WILL get most of the answers--but to address just one here--there is NO SUCH THING as a p/u appt w/produce--not now not b4 not ever--that is a broker/dispatch myth
     
    ‘Olhand, May 11, 2013
    ‘Olhand, May 11, 2013
    #7
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  10. May 11, 2013 #8
    Bayle

    Bayle Road Train Member

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    Yeah, I sat over 24 hrs at driscolls before during strawberry season. It was a truck stop just about, waiting your turn.
     
    Bayle, May 11, 2013
    Bayle, May 11, 2013
    #8
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  11. May 11, 2013 #9
    Psyched

    Psyched Light Load Member

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    most produce goes to retailers and as trend retailers are starting to measure truck turn around - reasonable turn around is considered a positive. The days of waiting 24hrs during strawberry or grape season are going away for the quality shippers and quality receivers... for the crappy shippers and receivers- its going to get worse. If you picking up for Costco, WM, Kroger - you will see yourselves being loaded faster... going to Supervalu, Foodlion and the likes... your going to get loaded slower. Its a definite trend in produce.
     
    Psyched, May 11, 2013
    Psyched, May 11, 2013
    #9
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  12. May 11, 2013 #10
    Dinomite

    Dinomite Road Train Member

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    Produce hauling is for the birds. I pick it up every now and then. But picking it up weekly no thank you. Especially if you have E logs.
     
    Dinomite, May 11, 2013
    Dinomite, May 11, 2013
    #10
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