O/O Container Hauling

They are not paying me enough to haul these DOT traps either, but are you additionally compensated for using your own chassis relative to one who is using the rails chassis?

I am considering becoming am O/O hauling containers--until I die or find something better. Ironically, the past two chassis I pulled were immaculate--clean, new tires, new brake chambers--I thought I died and went to heaven. The usual best choice is one that has at least one light out.

Monday I did an eleven container-on-chassis shuttle, 33 miles each way, and only one of them would pass a DOT level one inspection. One did not even have any service breaks operative. Pulled one Tuesday, the tie rod broke and I had the back axle scraping and smoking at a 40° angle to the line of travel on I-55 at La Grange Road. I would say I lose 8-15% of my duty hours most weeks waiting for a chassis repair, whether it be at the yard or out on the highway.

I would really like to know if Shippers would pay a higher rate to one that own his own chassis relative to one that pulls a rail chassis. As a driver, I was at a company that said it was going to invoice me for flat tires that occurred under my watch--I quickly signed on at another company that does not have this policy. Also, the company I am at now has its own tri-axles for those 45k net loads, but I am not knowledgeable if they are paid more for the use of their own chassis.

A major downside to using one's own chassis is that everything now is a 'live lift' - and those lines can get pretty long.

Do you run just 100 air miles out? Up to 250? Overnight in the truck? Day Cab? Talk to me one who lives in the town I was raised.

 

Article on the front page of Transport Topics, the house newspaper of the ATA a few weeks ago was all about how drayage companies who haul containers away from several ports are having a very difficult time getting drivers to haul chassis that will negatively impact their CSA scores. This entire industry is in flux right now since the FMCSA changed the regulations about who is responsible financially and legally to maintain the chassis. The shiplines used to say it was the truckers responsibility, the truck lines said they didn't own it, so the shiplines were responsible. That finger pointing stopped in 2009 when the Feds said the registered owner(usually the shiplines) were responsible. They immediately started dumping their chassis. That is why you see all sorts of new arrangements popping up, o-o's with their own chassis etc.
From a pure business model, why would you pay anyone a premium to (with the exception of LA_Long Beach) run cheap old equipment, be home frequently, with little entry requirements? There are many owner operators who want that gig, depressing rates, simple supply and demand. Intermodal Rail freight is the same, at least domestic chassis usually have tubeless radials on them, as opposed to Chinese made 40-45' that barely pass an inspection brand new.

 

I stay away from the ports and stick with the rail yards. Most of the containers from the ships are severely overweight due to no weight restrictions in other countries. 90k for a 40 footer is not good for your tractor. I'll stick with my short $2.63 per mile run and be home by 3 p.m. daily. Not bragging. This intermodal thing is saturated and it keeps getting harder and harder to make a buck. Just like normal trucking Schneider and JB Hunt are taking over the intermodal thing. There used to be only 20 or so intermodal companies out there. Now everyone has jumped on the bandwagon. Port chassis are crap compared to rail chassis. I know of in Orlando these chassis companies are changing over to 11r22.5 virgins. As for these tractor looking like death traps; They are indeed ugly, but how does a DOT inspection every 3 months sound?

 

Thanks Container Hauler for the Advice so i should buy Volvo,Freightliner etc is just has to be 2007 and over truck to pull containers in cali port???

 

Stay away from them containers. A pure undermining of O/O's.A hole that you cant get outta of it.

 

I would go with any Aero truck (personally a T660) and yes 2008 and up

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

To each its own

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

 

Hi rick, I'm in the area looking for port work. How can I get a list of the companies pulling out of either port everglades or miami. I have a truck I'm looking to lease on

 

http://www.drayage.com/directory/results.cfm?city=MIA

http://www.loadmatch.com/jobmatch/search_jobs_detail.cfm?jobID=1801

http://www.loadmatch.com/jobmatch/search_jobs_detail.cfm?jobID=1923

https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/trp/5529211330.html

https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/trp/5547822821.html

https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/trp/5540224641.html

https://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/trp/5524354985.html

 

They better be... I'm sure every state cop they pass does a level one on them.