Question about log trucking

It is real easy, as long as you pay attention. once you learn how to drive off road, on road is like driving a car.

 

Pay attention to the "road" conditions. They can run from hard packed to muddy, with tree stumps. Log trucks have a rather high center of gravity, take your turns even slower!!! Do NOT forget your blinkey light and red flag ( well FL DOT will have your backside in a sling, IDK about other states)

The logs will shift, not as much as liquid in a tanker, though. Gloves!!! Very important to have gloves. Fl has you strap the logs, IDK about other states, but tree sap is nasty to get outa cloths, skin and hair.

Different companies are weeeell different but one of the companies ky husband worked for required him to "trim the load", that is done with a chainsaw, if ya gotta you might think about getting a good lightweight one, save your back and arms.

 

I am also interested in driving a log truck. I would love to be and independent contractor and have my own truck. I was told by a company in Alabama that if I had my own truck and trailer they would put me to work ASAP. I am in school now getting my CDL. He said that they pay by the ton. What type of truck should I get if I go this route. I would like to purchase a used log truck for about $20k if I could. Also how do you prepare to drive off road? What specs should the truck have?

 

My hubby said they use alot of Mac's, with lower gearing. He says "HE" wouldn't go with an 18 speed, but some do.

If I remember correctly his last log truck was a piece of buffalo chips Mac that shook like an unbalanced washer when it hit highway speeds of 55. BUT it would pull and I do mean pull. With a fully loaded trailer it still pulled another truck and unloaded trailer.( i'm sure the other truck helped) when that truck got stuck in sugar sand.

One piece of advice from the hubby: tires. You will go through some tires, keep it legal, but don't get the most expensive.

IDK about Alabama or anywhere else bt FL dot will stop a log truck before anything else to inspect.

 

If you are only running local (day trips) a truck with 8LL, 4.10 rears, and 11R24.5 tires. The 8LL and the 18 spd have the lowest low gear of all the road ranger trans with the highest overdrive. That gives you the most range in speed available. Differential locks and or traction control is the best drive set up. The engine horse power only makes a difference when on the highway. If you get stuck, STOP, dont beat your truck tying to get out! Thats why we have skidders, to move you when your stuck. For learning off road, just go slow, better to get stuck then crash your truck on a muddy turn.

 

Google "Swamp Loggers", it's on Netflix. (Great show, BTW)

 

I thought you meant one of these,my bad.

 

That's sweet man! Much better than driving for a mega-carrier! Provided you are working for decent outfit you should make some pretty decent money.

Like the other posters said, you have to be adverse in driving on road and off road. There will be a lot of situations that will come up in which you will have to be creative. Keep in mind that you won't be delivering to a shipper/receiver paved parking lot dock with plenty of room to turn around. You may find yourself in a situations that may require backing for miles down dirt roads. Your loads will typically be made up of all sorts of different lengths, weights and sizes and often log trucks are very top heavy, so drive accordingly.

Maybe you can also have an opportunity to learn to run some equipment too. Once you get your foot in the door that are many skills that you can learn to make that a good career for life.

Good luck to you...