How Strong Do You Need to Be?

Cotton candy
Pillows
Styrofoam

Look in to those

 

I know, I'm playing with fire here... Could I ask how old you are?

 

Pull a box/reefer.
Swinging doors and cranking landing gear doesn't take much strength.
Tankers pulling hoses isn't that bad..but you will have to climb up top from time to time.
I worked with quite a few women who did it with no problem.

 

Katie if you can lift 50 pounds you will be fine. I would suggest you not go into flatbed as those tarps can get fairly heavy 70-110 pounds. Pulling a reefer or dry van is mostly no touch and there are plenty of companies that offer 95-100 percent no touch. I can't lift much more than and I am 53. Not trying to have a heart attack out here.

George

 

Hi Katie,
I understand your concern. I had the very same question. Jokes aside, the reality of it is mixed. Dry van and reefer (both of which I've done) are fairly easy. Even unloading with a pallet jack isn't tough. The tandems can be a pain in the butt, though. Most trailers aren't that well maintained. Most of the trouble I ran into was pulling the release on some mechanical tandems. Sometimes a little "persuasion" with a three pound hammer helped. When you run doubles and triples often you have to manhandle the dollies which weigh 500 lbs or so. That is not to say it can't be done. Lots of ladies do it every day and we're not bodybuilders. Even the fellas struggle with the equipment from time to time.

Sometimes other drivers offer help if they see you struggling, but I wouldn't count on it. Not that some drivers wouldn't help, but sometimes there's just no one else around.

Things I've found handy: 3lb hammer, pliers and vise grips. If you seriously get stuck with the tandems take it to a shop and have them help you (for a fee). But don't give up easily. A little stubborn goes a long way.

Good luck.

 

Go with a company that's 100% no-touch freight.
You drive and the trucking company pays lumper services to load/unload.
Dozens of companies are no-touch freight. Pride Transport and Ozark Motor Lines are a couple I can think of.

 

China, what do you think about and know about Ozark?

 

Pull a tanker. The only thing I lift is my hose and that's only when I have to use my own hose!