How does one get into hauling things like these?

That's every day life in a circus.

"Make it your aim to live a quiet life and mind your own business."

 

Sounds like a good way to never be involved again. If they were I would laugh at them before lifting a finger to help them.

 

They have developed a way to know everything thats going on, and to prevent drivers from talking and comparing notes on pay. Dime dropping gets you a $50 Walmart gift card in the mail.
So if a driver can help another, he wont. He will let the other screw up and collect$50.

 

That is Excactly why I like to run by myself! Someone ask what I have been doing? I just say you had to be there to know!!

 

I was following the guy who's authority I am running under for the first load. Used 140 gallons of fuel because he could not keep his speed constant. Second trip I let him get about 30-45 miles ahead of me. I was able to keep my speed constant and used 7 gallons less on that trip with just a few thousand pounds difference in loads.

 

Yer learnin!!

 

If you did ask him he would probably have a comment like " I open the door climbed in stepped on the clutch and turn the key that's how I got started " maybe not. I just have always gotten the impression that most individuals that do things that many others strongly desire to do usually act like their balls are too big to fit in their pants. Now I'm not saying they're all like that but most that I've encountered having been in the construction industry for 25 plus years tend to act like their a breed above

 

I've been that guy before. Most of the time the person asking don't really want to know, They just want go go straight to driving, without paying their dues. So yea, those type get a smart ##* reply from me. Now if somebody really wants to know and has at least has a little clue, I'll tell them all they really want to know and may even offer a job.

I agree with Six on the Bozos. Most are more properly known as engineers or others that are educated beyond their intelligence. Instead of just "getting it done", they can turn a 2 day job into 2 weeks or more, and then brag when it's over about how their superior intelligence got it all done.

Most all the major players have entry level job openings, some even have above entry level if you hold a class A and already have some driving experience under your belt. You have to have a certain mindset or you won't last long. Lots of long hours and lots of physical labor, but you are learning in the process, if you pay attention. Even when you finally make it pulling the big loads, if you think all you do is sit behind the wheel and look pretty, you are going to be in for a big surprise. When you aren't driving, you're right there in the trenches pulling your weight along with everybody else. Or go to school and get you a big degree so you can be one of the bozos.

 

That's because they usually are. Call it what you will, ####iness, arrogance or just plain confidence. It does not take long to determine if they have the attitude required to pull big loads.

16' tall or 150' bumper to bumper or 15' wide is the largest that I have pulled. All different loads.

Got my license on a Thursday and Friday I moved a 10' wide load. Monday I moved a Volvo haul truck. A month later I was pulling a stretch trailer 68' long. All this with 5 trips under my belt across Montana. With the exception of the trips across Montana there was never anyone else in the truck.

So yeah, I have a bit of an attitude about my abilities. Not many would survive the path I was thrown into.

I don't care for the really tall stuff, I will take long or wide any day though.

 

Thanks fellas but please don't take my post as if I was trying to knock anyone really I'm not and I appreciate your guys feedback truly all I was getting at was I always try and will continue to try to keep learning day in and day out I know a lot of things about a lot of different stuff but I know enough to know I don't know the half of it. And I'm sure you get those guys that ask a lot of questions but you can tell they really don't care just making small talk to flap their gums and I can understand where someone would tend to get calloused after a while I get it believe me I do I've been there and other situations but if a guy like myself is truly curious and really wanting to know and understand the industry it's just a drag when you run into folks that don't care to pass any advice or knowledge on to someone who really would like to learn