Old Age

Id say you've earned your stripes... And that entitles you to do what ever the hell you want to do...

If you want to keep driving, but feel your body isnt up to the physical requirements of open deck any more... Or may not be for much longer... Then I dont see any shame in taking on the roll of a door slammer. Its a lot easier on the body... But it definitely has the down side of dealing with "dont give a ####" dock personel.

Just as a side note... I have alot of respect for you open deck guys... Ive done some open deck work on the farm... And that was enough to know that it wasnt something I could do everyday... So when I started driving professionally OTR I went with a reefer company. I'm not ashamed to say I'm a door slammer...

Ive done my share of physical work in other industries... I started driving professionally to get away from the aches and pains of physical work... Not to end up crippling or killing my self by falling off a slick and frozen skateboard.

 

I pulled my first reefer in 1989 and learned to hate it right away. Switched to open-deck freight (Flatbed, stepdeck, RGN) for most of the rest of it, with a little tanker and car-hauling sprinkled in there for good measure.I did drag a reefer again in '96 and reminded myself why I hated it. Lasted about two months before I was back under a step. Fast forward to 2012 and, somehow, I ended up pulling a reefer again. Still not sure how it happened. Did that for 3 1/2 years until Roadrunner ruined the company I was leased to and I yanked the signs, went back to RGN and started losing my shirt because the owner of the company was too busy playing Sons of Anarchy to pay attention and get decent freight. I ended up at a small Kansas company, pulling a dagum reefer and still hating it. Been here three years because I got spoiled not throwing chains, straps and tarps. I'm on a semi-dedicated run, so I really don't have too much to complain about. I miss open-deck, but my hands hurt a lot these days, so dragging chains around is problematic.

 

You sounds like you really look down on dry/reefer.

But after what you have put yourself through to do the really tough jobs, why not give yourself a break and do some of the easier stuff as you get older?
Sort of a semi-retirement.

 

Get a drop & hook line haul job with a company like Estes Express and a couple others.
Where are you in Florida?
Most line haul jobs pay really well and terminal to terminal drop & hook. Sleep in a hotel room at night; not in a sleeper truck.

 

Or you can do like I do.
I am no longer able to tie down loads, I quit tarping several years ago.
I can no longer chain up, when needed.
I can not even do my basic maintenence on the truck.
I actually can do these things IF I have all day to do it, but it is embarassing and I can't tie up the road long enough for me to chain up if I need to.
I now have a swamper that goes everywhere I do and even takes care of truck maintenance.
I pay him a percentage, and he is learning the ropes. I lucked out with him and he will wind up with a truck when I am done in.

 

I'm glad I'm not flatbedding anymore.

Most loads were tarped.
Trying to chain 13 foot high loads.
Arguing with shippers because the loads aren't hugged together. To keep them from moving around.
Loads that constantly settle so straps are always loose.
Worry about your load killing you when you need some hard brakes for whatever reason.
Tarping in the heat, rain, zero temps.

Now I pull tanks.

 

Pulling vans and reefers may likely lead to delivering at the hell on earth known as grocery distribution centers.

The toughest thing I do now is check the dome seals on my tank. If I so much as chip a nail, I'm on the phone with my mother.

Try it. You'll "tank" me later.

 

I vote drag a tank. Not often you have to drag to much hose. And even at that dragging hose isn’t all that bad. Easy on the body & not the rat race of reefer/dry van. Plus you get respected like you do with an open deck. Pulling boxes garners you no respect at all, from other truckers or the customers you’re working for.