Anyone know what these loads are.. ?

Watermelons. I've been hauling them. I'll PM you.

 

We ship melons out of South Alabama. Make sure the loads are flat rated and not by the hundred weight and that they are non-exempt so you aren't responsible for free miles if a load gets refused. One of my friends who's a Landstar BCO moved a load today going to Shelbyville, IN for $2.95 a mile.

 

Have never moved produce. But was talking with a guy this morning saying that he had a couple of the nightmare loads. Receivers wanting to use the truck as storage for a few days near/over the fourth of July or mention that their other storage facility is only 100 miles up the road. They were not interested in paying more to move the truck up the road 100 miles either. Not sure how valid that sort of story is, only posting to make sure someone new asks 100 questions before accepting a load.

 

Yep, produce hauling is a rolling crap game. Not as bad as it used to be, but there are still plenty of crooks around.
My best suggestion is to deal only with brokers / shippers you can find GOOD info about. Google the receiver, shipper, broker, check a produce " blue book ", ask other drivers, and ask questions from everyone. Do not be afraid to charge for your services, but be quick to do a favor. Scenarios change in the produce business, and everyone must be very flexible.
Hauling produce can be very lucrative, if you get in with the right folks.

 

Watermelon 101.... Unlike most fruits and veggies, watermelons stop the ripening process once picked.

A couple things to look for that customers want.

It doesn't matter round or oval, a good melon is symmetrical in shape.

Look at the bottom side that layed on the ground. It should be a yellowish white color to be ripe. Greenish color and it wasn't ready.

You can thump one if you know the sounds. Ripe is a hollow sound while not ripe is more of a thud or a high pitched tone.

Another method is to scratch back the outer most layer with your finger, a ripe melon will have a greenish white color under it.

Feel and poke the melon also, it should be firm and not have soft spots on them.

The outer color doesn't mean much. The darker green the more sweeter most are.

 

Did anyone mention the melon loads are always heavy? And that there's usually a bit of a drive from the farm to the nearest scale? Just be sure to get a good rate and it's as good as any other 46k load of whatever.

 

I've seen flats with side kits unloading at Meijers while I was unloading binned. Guess who was empty first?

 

Watermelons. Those are probably my loads lol. Adel, Cordele GA. Livingston FL. Everywhere down south.