Dry Bulk Plastic Hauling

who was the other competing carriers in those shippers you mentioned?

 

With the Chevron and GE accounts we were the single source carrier in Columbus while we had the contract. The other carriers for the other shippers were A & R, Bulk Transit, and occasionally Matlack. We also hauled some pelletized rubber for Shell Chemical and some specialty powders {the brightener that went into Tide detergent and some anti caking agent for soap powder and bathroom cleanser} for Proctor & Gamble.

 

Very intresting. I love Truckers Report. I got my CDL and didnt want to go OTR because I have 2 young sons at home and just cant bring myself to leave them. So I have been driving a trash truck for a year 3 days a week for great pay. Got lucky. Working other 3-4 days a week for horse farm, dump truck and farm tractor. And today a guy offered me a shot at dry bulk the days I dont drive trash truck on dedicated. MY PICK OF 3 ROUTES AS I CHOOSE. I have to be one of the luckiest ppl alive. Only thing is I am afraid of nerves screwing me with the test run. Havent dragged a wagon since school 13 months ago. He knows this and riding with me first few trips. This is the dream if nerves dont shut me down. I have been driving 10 speed for year but not 80k worth. Thoughts?

 

Lucky for you! Best advice I can give is don't plug up, start the product slow and don't force it. Better to take 3-4 hours with a slow offload than make a possible mess unplugging. Good luck, and LISTEN to the pump, get to know the sounds.

 

I pulled with A&R for a couple of years. Best move I ever made leaving there. I was out of the Charlotte terminal back when Cindy was still there. I know Reco is still there and I still talk to some of the drivers. They all tell me the same thing. It sure as heck aint getting any better since I left.

I am pulling liquid tanks now and loving it. After I left A&R I went and pulled flats for 1 1/2 years.

Bulk tanks can be some hard work. If you have ever overloaded and had to drag hoses to the top of a r/c just to then find that you took too much out and they won't let you leave without another 1000 lbs then I'm sure you know what I mean.



Best advice I think I could give would be to learn everything you can about that tank. IF there aren't any coolers on the tanks and you have a low temp product there are ways that with a little experience you can keep the product cool in 100 degree weather. Learn how to unplug the tank WHEN you stop it up. YOU WILL STOP IT UP. It will happen. If you know how you can usually unplug the line and never shut the blower down or disconnect the lines.

Keep a log of different types of products and how they loaded. Poly Pro loads different than Poly Styrene. That way you can save a lot of hassle on the loading end by just getting in and getting out.

Good luck

 

Thanks guys. I am looking forward to it. I like the idea of working with the truck and not just sitting waiting to unload. Sure will be worried until I learn the in and outs though. Thanks again.

 

Would anyone have a pic of a stinger. I trying to picture it and having a tough time (clearly not a driver!) I have a few customers who ask for stingers, I can ask carriers to provide them but I like to what what I am talking about!

 

See the long pipe coming down from the top of the trailer. That is the stinger line. Some bulk trailers only have a short one on top. Hint; it sticks out like the stinger on bee.

 

Totally awesome. Thank you so much!

 

The pipe that was pointed out is the load tube(or stinger tube). The pipe comes to an end just a few feet into the trailer. It DOES NOT go all the way to the front of the trailer, it just comes in for a few feet and ends.

When you are loading you have to get the product to the front of the trailer somehow..and the only way into the trailer is through that tube that ends only a foot or so into the REAR of the trailer. A stinger is simply a piece of pipe that fits over the pipe that is inside the trailer and makes it longer so that the product will get thrown to the front of the trailer.

Once the front is full (another story on how to know when the front is full..you don't just "fill 'er up) you remove the stinger and generally replace it with an elbow (90 degree bend). THis way the product comes in the load tube and drops straight down into the rear of the trailer.

This is one of the most important things to learn about loading bulk trailers. Getting the front and rear axle weights right. It takes time and practice and can be very aggravating.

Hope this helps.