Hauling containers out of Port of LA Long Beach

Can I chim in here?
Been awhile since I was at the ports in Ca.,but how good is your spanish?
When I spoke in english, I got the deer in the headlight look..

 

Based on some of the posts ya'll put in this thread, I'd bet he ran outta there and still hasn't stopped.. He probably won't go within 200 miles of a city with a port, or even a city with a Port Street in it. haha..

Good input though guys and gals..

 

That's due to change big time after Jan 1st.....No more old NAFTA trucks allowed in Cali let alone the ports....

I know many carriers who run to and from Cali that won't after the first of next year...Some will try to use the Ports D&H services.....
These guys charge anywhere from $50-200 per load depending the type and how far they'll have to run to a lot or, a yard to drop.....But the Ports are cracking down on these guys as well....

What you need as an O/O to run in the ports....

• A clean (CARB COMPLIANT) truck and registered with Cali's Clean Truck program....
  

• Current TWIC....

• Registered with the ports' STEP.....

• Some steamship lines/terminals require you to register with them...

• Register with EModal....
• Transponder...

Lastly...Plenty of patience....Especially if you Drop or P/U at APM...CUT...ITS or PCT.....The unions "run" those terminals...They run on their own schedules....Move at their own speed....

It's possible to arrive to drop a "Can" at the gates of any of those terminals at 0800 and not leave until after 1600 or later....BTDT a few times....Mainly because of the clerks effing up!!!!!

 

Before you go down there why don't you try a couple of places right there in Vegas? You can try Anderson& Sons Trucking over on 4204 Arcata if they are still there. They are not the best paying job around but they should give you a shot if they need a driver. They have line haul and local work. It's all LTL business and don't let the triples run you off. Everyone is new to triples one day. They run to Reno, Salt Lake, and all the smaller towns in between. While you'll there ask about Viking Freight. That terminal is only a hub but they do have people around there during the day. A much better company to work for. Also there is a hub for ABF Freight over where the Showboat once was. Out towards Boulder City in Henderson stay on Boulder Highway and starting from Tropicana going south there are a lot of new businesses going in there that use trucks. The gypsum business is very strong there. I know there was a huge pit out on Lake Mead Blvd pass Sunrise Mtn. Also out in Logandale Overton area they haul a lot of gypsum from there. With that kind of business you can either have flatbeds or tanks. That pit out at Sunrise has a lot of sheetrock going out. You can also take a long shot at the gasoline business. You'll find that type of work at the tank farm over by the base on sloan road. Go now because a new pipeline is there which will open new jobs. There's a couple of other places that do not come to mind right now. However, if you let me know how it's going I;l most likely remember by then. Good luck.

 

HELP: I'm an experienced driver who just got hired for weekend container work out of the Port of Long Beach. I have no container or Port experience. Not even sure yet how to secure the can on the chassis. Other than my TWIC which I needed for another job, I have no clue what goes on at the port. I took a ride last week on my motorcycle around a few of the piers. Pier F seemed to be the busiest. What the heck....nothing made sense. I'm reading other posts and it seems like you need to be experienced to make it work. It pays 150 round trip from San Diego to LB and back.

So not everybody was experienced when they started......there has to be some newbies on the Port. I also read in another post the Port doesn't allow ride alongs. If I have a TWIC then when not? I'm willing to give them a free day so I can ride along with a driver to see how it works. I went on YouTube for some port vids but not much on how to get thru the mess. I took the job not for the $ but for the experience. Without any experience going in, it looks like it will be a long hard road for me. Need help. Suggestions of run away or quit is not an option. Just sound advice and some short cuts will go a long way.

PS: unfortunately I do not habla a word of espanol....

 

Do you know what Terminals you'll be pulling from?

I usually bring in MT's on a Skateboard and some Trans-Loads....But securing Cans on a chassis aren't all that hard....
There are locks on the chassis that you twist to lock....
Also....Before you leave the Terminal....You will have a Mait Insp done to check for any deficiencies....

Now depending on the terminal.....The check-in and assignments may be slightly different....

APM for an example....You check in at the Pedestal....You give the Clerk the info....They will issue a ticket or tickets depending on how many cans you'll pull....

On the ticket will be the location for the load.....And the locations are marked out like "B089".....As an example....There are alpha-numeric signs so just follow them until you get to the right location...

For loaded Cans....An overhead/Gantry crane will be used......For MT's....High-lifts will be used...

Once loaded...You go straight to inspection....Then to Customs and then finally the outgate....

Be sure to have a safety vest on....Your TWIC and CDL out to show the guards at the entry gate....

Now ITS is a bit different....You'll get a ticket at customs then another one to use at the outgate....

TraPac is the easiest....They use a color-code system to get to the second pedestal.....
So you just follow the colored line to the right pedestal....Then you get your location ticket....



Good Luck....

 

On the docks, when they say hold it. stay put. They load a box. Leave, haul the box. Get out the way. Best I can help you.

 

I eat miles, I like long runs. See more of the country. I stop for fried chicken, cakes, furniture, I ship home. Paid tourist. An Amish man ask me once how I drive a beast like that. Told him, I don't know. I was born into it. Pissed him off. He told me that I was Satan's child. I told him his suit needed cleaning.

 

Oh forgive me, for I have Big rigged, went past 11th gear, played Gilbert Brantley on my stereo didn't keep up with old values old people don't even believe. Have more equipment than Radio Shack to keep from paying fines. I hauled REO Speedwagon's equipment from place to place for a time. Kleenex driver. Fired. Oh well/ I tried. I am just a trucker.

 

I have so much to answer for when I die. I'm a Trucker. I get it there.