Dude, a "can' is a container which sits on a chassis trailer, so, no, an O/O does not own his trailer. Containers are brokered loads mostly. You rarely see a "Red blooded, All American boy" hauling containers, if you know what I mean.
Where I run, I see a few different companies pulling intermodal from or to Houston. I can't believe the stuff those guys hook to and go down the road with, but then their tractors aren't much better. I also can't believe the way I hear them talking about the way they run. They're normally not even close to compliant. With CSA 2010 taking effect later this year, and the points going back three years, I'm not too sure I'd want to pull those things and be a TARGET for the DOT like that. ESPECIALLY at the rates I hear those guys talking about!! There are a lot of chassis that I see going down the road that I KNOW would be shut down if the scales were open. Sure, I drive a '96 FLD, but I try to keep it clean, and I'm not afraid to take it across any scale. Some of those guys are driving trucks just a few years old that look like the winners at the local demolition derby before they were intermodal haulers.
I did it for 4 weeks out of Jacksonville I liked the work alot hated the pay week 1 jax to sparks nv dropped box in long beach cal check was after fuel and fees $1500.00 week 2 pick up long beach tuesday deliver jax friday night check $500 after fuel and fees week 3 load of tomatos jax to quincy Fl then jax to memphis bobtail back to jax check $300 week 4 orlando-jax then i took an empty to mass loaded and came back check $560 after fuel and fees fees include 50 a week tag 50 a week insurace 50 a week escrow 10 fuel taxes I found a job today in north florida that will pay the truck around $1.50 a mile after broker and trailer lease haylojason at aol for more info or questions
@UFO Well put...couldn't have said it better myself. I hauled containers for 2 years as a company driver. I talked to many owner-operators, as most people driving in the port are owner-operators. I resigned just a few months ago to attend school as a full-time student (Engineering Major) and am about to go back as a owner-operator in order to support my family. I know that a lot of drivers talk smack calling us "trashy container haulers," but the money is decent (maybe not the greatest), and it gets you home every night, which is good for a young mother like me with three kids at home. Yeah, a lot of drivers in the port don't drive fancy rigs. You learn to be a #### good driver once you drive in the port. There are a lot of tight places to get in and out of. I know a lot of non-local drivers complain all the time about getting caught in the port and how long it takes to get in and out, but it is a part of the job. However, once you learn the tricks of the trade ("borrowing" lights, hiding chassis, knowing what time is the best time to get in and out) and are patient, it ain't that bad. I'd rather pull a container rather than pull a log truck with the DOT pulling me over every day. But anyway, to each their own. Peach3z Veni, Vidi, Vici. I came, I saw, I conquered.
What part of GA are you from? Do you know any container haulers that hire out of southeast NC? I'm about 90 miles North of Wilmington, NC and have been considering going to pull containers so I can get home more. I could drive a log truck but the money is not very good and it's too dependant on the weather / construction and such . Thanks
I see these ads all the time, seems like they must have a high turnover. It seems I see nothing but bottom feeders on C/L Or companies looking for the perfect driver.....willing to take a pay cut. Owner Operators $1000 Sign-On Bonus! 1 Year CDL A. Experience Required. Local Home Daily Fuel Cards w/ Discounts Discount Tire Program, Lots of Home Time. Plate Program. Insurance. 1.877.360.4302 NOW! RoadLink.com
And then there is this thread http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...-here/100316-roadlink-intermodalogistics.html