Potatoes

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Lostmykey, Apr 16, 2020.

  1. SteveScott

    SteveScott Road Train Member

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    Hauling loose potatoes isn't a problem, it's the mess they leave after they're unloaded that's the problem.
     
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  3. Lostmykey

    Lostmykey Medium Load Member

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    Thanks; I was curious, so I ended up rescaling before delivery and it was practically the same as I started. The little difference there was probably due to my fuel level.

    I had to drop the trailer; they didn’t let me go on the dump ride.
     
    Last edited: Apr 18, 2020
  4. REO6205

    REO6205 Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the update. I rode in the truck at a wood-chip dump. Once. That was enough.
     
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  5. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    I have hauled hundreds and hundreds of loads of bulk potatoes... And I've never had them shift, even when ive had to stand on the brakes because of a car loosing control infront of me.

    I really love hauling bulk potatoes, they are very stable and have a low center of gravity.

    I will say this... Make sure you have the fuel and DEF completely full on both the truck and the reefer when you get loaded. Then ALWAYS go to the first CAT scale you can find after loading, NEVER trust the scale at a potatoes warehouse. But places that load alot of those loads are generally really good at loading them correctly for axle weights. The place I haul most of those loads for can load me right up to 79,900 gross and ive never had a problem with being to heavy, either on an axle group or gross.
     
  6. clausland

    clausland Road Train Member

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    I'm surprised they let you stay in the truck. The pulp mill I used to haul wood chips too made us detach, while the electric burn plant tilted the whole rig, without you in it though...

    I was always skeptical about the weight factor too, but they always got it within the 80k with no overage, can't say the same about loading other commodities though...
     
  7. REO6205

    REO6205 Road Train Member

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    It was early in the morning before most of the mill crew were there. The drivers were responsible for running the hoist and dumping their trucks.
    I went first while my buddy ran the dump. Then he went up while I ran the hoist. LOL...both of us agreed that once was enough.
    And yeah, if we'd been caught we probably would have been banned from the plant.
     
  8. clausland

    clausland Road Train Member

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    LOL, yeah, I could see me wanting to try that back in the day too. at least once anyway..
     
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  9. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

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    Did you at least get a small bag for the house? How about some free potato chips? I’ve hauled them from Florida to Detroit, Uncle Rays,Free chips. From what they tell Me, Florida potatoes are very similar to Michigan potatos. Almost every summer they run out of Michigan potatos, and buy from Florida. Can be a hot stinky mess in the unloading dock.
     
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  10. not4hire

    not4hire Road Train Member

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    Just like wood chips.


    But sometimes it goes wrong... very, very wrong.

    Chip1.jpg Chip2.jpg
     
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  11. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    That looks brutal.
    It's been a few decades but I don't recall spuds having to dump at such an extreme angle.
    Once they get to rolling off it was a pretty quick process.
     
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