Questions on Trucking from an author

Character would definitely work for a carrier who does contract hauling for P&G. P&G does not have a private fleet that I'm aware of. P&G has HUGE [consolidation] distribution warehouses all over the nation where they take in finished goods from manufacturing plants all over nation, then assemble retailer orders and put mixed products on trailers, that then get delivered to the retailer DC's

Example. A plant in Georgia may make laundry detergent and will ship an entire load of detergent to P&G warehouse in Wilmer, TX. Another plant in New Jersey makes shampoo, and ships a load of shampoo to same warehouse in Wilmer. The Wilmer P&G warehouse assembles a load of shampoo and detergent onto another carrier's trailer who will deliver it to a Walmart DC in Missouri.

As far as Maine and hauling south. A load of print paper might make more sense. Not sure what if any P&G products might be made in Maine. But stop-offs at other cities along the way is common for certain types of products and shippers.

As a side note. Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream does a lot of manufacturing in northern Vermont and is now a Unilever company. But they have several cold store warehouses that serve as distribution centers, located strategically around the nation. A manufacturing facility does not want to be in the business of compiling orders of 10 cases of this and 25 cases of that, and another 20 cases of the other. So today a producer will typically ship truck loads of 5 pallets of this, 8 pallets of that, and 8 pallets of the other to a distribution facility who will break the orders down into smaller divisions to meet more practical retailer orders and needs

 

Lucinda is that you?

 

I am a best story telling trucker. If you want I can tell you about my time in the CIA working as a double naught. I could tell you about that time I had to haul a load of lobsters Maine to Miami for some special foreigner's. I had to have the load there in 18 hours. However, I can do what they say can't be done!

 

Well first off I wonder how you are willing to us P&G as a target company for your "novel"?

By the way they have a plant in Auburn Maine, which makes feminine products so I guess that would be what he would haul.

Everything else about the route makes no sense if you are wanting to move it from northern Maine, Auburn is next to lewiston.

 

A plant or warehouse, either is fine, but a warehouse would make more sense.

There is a lot of more freight that goes into Maine, and not out of Maine. Might be better to pick up in Canada. Im not saying there isnt frieght that comes out of Maine, but not a lot. There is a huge box store warehouse that ships out so it is possible.

 

The Northeast are takers from the entire country, it is not typical to have a load going out of maine unless it is bottled water, maple syrup, a little seafood and a few other products.

Stopping in Ct is potentially not worth the freight income and traffic losses. You generally want out of the NE, asap so you can position somewhere there is good paying lanes both ways.

You are going to have to find a way to be a passenger for a load up there. If you are interested in writing about something you need to find a way to get to Maine, find a O/O or carrier with a loading there going out of Maine and sign a passenger waiver (Meaning anything happens at all to you, injury, death or loss physically etc is all on you. Essentially a release of liability.)

The first few hours are going to be intense and exciting. Then you will find out that you have three days to go to get to say Georgia or 5 days to Phoenix or something (And nights) then we will see how you do.

I can tell you that truckers are some of the most difficult audiences. I have sat in many a movie with 50 or more truckers essentially tearing that film and all it's BS, flaws and stunt issues to small pieces verbally.

IF it is a darn good movie really good, you will hear nothing at all from the entire room. =)

And god help you if you got in the way of the super bowl playing on the tv. The whole nation's freighting will absolutely stop for as long the game plays.

Leave Canada alone for the time being. Things have seriously changed since 9-11. You as a US Citizen will need a Passport to get back into the USA. And if you have a record you probably will be denied entry into Canada at all.

Maine isnt too bad. But to wit those yankees are not known for converstation or talking much. And they like their seafood and liquor among other things.

Ive run the NE most of my life and been to Maine in something trucking related exactly 4 times. Out loaded once with bottled water. Everything else coming out of the NE is empty empty and empty. with some other exceptions such as the old Ethan Allen Furnature near the Canadian Border (Up against the property fence 50 feet from the Canadian Mounties watching me hook a hardwood furnature load going south) The resulting trip vs a 25% grade in a older underpowered truck to get out of Vermont became one of the stories I enjoy telling.

 

What are the miles, the load and the rate? Not a big fan of the northeast, but if it pays good.

 

Maybe have him do a multistop load, with the first one being in CT. That would make more sense. Now, that is assuming he is an owner operator.

If he works for a company as a driver, they would be more apt to have him pick up in Maine and drop in CT.