What is it like driving a bull wagon?????

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by cowboy385, Dec 17, 2007.

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  1. cowboy385

    cowboy385 Bobtail Member

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    Hey guys I just got a job with a trucking company hauling cattle as soon as I graduate from trucking school the pay is great and I love farming so I would rather haul cattle than anything. I know they are top heavy and so on but what are the main draw backs and you have to fudge the log book how major is that and how do they do it please advise thanks.
     
    cowboy385, Dec 17, 2007
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  2. bbkeo

    bbkeo Light Load Member

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    The biggest drawback is you will smell like cow poop all of the time. :biggrin_2559:
     
    bbkeo, Dec 17, 2007
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  3. bullhaulerswife

    bullhaulerswife Forum Leader/Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    My husband hauls cattle. I can tell you that it is very different than anything that you probably have learned on. Cattle can and will push you through an intersection. Its a constantly moving cargo, and you really have to get used to it. Hubby just stared doing this in July and this is definitely keeping a veteran like him on his toes.

    Another thing to consider, you won't be loading and unloading on major highways and Interstates. Cattle keep you in the country and small towns. Hubby had a load that just delivered last week where he had to go 4 miles along a creek bed to get to the delivery pen that the rancher had set up. Another driver went with him and got stuck in the mud. My hubby had to pull him out.

    Just keep in mind that you will be in less than ideal situations sometimes, and that you will need both hands on the steering wheel AT ALL TIMES. This is one type of freight that you should never get comfortable hauling, because when you do, thats when you will make a mistake. (those are my husbands exact words to my 19 year old son, who seems to think that he wants to haul cattle. LOL)

    Good luck. Keep us posted on how you like it. Oh, and no you don't have to smell, if you prepare. Separate boots, coat and gloves for when you are in the trailer, and when they come off, they go in a box at the back of the truck, never in the cab! Hubbys truck really doesn't smell of cow in the cab. :yes2557:

    Hope some of this helps.
     
    bullhaulerswife, Dec 17, 2007
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  4. Reby

    Reby Light Load Member

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    What a load of bull pucky...erm sorry, somebody had to say it! :biggrin_25524:

    -Reby
     
    Reby, Dec 17, 2007
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  5. heyns57

    heyns57 Road Train Member

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    One of my favorite stories was Salt Lake Sam's tale of unloading hogs. He did the duck walk, herding the hogs out of the trailer but one would turn and charge back to the nose. Sam said, "One more time, and I am getting my pistol." Sure enough, the big hog turned around with a "woof", and bang, Sam shot him between the eyes. Sam went into the meat plant and said, "Hey Mister, something happened to your hog!"
     
    heyns57, Dec 17, 2007
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  6. Burky

    Burky Road Train Member

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    Sorry, no one here will be telling you how to fudge the logbook and if anyone does, they will find that the post mysteriously diappears from the site. We will happliy provide you with as much information as we can, but there are limits, and you just went past one of them.

    No one here will tell you how to cheat the logbooks.
     
    Burky, Dec 17, 2007
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  7. jugg

    jugg Light Load Member

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    just wait till you are empty and you get a good cross wind of 20 to 30 gusts and watch that pot lol good luck... thats one thing i will never do.. seen my dad #### on him self to many times when he looked in the mirror and that cattle pot was either up on 4 wheels or the wind picked it up and moved it over some or it would blow it over in the next lane when it was snow and ice:biggrin_25512:
     
    jugg, Dec 17, 2007
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  8. bullhaulerswife

    bullhaulerswife Forum Leader/Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    You aren't kidding there! Hubby was down in KS this last week in that Ice storm. He said several times while MT he looked back and the rear of the truck was skidding around behind him. He said the one thing that saved him was he wasn't dumb enough to use his breaks. LOL

    Needless to say, last week he gained some more gray hair. :biggrin_25525:

    Cowboy, my hubby doesn't have to fudge his log books, but his loads are usually 550 miles and under. If you have someone asking you to fudge the log books, you need to look elsewhere. Hauling cattle is NOT a good thing to do fatigued!
     
    bullhaulerswife, Dec 17, 2007
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  9. GasHauler

    GasHauler Master FMCSA Interpreter

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    I'm glad you addressed this problem. I think just about everyone here will stress the importance of keeping your record clean. If you need to break the law doing your job you can guarantee it will be the only truck driving job you'll have.

    I've seen companies like this before that trap their drivers so they can do what they want later. They'll make sure the driver gets a record that no other company will take and the driver is stuck. Obviously this student is blinded by the sales pitch of high pay and the road to riches. I just hope he understands the profession so he'll have options.
     
    GasHauler, Dec 18, 2007
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  10. bullhaulerswife

    bullhaulerswife Forum Leader/Admin Staff Member Administrator

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    I agree 100%! And personally, I'm wondering about putting a fresh out of school student into hauling a bullrack. I can imagine that the insurance would be outrageous.

    I hope that they give him some good time with a trainer, before they set him loose. :yes2557:
     
    bullhaulerswife, Dec 18, 2007
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