What is it like running a hopper?

I've been told the feed mill close to my house has hoppers they lease. I see lots of farm tag trucks pulling their wagons. Nobody seems to care.

 

Dad runs DDG, phosphate and a few other products in about a 7 state radius. Kentucky, Alabama. Indiana, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas and Mississippi. He leaves out on Sunday afternoon and gets back either Thursday or Friday. He runs about 2800-3200 miles a week and does pretty good.

But like @wore out says, some of that product sticks to you and those chicken plants are nasty. He does haul out of Obion Tn sometimes.

 

Pull a dump, much of the same product, way less the aggravation.

 

My trainer told me how in harvest season, for the couple of months, you could make $30000 doing that. He wanted to take a leave of absence to go do it.

 

Probably get a cheap daycab to ddograin etc.

 

They even gave you sleeping quarters? Must be a long crossing.

 

I fear a tip over. Guy got buried at a caliche pit in South texas a while back. Tipped over and in to a pit in the dark. Seems like they should have outriggers.

 

They’re pretty safe if you do it safe, keyword is “safe”, too many guys get in a hurry. Ive been doing it a lot of years, had some pucker moments that I’ve learned from, all in all though it’s only dangerous if you make it.