Why I Pull my Trailer?

I started out in reefers, then I moved to mobile medical scanners for 7 years, then I tried dry vans and found that to be a good way to go bankrupt so I'm back to reefers.

in all honesty though I'd go back to medical scanners in a heart beat if it were an option for the area I moved to. I have all my contacts and if something comes up I'll be on it in a minute.

 

I started with gas and diesel local in Houston. Went OTR for a few years with tanker has-mat. Came home to regonal with van loading used empty drums. (never hated a job so bad) Then went to flat bed and log trailers. I have never owned my own truck. If I could find a steady loacal job with the tanker I would go back to it. I find nothing wrong with driving any trailer, just how there loaded and unloaded.

 

Too hard to push.

I knew I was going to take the wrong train, so I left early. Yogi Berra

 

We've tried about all of them except a reefer and I'm not touching one, I'll stick with flatbed. I refuse to pay anyone to unload the products they ordered, I'm not paying for fuel for the trailer and I am not an extension of your warehouse so unload it when I get there, and there are very few things that pay less than van freight. Had cattle trailers for a while, over 25yrs ago so luckily I never had to pull one, no money there either. Had a tank but that was seasonal. We've always had grain trailers, their sometimes good, bad others but pretty reliable and steady. I'm not hand tarping either, if it needs covered it's going in a Conestoga, if it doesn't it's going on one of the open flats. I've got a van, had it for like 2 years, I pulled it home and it hasn't moved since. Great thing about a conestoga is some places will load it as either a flat or a van. Hauled skidded fertilizer and salt and depending on which line was backed up determined which trailer I had. If there was a line of flats the curtain stayed shut and I backed in the dock but got the flatbed rate.

 

Reefers aren't all that bad. I don't haul loads that require lumpers and if I do, like this Walmart DC that's unloading now, I make sure the broker reimburses for the lumpers before I take the load. Of course I can haul dry loads when there's not reefer loads available, so it's a pretty versatile gig.

 

Hi again gears, noticed that you said your trailer is a 48ft, just wondering if a 53ft reefer would be better if I am looking to get my first reefer.

 

If you're hauling primarly food, a 48 will work fine 95% of the time. If you're hauling asswipe or tampons get a 53. Mine's a 48 and it works well for me, however Ithink a 50 1/2 would be the best of both worlds.....but there are not many of those out there to pick from.

 

I pull flatbed and rgn because thats what i like and i don't have to deal with the bull you get pulling van or refer when i get to my destination i get unloaded inless than an hour not 2 or 3 and the people are nice no lumpers and no opointments at least for me get there when i can not when i'am told and same for loading usualy no big lines and most places i haul out of out in less than 45 minutes.

 

I pull heavy OD freight on a 11 axle. I like the challenge. Although, I am thinking about getting a flatbed.