Winter Driving

I'm not so sure that we are disagreeing. I think that I am just not able to convey the point that I am trying to make.

 

One of the things I left out of my earlier post is this. As I've said before I haul containers, I live in Colorado hence I run the Rockies and chaining is a fact of life. IN my area, there are 5 container companies. Until 5 yrs ago, only 4 of us ran the Mtn's in the winter. The other didn't carry chains, and if there was a threat of snow they would reschedule or refuse a load.

There is a company in Grand Junction that manufacturs man hole covers, water meter assemblies, fire hydrant base units, etc. The product is done at a foundry in India, loaded on containers and shipped here. He finals the product then ships it to the customer. These loads would come in in 12 to 16 container batches, they would have 10 business days to deliver the loads from Denver to Grand Junction.
Anyhow, this company was also the depot where the cans would terminate, so it's even easier for him to do it. Since they refeused to carry chains and/or chain up, after 3 mos. of reschedules and late loads, the broker pulled the loads and gave them to another company, mine. We had that contract for 3 yrs, '03 til '06/'07 and there was no regularity to the loads. We would get 12 and have a week to deliver, then none for a month or two, then suddenly 15 or 20 would come in and we'd have 15 days to deliver. In one case, they shipped 50 containers from India at one time, the broker arranged with the Port to ship them in groups of 10 every 6 days, giving us time to deliver. Were they heavy, #### right, everyone was 36,000 to 41,000 lbs, some would be run on a 3-axle chassis some could be on a regular tandem slider.

In that 3 yr span, not counting any other trips to the Mtn's, I probably chained 60 times. Each trip paid me $230, 5 hrs up, 1 hr to unload (and often the customer bought us breakfast since we had to be there at 8am), 4 hrs back followed by 1 to 3 hrs of local (hourly)work afterwards, sometimes 6 days a week for 3 or 4 weeks. For a $1,200 take home check every week, I'll gladly get a little wet, the clothes will dry.

As for our competitor, it was fun listening to his drivers gripe about a lack of work while we were busting our butts. He didn't change his policy until Colorado changed the chain law in '08. Now, all his trucks carry chains, he still refuses some of these loads, but not like he used to. Remember, brokers, forwarders, DM's, they know who wants to work, they know the companies who want to work and make money.

 

I guess it depends on where you are chaining up. Every state is different as is every road.

 

Stop Snowin yet ?


I agree, if your load dictates then you must chain. I have nothing against anyone that does, and if you want to call me lazy for planning routes that will never require me to do so then go ahead, I can't hear you when I'm sleeping

 

If you can route around it, so be it.

 

I don't chain anymore. used to drive a snowplow in Sweet Water county Wyo. so, yeah I know how. had a set come of and almost kill somebody,(metal fatigue)
if it gets that bad , 12" on road or ice, I park and wait for salt shakers. I don't drive the west coast anymore either. I live in NC now.
I'm just a crusty old fart that don't wanna!