I need a change from containers

[henboy1]

I am not here to start anything and I just need some answers on local companies.

I just don't want containers tearing up my truck.I have changed drive tires and few other things because of what I haul.
I am looking for local companies in Ga.
I am about to try Carroll Fulmer and Landstar.I know I don't have a year's experience but it is worth trying.I want to be home every night or every other day.Schneider's Optimodal is filled up and they only offer those local positions to their south east regional guys.
I already called Western Express and All Coast but Nada!
My MVR,background and credit is clean.Who will more likely give me a shot with 6 months experience?
I am looking to make a move in Feb.

[GMAN]

Landstar is prettey rigid in their requirements. I don't see them bending their 1 year experience rule. CRST only requires 6 months experience. They did have some regional runs out of Birmingham. There could be some agents who have need of someone to do shuttle work. I don't know where you live, but most carriers require 1 year or more experience. I understand you don't like pulling containers, but you may be better off staying with it until you can get a year of experience. From your post, I assume you have your own truck now? Landstar only has owner operators. They don't own any trucks. If you don't own a truck, you will need to go to work for an owner operator. And you will still need the 1 year experience.

[Red Clay Rambler]

henboy or anyone,

I would like to know what it is about containers that is harder on your tractor than other types of hauling, just curious as I've never heard that before.

[classicxl]

you can always check JB Hunt I am sure they have something in that area or Oakley with tankers

[Blacksheep]

henboy or anyone,

I would like to know what it is about containers that is harder on your tractor than other types of hauling, just curious as I've never heard that before.

Container hauling is the bottom of the barrel in trucking, crappy overweight junk. :wink:

[Red Clay Rambler]

I realize that containers don't usually pay well and can be junky. Was looking for specifics as to why they would be "hard" on a tractor.

[Blacksheep]

I realize that containers don't usually pay well and can be junky. Was looking for specifics as to why they would be "hard" on a tractor.

Running heavy, was that not specific enough ?

[Red Clay Rambler]

Thanks for the clarification. Confused me a little because my company's trucks gross 80,000 constantly and we don't seem to tear up much.

Note: I just read henboy's long post from November about his background and how he started trucking. Amazing.

[henboy1]

You will know when containers eat up your investment when you have to replace 4 of your rear drive tires in just 6 months because of the weight.I am always grossing 70k-80kibs on a truck that is rated at 34k ibs in the rear axle.You will also experience your brake chambers going out when you run down those grades on I-24 in TN.Running down those grades without jakes is scary.
I realised aan empty container+truck weighs at least 37,000ibs and this is much more than a regular truck and trailer.
Even the 20ft containers seem much heavier than the 40 or 53 footers because all the weight rests on your rear axle and the weight is never even.

[Mackman]

If you have to replace all of your drivers in 6months even pull 80k all the time there is something wrong. I tri axle dump here in PA is 73k and all of its weight is on top of the axles and they get around a year out of tires.
Are you using cheap ass tires??

[ThumperS25]

A couple things you can check is:
rear wheel alignment
fifth wheel alignment
put centramatic wheel balancers on all axles
grease your fittings more often (if your not already)
check your hub oil along with those on the trailer
check the airpreasure on the container make sure they are properly inflated, invest in one of those nefty glad hand tire pumps (I dont know what they are called)

I also read your november post so it might just be your inexperiance running down grades. I live here in TN and MT eagle is a breeze. Good luck!

[GMAN]

If you have been watching your air pressure, I would have the alignment checked. You should not wear out a set of drive tires in 6 months.

[henboy1]

I fixed my self leveling system which was too low at the($17 kit) airbags and that could have ate up the tires.I will also check into an alighnment.
Besides that, I just want to get out of hauling this crap.The guys at the container yards give you a box # and tell you to go fetch among hundreds of piles of boxes.I sometimes get to the rail yard and the damn broker has not billed the box.I end up waiting at the CSX/Norfolk Southern Rail yard for billing to go through and if not I have to return the box back to my company's yard until the the next day.Am I getting paid for this extra work?Nope!
I really want to make a move in February.
I plan on checking out Caroll Fullmer and Sunco's local division.

[vontrial]

Hey Henboy where are you located and who do you pull for. I myself pull containers out of Memphis,Tn and will be changing after the New Year. The name CSX and Norfolk just made my nerves bad. LOL

[roadranger]

I am always grossing 70k-80kibs on a truck that is rated at 34k ibs in the rear axle..

What's unusual about that? We do it all the time. Are you saying your tandem drives aren't rated for 40k or 46k like a normal tractor? My latest tractor has a 23k single drive which is also rated to pull 105k 8) . Never heard of a 34k axle on a normal tractor.

You will also experience your brake chambers going out when you run down those grades on I-24 in TN. Running down those grades without jakes is scary...

You're gonna die if you keep getting your brakes to fade :shock: . You should NEVER get to that point - even if you have to slow down to 10 MPH to prevent it! Why don't you have a Jake? Sounds like you run roads where you really need one!

I realised aan empty container+truck weighs at least 37,000ibs and this is much more than a regular truck and trailer..

Many big sleepers plus an empty 53 foot van are near that.

Even the 20ft containers seem much heavier than the 40 or 53 footers because all the weight rests on your rear axle and the weight is never even.

Never saw a 20 foot chassis that put more weight on the drives than on the chassis's tandems? Usually they are way tail heavy unless you pull out the tandems to the rear (most 20 foot chassis let you do that I think?) I'm picking up a 20' can tomorrow that has 40K lbs in it and I've only got a single drive axle - a bit over weight in the state I'm picking it up in but I'll be legal in the next state where it delivers 8) . I've seen folks eat drives when they hammer down in low range - I always take it a bit easy on the throttle until I'm in high range. Also if you don't balance the weight out by extending the chassis tandems back you will have so little weight on the drives that they may spin under power or lock up when braking hard? High HP (over 450) engine is bad on drives also...

[henboy1]

I went there and met another O/O who said good things about the company.Their recruiter tells me they have a container division which runs to Quality in Jacksonville ,FL daily from any local outfit.
I ran the miles on my MS streets and trips and it comes out to 320 miles one way from atlanta.Their pay for the run is between $650-750 which includes FSC.Remember that you will dead head back.
I am used to getting at least $650 settlement on a 250mile trip which is actually 500 miles round trip.They also mentioned coming home daily.In talking to the O/O in their yard, I realised an O/O could probably do 3 loads a day and 4 would be pushing it.It is also obvious that the O/O will head back the next day after droping off the load.If I do 3 loads a week my average settlement should be $2000 for driving 1920 miles.
This is quite ****ty and I might just tear up their application in my hands.