Truck Driving Jobs

happyhookin · #11 07-10-2006, 12:23 PM

Loading salvage cars isn't too bad if you have the right equipment. The trailers with 2 decks, 4 cars above & 4 below, flat & smooth floors is the best way. If you are loading somewhere like an insurance sale a forklift or rollback will set a car on the back and you use a winch to pull it forward. It can be tricky and you will have to use some creativity dealing with wheels turned, locked up or missing. The upper deck drops down with hydraulics to load it. I have seen trucks pulling trailers set up for rolling cars take all day to get loaded since there is no winch and more obstacles. Securing damaged parts from flying off while going down the road is another concern. How to secure a car will become 2nd nature after a while, which type of hook for which type of car, how tight so you don't damage the suspension or have the roof bounce up into the overhead rack, not to mention a chain coming loose, they do get real shiny once they've been drug down the highway a little while. :wink: Driving a car onto the trailer and squeezing out the door with less than a 12" opening takes some practice too.

Aviator · #12 07-11-2006, 02:37 AM

Serbyy, and Happyhookin, thanks for the info. i really appreciate it. I go to work in two weeks. The owner is really happy to get me on board.

And one more thing... His pay tops out at 25% If I remember right. But... he pays you 23%, the extra 2% goes into a savings in case you screw up a good car. if you don't screw up any cars, you get the 2% back every year. Does anybody else do that?

And the owner and dispatchers drive on drivers time off/vacations. :shock:

serbyy · #13 07-11-2006, 07:20 AM

Car trailers and car haul setup's are more costly than a typical tractor and van or flatbed.. tie that in with all the chrome and 100's of lights... they have to get paid some how

Aviator · #14 07-14-2006, 10:12 PM

Quote:

And one more thing... His pay tops out at 25% If I remember right. But... he pays you 23%, the extra 2% goes into a bonus, in case you screw up a good car. If you don't screw up any cars, you get the 2% back every year at X-mas, usually $1500. Does anybody else do that?

Anybody?

Aviator · #15 07-15-2006, 08:46 PM

Man, I'm still having a hard time deciding if I should do this... I'm worried about going down SW all the time. Isn't it like 115 degrees this time of year? I guess I'll just load one car, then go in my truck to cool off, then repeat. :lol:

And How hard is it guys? I hear it's a really hard job.

Bigmon · #16 07-15-2006, 11:16 PM

It'd hot as hell down here. What sucks about loading cars from auctions is:

Finding the car, jumping it if it won't start, the windows are normally up so it's real hot and dicking around with security. A lot of cars and parts get stolen.

However, the pay is good.

It'd be nice if the cars were lined up next to your truck and ready to go.
I'm not sure if any companies will do that for you.

knightwolf71477 · #17 07-15-2006, 11:48 PM

It is really hot down here in HOuston, TX, but if you make sure you carry water and Gatorade. You will sweat alot if you drink enough of it but there can be no such thing as too much water when you get hot. I found the best thing to do down here is go find your top row of cars and load them and then go get the bottom row, during that time you should cold down enough to finish loading. Also what I do is wear a tank top or sleeveless shirt under my Dickie's shirt and seem to me to help keep me cool when the breeze is blowing.

GMAN · #18 07-16-2006, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bigmon

It'd hot as hell down here. What sucks about loading cars from auctions is:

Finding the car, jumping it if it won't start, the windows are normally up so it's real hot and dicking around with security. A lot of cars and parts get stolen.

However, the pay is good.

It'd be nice if the cars were lined up next to your truck and ready to go.
I'm not sure if any companies will do that for you.

There are people who work at some auctions who do nothing but find your cars and bring them to you. I don't remember anyone in Houston who did that when I hauled cars. When the weather is hot, I always tried to load as early in the morning as possible to avoid some of the heat.

knightwolf71477 · #19 07-16-2006, 02:27 PM

GMAN they have customer service at the Houston auctions, but at the Dallas A/A they have car pullers that charge like $3-4/car. Now working for the company I work for I get paid 9.50/car, so I can pay them and still put money in my pocket.

What I do when there are car puller at the auction is I go with them for the first couple cars and get them pulled so I can started working on the top deck while they get the bottom deck pulled for me. Also it gives me the chance to make sure that they are inspecting the car correctly before they bring them out. Once the car get outside the gate the auction is no longer responilbe for the damages on the cars.

GMAN · #20 07-16-2006, 02:48 PM

That is a good idea, Knightwolf. That is one reason I used to prefer pulling my cars in daylight hours. It is usually easier to inspect them. It would probably be worth it to have them pull the cars for you, even if you paid them the entire fee, just for the time savings. I remember one time picking up at an auction South of Minneapolis. There was a lot of snow on the ground and the temperature was about 40 below with the wind whipping around. Man was it cold. It seemed that none of my cars were where they were supposed to be and you couldn't read most of the numbers on the parking spots due to the snow. They had some pullers working that lot. They were familiar with the lot and knew where most of the cars should be located. I didn't have them pull my cars, but they were helpful in finding them. 8)