| In part one of our series, Choosing A Truck Driving | | | | Having worked for a refrigerated carrier before, the |
| Job Part I: Factors That Effect All Companies, we | | | | first thing I think of is grocery warehouses and |
| talked about different factors and considerations | | | | farmer's markets. Oh Lord help me! Grocery |
| which will affect your experience at any company | | | | warehouses are a nightmare! At times, so are |
| you go to work for. | | | | farmer's markets. In all of my years of driving, these |
| In part two of our series, "Choosing A Truck Driving | | | | places were always puzzling to me. The grocery |
| Job Part II: You and "Your People" Are The Most | | | | industry is different than the rest of the companies |
| Important Factor", we talked about surrounding | | | | you will pick up from and deliver to. They have a |
| yourself with the right people, understanding factors | | | | different structure altogether. To make some broad |
| that affect the freight you'll be getting, and things | | | | generalizations - their workers are often union guys, |
| you can do to put yourself in the best position to | | | | they don't like truck drivers very much, and they |
| succeed. | | | | couldn't care less if you sit in their parking lot for two |
| In part three, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part III: | | | | days waiting to be unloaded. Some of them actually |
| How Your Family and Lifestyle Will Affect Your | | | | prefer making you sit there and wait - they think it's |
| Choice", we considered your personality and lifestyle. | | | | funny! You think I'm kidding? Besides having delivered |
| Are you married? Do you have children? Do you love | | | | to dozens and dozens of these places, I'm friends |
| adventure? How long would you like to be away | | | | with a couple of guys that work for a local grocery |
| from home? These questions all figure into the | | | | warehouse and they've told me hundreds of stories |
| process of choosing the right truck driving job. | | | | about tormenting the drivers. It's their favorite form |
| In part 4, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part IV: | | | | of entertainment! So don't say I didn't warn ya! |
| Advantages of Large Trucking Companies", we of | | | | With most of these places, you'll usually have a |
| course talked about the advantages of working at a | | | | choice - you either unload the truck yourself, help |
| large trucking company. | | | | someone unload the truck, or pay someone to do it. |
| In part 5, "Choosing A Truck Driving Job Part V: | | | | Your company will generally pay for it, but man, what |
| Comparing Large Trucking Companies To Small | | | | a hassle these places are! A total nightmare. And |
| Ones", we compared working for companies of | | | | sometimes you'll have no choice but to help unload. |
| different sizes. | | | | You either help them unload, or you don't get |
| Now, in part 6, we'll talk about a couple of different | | | | unloaded at all! |
| types of jobs you'll find out there and how each will | | | | My recommendation if you're going to go with a |
| affect your life on the road. | | | | refrigerated company is to go with a very large |
| Basically, you'll find five different types of trailers you | | | | carrier, or work directly for one of the grocery chains |
| can pull - dry vans, refrigerated (reefer), flatbeds, | | | | themselves - like Kroger or Wegman's. The large |
| doubles, and tankers. Since we're focusing more on | | | | ones will at least have contracts setup with the |
| new or inexperienced drivers, we're not going to talk | | | | lumpers (the company that unloads the truck), so |
| about doubles right now. Most companies that pull | | | | you won't be hassled as much and the process of |
| doubles require more experience, so for the vast | | | | paying them is much easier. But if you work for a |
| majority of you that are reading this series, those | | | | small carrier, the grocery warehouses and farmer's |
| jobs really won't apply to you just yet. So let's cover | | | | markets are going to be tougher to deal with. |
| the other four and talk a little bit about the lifestyle | | | | Another difference when it comes to hauling |
| you can expect from each. In this part we'll cover | | | | refrigerated goods is the average length of haul. |
| dry vans and refrigerated, in part 7 we'll cover | | | | Refrigerated carriers tend to haul goods longer |
| tankers and flatbeds. | | | | distances than the other types of trucking |
| Dry Vans Carriers | | | | companies. Much of this has to do with California, and |
| Dry vans are the most commonly found trailer out | | | | the west coast in general. California is one of the |
| there. They are a big, empty box - plain and simple. | | | | richest produce capitals in the entire world. A huge |
| No temperature control or anything like that. There | | | | portion of the vegetables you eat come out of this |
| are more dry van companies than any other type of | | | | state, and almost all of the refrigerated companies |
| company, and therefore you will find the broadest | | | | pull produce out of there. There are year-round |
| range of opportunities in this area. Because of the | | | | growing seasons in parts of the state, so the freight |
| large variety of companies pulling these trailers, they | | | | keeps flowing all the time. |
| are also the most difficult to define in any general | | | | Oregon, Washington, and Idaho also grow tons of |
| way - there is such a broad range of jobs and | | | | produce - especially fruits, onions, and potatoes. A lot |
| lifestyles within this category. | | | | of the produce from the west coast gets hauled to |
| Dry van jobs tend to offer the greatest range of | | | | the east coast where those types of fruits and |
| opportunities for those who would prefer regional, | | | | vegetables do not grow nearly as well. Then, once |
| dedicated, and local runs versus long-distance, over | | | | you're on the east coast, your company will try to |
| the road jobs. A large number of these companies, | | | | work you back to the west coast for more of that |
| especially the bigger companies, have local, regional, | | | | wonderful produce. So the average length of haul for |
| and over-the-road divisions within the company. This, | | | | a refrigerated company is longer than for the other |
| of course, is one of the reasons I prefer the larger | | | | types of trucking companies. |
| dry van companies. For instance, maybe you decide | | | | You also tend to have more multiple-stop loads when |
| you want to run over the road and you're gone | | | | hauling for a refrigerated company. Often times you |
| three weeks at a time. Well, a year later you meet | | | | will either make several different pickups, several |
| your dream girl and you want to get home more | | | | different deliveries, or both. What tends to happen is |
| often to see her. In many of the larger companies, it | | | | that you will either be picking up a variety of produce |
| isn't too hard to switch over into a regional job that | | | | that will all deliver to one company, or pickup one |
| gets you home on the weekends, or possibly even a | | | | huge load of one type of produce and deliver a little |
| local job that gets you home every night. | | | | bit to each of several companies. You will get paid |
| Most of the time you won't be unloading trailers. | | | | extra for the extra pickups and deliveries, and the |
| There will be times you'll have to do a little bit of | | | | amount will vary based upon the company you work |
| manual labor, and how often that will be depends | | | | for. |
| upon the individual companies themselves. But as a | | | | So as you can see, there are a number of |
| general rule, you won't be touching much of the | | | | differences between dry van and refrigerated |
| freight. And you'll be hauling anything and everything. | | | | carriers. In general, if you're looking to stay closer to |
| From diapers, to sulphuric acid, to dog food, to | | | | home and get home more often, the dry van |
| magazines. If you can put it in a box and move it, | | | | companies will be the better choice. If you'd like to |
| then you'll be hauling it! | | | | see as much of the country as possible, then the |
| Refrigerated Carriers | | | | refrigerated companies will be the better choice. As |
| Refrigerated companies can haul either temperature | | | | always, do the research to find the company that |
| sensitive freight, or dry freight, and you will usually | | | | seems best suited to your lifestyle, and stay with |
| get some of each from time to time. Being able to | | | | that company for at least one year so you can really |
| haul both types of goods gives refrigerated | | | | get to know them and whether or not they're the |
| companies more versatility with their freight. But | | | | right choice for you. |
| make no mistake about it - they make better money | | | | In part 7 of this series we'll discuss flatbed and |
| with their temperature sensitive freight, so that's | | | | tanker jobs, and how they differ from dry vans and |
| their primary focus. | | | | refrigerated. Thanks a lot, and take care! |