So This Happened

Orientation has been great and I learned a lot during my first week of training. Hauling cars will prove to be quite the challenge from everything I've learned so far, but I look forward to it! One more week of training on the yard and then I'll head back to Nashville to be assigned my truck and go out with a driver trainer on my truck for two more weeks. Definitely super excited and I can't wait to get out there on my own. It's been almost two months now since I've got behind the big wheel and its killing me! Just wanted to leave ya'll with a little update. Be safe out there everyone.

Awesome, looks fun! Enjoy it JuiceBox

Awesome, looks fun! Enjoy it JuiceBox

Dude it's amazing. I was seriously questioning my decision to haul cars the first week but my second week has put my mind at ease. We have a great trainer who has been hauling cars for over 30 years and he is a great teacher. Once he broke it down to its simplest form, I immediately started to understand just how it works.

Dude it's amazing. I was seriously questioning my decision to haul cars the first week but my second week has put my mind at ease. We have a great trainer who has been hauling cars for over 30 years and he is a great teacher. Once he broke it down to its simplest form, I immediately started to understand just how it works.

JuiceBox,
Post up some more info when you can. Always been interested in how the car haulers did all the stuff that's involved.
Glad you're enjoying the work. Bill R

What ya want to know brother? There is a lot to know and being that I haven't even started on my own, I've only just begun to scratch the surface.

Awesome news juicebox. I was actually briefly talking to a car hauler the other day while fueling. He had a very nice Pete that he actually was putting in a show which I didn't even realize could be done. Getting off topic here anyways glad to hear it's all working out!

What ya want to know brother? There is a lot to know and being that I haven't even started on my own, I've only just begun to scratch the surface.

Anything you want to throw in here.
Loading/unloading, how to you place the vehicles for multiple stops/pick-ups, etc.
I see the haulers going down the road and wonder those things all the time.
Learning so much on Trucking Truth...the more the merrier.
Bill R

So from what I have learned over the last 3 weeks is that you load the stops when you can but that can get you in trouble depending on the units. You may not be able to get under legal height requirements. Obviously bridges are of a concern when you are loaded at 14' but also of concern are trees! Where you may have been able to just scrape your dry van or flatbed load under low hanging branches, now those low hanging branches scratch up 80-100k mercedes.

You also have to load in such a way that will both fit your trailer and meet legal axle weight requirements. This may also require you to reload your trailer to redistribute the weight in between stops.

The transport(truck and trailer) seems like a puzzle of hydraulic pumps, straps, decks, pins, and posts but once you break it down into individual sections run by the levers that control the decks, it's not so hard.

The transport, depending on model, will be 80' long and if the allowable 4' front overhang and 6' rear over hang are maximized, then you will be 90' long. You will only have 6-8" of ground clearance also. You have to account for the overhangs and ground clearance during turns and even when stopped at the limit line at intersections. Truck stop also are a huge concern. The next time you see a car hauler making his own spot at the loves or TA and you think to yourself, "why is this guy being lazy and parking over by the curb?" Just remember he is possibly 90' long and bumps and scrapes can no longer be brushed off, now they are incidents and accidents.

Let me know if you got anything else, I'd be more than happy to answer especially once I start rolling on my own. Did I mention that USAL gives you 136 hours of paid time off if you are hired during the month of January? I don't even know of a 9-5 type job that offers that up front. Home on weekends and depending on where you live you could be home 1-2 nights during the week. Goodluck to ya Bill and be safe.

Couple questions for you Juicebox. What has been your average length of haul? How many stops are you doing per load or really all depends? Thus far what would you say is the hardest part for you? And I'm assuming most (if not all) of your loading/ unloading is being done during the day?

Couple questions for you Juicebox. What has been your average length of haul? How many stops are you doing per load or really all depends? Thus far what would you say is the hardest part for you? And I'm assuming most (if not all) of your loading/ unloading is being done during the day?

Bro I just typed up this lengthy response, answering all your questions, and then i hit the wrong button and lost it all so I'm going to be short and drop my email at the end so we can communicate that way or by phone.

Average length of haul is around 250 miles. There is a lot more involved though with regards to pay and miles per day so to speak.

Stops average out around 3 per load. Units come off a lot faster than they go on and I'm paid for all stops.

Hardest part for me has been finding hotels with adequate parking for a 90' long transport. You cannot turn as sharply or Jack knife transports like you can a regular semi. Honestly though, everything is tough from loading to unloading but it's a very steep learning curve.

Company policy is all loading/unloading will be done during the day for your first 90 days for inexperienced car haulers. You'll make your money loading and unloading whenever you can though, you have to stay ahead of the game if you know what I mean.