Tractor hauling wanted

SJ

Mark

Mark

In fact, I'll take this time to warn everyone that you need to find out about your hauler BEFORE he loads your cargo. No one is going to come right out and tell you they have a JUNK truck, a REALLY JUNK trailer, no insurance, and no concept of reality. They'll just tell you they can haul your load for a cheap price. BE CAREFULL WHO YOU GIVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO INVOLVE YOU IN A LAWSUIT! John

Had to have a little fun.

Mark

I sold a set of plows. The BUYER contracted with a trucker from Texas to haul them to New York. We were BOTH expecting a semi tractor/trailer rig to show up for the plow. Instead, We got an old, worn out Ford pick-up, pulling the worst looking home-made gooseneck trailer I've ever seen. The trailer had no brakes, very few working lights, and a rotten wood deck. The only thing preventing his cargo from rolling off the back was the ramps. He was hauling an International road tractor. Just guessing, I'd say he was about 8000 to 10,0000 overwieght. The truck AND trailer had "May-pops" for tires. No mounted spares, just a couple old rag tires and a floor jack in the bed of the truck. The driver was running at night, and sleeping days. He didn't have to tell me why. He was avoiding wieght stations, and staying "off the radar" as far as police being able to see him, and the mess he was on the road with. When I questioned him, he had no idea about CDL's, insurance, interstate travel of a commercial vehicle, or even reality in general. The buyer made the arraingements. I questioned the fact that we were both liable in some regards, but it was decided to load him anyway. The plow was hanging over the side of the trailer by about a foot. In addition to all the other "il-legalities" he was over width by nearly a foot. He left Kentucky, bound for New York. 2 days later, he called the plows buyer, and told him that the truck was out of fuel, and he was out of money. The buyer went and picked up his cargo. That gave the trucker $200 to run on to New Hampshire, then to Wisconsin, and then back to Texas. I hope he's off the highway.....

This is the kind of mess you CAN be involved in, should you not question the "legal" aspects of a hauler. Both myself, and the buyer would have surely been hauled into court, should the driver have been involved in any kind of accident. I'm not saying we were liable or not, just that any "good" ambulance chaser attorney would have gone after everyone involved. Me being one of them.

Be carefull! Choose your hauler CAREFULLY! There's a lot more involved than what meets the eye. John

I've never used any of these, but that's what they're there for...

Steve

Were you getting $1.85 a loaded mile a few years ago.

I may be wrong but I think you could get a truck that works through a broker and skims 25% of the top to haul it for $2.00 a mile.