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ONE OF THE HOPPER INDUSTRYS BIGGEST PROBLEMS

May 24, 2018 at 01:54 PM CST
+ 11 - 1
The problem with this industry is the big multi billion dollar companys are only concerned about the bottom line and there image. On the front side of the building is a very nicely paved parking lot with 15 nice looking loading docks that only about 1/3 of them are needed to get trucks loaded and out of there in a very short period of time. On the back side of the building that the public dont see is a differant story. there is usually a line of trucks a mile long trying to get to 1 bay to unload with a dirt parking lot with pot holes deep enough to damage equipment a rail road tracks you have to cross over that are 5 inches higher than the road to cross to damage your equipment that is loaded twice as heavy as the van trailers in the front parking lot. There is no insentive for these companys to change this because they pay nothing in most cases for a truck to sit in the back parking lot for hours on end to get to that 1 bay they have to get unloaded. (I dont have to much beef against brokers other than the fact that most of them have never seen the inside of a semi truck and that they make money off of several loads a day and a truck and driver can only make money off the 1 load they are on at a time, and that they dont leave there house to work a 14 hour day for no pay by sitting in a line to unload, and nor does there expenses go up because of the rising cost of fuel, repairs, and insurance, and equipment). This is a big problem with this industry and it only seems to be getting worse. I dont know why it is so hard to get fair pay to hold up thousands of dollars worth of equipment and a driver trying to make a living.
Replied on Thu, May 24, 2018 at 04:54 PM CST
+ 4
stop hauling for free
Replied on Fri, May 25, 2018 at 12:50 PM CST
Where is it that this guy is hauling free
Replied on Fri, May 25, 2018 at 02:18 PM CST
+ 4 - 1
It's not the shipper, it's not the broker. It's the willing trucker.
Replied on Fri, May 25, 2018 at 02:37 PM CST
Its the price you pay for not bumping docks all day.
Replied on Mon, May 28, 2018 at 07:15 AM CST
+ 1
I couldn't have put it no better, all the guys that are talking negative, have never experienced none of the hopper bottom blues !!! I've been doing it for 23yrs, I've made good money, but lately it's been juts throwing it away on sitting & overhead $$$$
Replied on Wed, Jun 06, 2018 at 07:09 PM CST
- 1
This is a well thought out forum topic. been pulling hopper for 5 year been to the dark side of almost 95% of all mills in pa. I can't say I didn't make any money although money isn't everything especially when the family wishes you could be home BUT HANG NO. I AM PARKED WAITING TO DUMP FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS. There you heard it that's my issue. My theory is we don't make these mills money. the polished front side where they loadout is where the cabbage comes from for the corporate. if you come to DUMP you are not a customer but a necessary evil that they rather wouldn't want to deal with but they can't.
Replied on Wed, Jun 06, 2018 at 08:06 PM CST
- 1
I also think DOT should step in and waiting time over 1 hr should be an even 80 bucks an hour for any place. who runs out of time sitting then needs to run illegal to get home or sleep 40 min from home for local guys? when you look at the whole picture it churns the gut and hoping to shortly remove myself from this political nonsense
Replied on Thu, Jun 07, 2018 at 12:02 AM CST
If what you are doing now is not working, you need to change your operation. Don't expect the industry to change for you, you need to adapt or overcome.
If work is stagnant in your area, maybe you should look to stretch your legs a little bit and move outside your comfort zone. The same goes for rates being low in a certain area, look for a different part of the country to run in till your local rates pickup.