Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Help me figure out how to get into heavy haul

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by MajorGunHo, Dec 11, 2012.

  1. Dec 11, 2012 #1
    MajorGunHo

    MajorGunHo Bobtail Member

    12
    0
    Dec 11, 2012
    0
    Hello everyone,

    I just stumbled across this board.

    A little background on me;

    I am 23, I have been working heavy construction since I was 15. My Dad owned a heavy construction company that mainly did exploration for mines, clearing & grubbing, reclamation, general dirtwork etc. I have grown up around trucks and heavy equipment (we had 3 D8's and 2 D9's, several loaders with 8yd buckets, Cat Graders with 20ft moboards, our own crusher, Cat 245B trackhoe, etc) and have been operating them and the trucks since I was 16 and drove off highway. I got my CDL when I was 18, and drove intrastate until I was 21 and got my interstate CDL. When I got my CDL I also began hauling our equipment. We had a 4 Axle RGN (4th axle flip) and a two axle jeep / dolly. So I have hauled a decent variety of things. I have also pulled 5 axle bullracks weighing ~115,000#.

    I've driven over-dimensional (Bridges to jobsites, large culverts, crusher screens, etc) and many other misc things over the years.

    My parents both got cancer a few years ago, and my mom passed. Dad sold the business, and I moved on. I started a towing company and started hauling everything from cars to full T/T combos. I've righted semi's, winched them out, uprighted and rigged equipment for lifting. (I have a 4/5 Wreckmaster, teaches a large amoutn about rigging etc).

    And then I met my Fiance. Problem is, she is in the military. And we will be moving soon. So I sold the towing company and have started looking for a job that I can be somewhat mobile with. I always enjoyed heavyhaul and over dimensional, so I started looking for jobs there.

    Now here's my problem. No one seems to either believe that I've hauled this stuff, or they just don't want to listen. I had a guy tell me today that a D9H isn't heavy haul. That's news to me. The problem I run into is that we have very few logged hauls. Most of our stuff stayed pretty local and we didn't keep logs. I have a few from some longer hauls, and also from when I was pulling bullracks, but bullracks don't count as oversize/heavy haul.

    What would you suggest? I would like to find a solid company to work for. I've never worked Schnables before, but they look interesting. I wouldn't mind doing blade trailers either since wind energy seems to be popular. But really, I am just looking for anything that pays decent that is going to challenge me. Whether its equipment or other oversize/over dimensional stuff.

    Where do you recommend I look? What companies should I look into?

    Thank you for any advice,

    I appreciate your comments.
     
    MajorGunHo, Dec 11, 2012
    MajorGunHo, Dec 11, 2012
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Dec 11, 2012 #2
    Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    73,251
    164,556
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    You don't say where you will be living. System Transport does blade trailers.

    ATS or Anderson Trucking Service also has blade trailers.
     
    Last edited: Dec 11, 2012
    Chinatown, Dec 11, 2012
    Chinatown, Dec 11, 2012
    #2
  4. Dec 11, 2012 #3
    G/MAN

    G/MAN Road Train Member

    7,031
    8,621
    Sep 3, 2010
    0
    I can relate you you about proving your experience. I grew up in family businesses. Both my parents and their parents were all in business. I have also owned companies most of my life. It can be a challenge proving that you worked for yourself or family. I can see a couple of options for you. You might see if you can find a smaller carrier that does heavy haul or flats and see if they will give you an opportunity to get started. ATS hires those with little or no heavy haul experience. I believe that they are out of Minnesota. You may just need to start with a flatbed company, get some verifiable over the road experience and work your way up to heavy haul. Most people who do heavy haul start by pulling flats, steps and then move up to heavy haul. Your age may also limit your options due to insurance.
     
    G/MAN, Dec 11, 2012
    G/MAN, Dec 11, 2012
    #3
  5. Dec 11, 2012 #4
    TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

    18,316
    127,950
    Apr 10, 2009
    Copied in Hell
    0
    Try MidWest Transport out of Minnesota. ATS owns them but they pull their own freight (mainly Cat OSOW loads). They probably wont put you into a heavyhaul truck, but since they are smaller (much smaller) than ATS, it should take you less time to move up. Now I believe that they have company trucks (dark blue KW660's with while stripes), but I dont know much about them on the company end. It would take an eternity to move up in an ATS company truck (well, it did for me, but maybe it was just my dispatcher).

    Call Kurt at MidWest 507.288.5649
     
    TripleSix, Dec 11, 2012
    TripleSix, Dec 11, 2012
    #4
  7. Dec 11, 2012 #5
    AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

    2,912
    1,303
    Sep 30, 2010
    PHX, AZ
    0
    any oversize company will want verifiable experience so if you do that you should be fine, if not you'll probably have to start off doing flatbed which honestly might benefit you anyway.
     
    AZS, Dec 11, 2012
    AZS, Dec 11, 2012
    #5
  8. Dec 11, 2012 #6
    Pound Puppy

    Pound Puppy Heavy Load Member

    974
    868
    May 31, 2010
    Amherst, OH
    0
    I used to work for Miller Transfer. I started out as an escort/steerman on 13 and 19 axle loads. Got my CDL and moved up to flatbed and step deck before going to bigger trailers. That may be an option for you. Otherwise you may need to run flat/step deck for a year.
     
    Pound Puppy, Dec 11, 2012
    Pound Puppy, Dec 11, 2012
    #6
  9. Dec 11, 2012 #7
    chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

    5,653
    3,485
    Jun 21, 2008
    Deland, FL
    0
    Your going to just have to fill out apps and do some talking with recruiters. A good impressive resume will help too! Aim for the smaller companies, they will be much more apt to take an inexperienced driver on. Not that you don't have experience but just saying in general. Its also due to insurance and the smaller companies have more forgiving insurance plans.

    Good luck man....
     
    chompi, Dec 11, 2012
    chompi, Dec 11, 2012
    #7
  10. Dec 11, 2012 #8
    leftlanetruckin

    leftlanetruckin Road Train Member

    3,607
    3,160
    Mar 12, 2009
    Mo Via Blackpool,Lancs.
    0
    I am leased to Midwest Specialized, been here for @7-8yrs now.
    If they are needing drivers, depending on your location, they will give you a shot I think.
    I am one of our 2 blade haulers, and we only own 2 trailers, so dont get worked up over doing wind. We did lease 2 other trailers this year, and a company truck pulled one of them with "some" success.
    I think they will give you a 2 axle rgn if you live in the right area.

    Martin
     
    leftlanetruckin, Dec 11, 2012
    leftlanetruckin, Dec 11, 2012
    #8
  11. Dec 11, 2012 #9
    MajorGunHo

    MajorGunHo Bobtail Member

    12
    0
    Dec 11, 2012
    0
    Thanks for the replies everyone. I will look into the options presented and make some calls.
     
    MajorGunHo, Dec 11, 2012
    MajorGunHo, Dec 11, 2012
    #9
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.