Reefer driver looking to get into hauling milk

I cannot tell you today's tanker long haul sleeper milk operations that we have evolved into.

I am a former milk hauler that collected at farms raw and brought to dairy, I was responsible for 14 farms total in the 80's pay was 500 a week after withholding. Which was alot of money in those days. (Inflation today) Routine. And punctual. 5 am shes moving brakes off. 32 minutes to arrival. They are waiting.

Today google earth revealed that old milk outfit has NO daycabs whatsoever and no local tankers. Strictly sleeper rigs with big fuel and power to run long haul milk. Say 200 miles a turn. Or more if needed.

Remember once you pour milk into a tanker there is a fixed number of hours at which it loses temperature. You will be delivering that no ifs buts or maybes until it's delivered asap.

If you can handle that and enjoy your time then I think you will be happy. The money? I could not tell you. The Milk industry in the USA has been embargoed or Tarriffed to the point at which old time farm areas known for good milk is out totally. Boom, nuked. Sold off, cows sent to slaughter etc.

 

Yes the crew was rough and the staffers devil may care followed by the Farmers being rough in their blessings and joy when you show up.

I had a little trouble fitting in that young in my time. But they corrupted me a little bit. Dont worry about that, get going. Yer late. Forget that for now, too expensive today. Tomorrow. What you doing? Daydreaming? *Smack.. get going.

low man on totem pole = me. Its not so bad. Really simple in them days. Ive learned to cherish all of them in time for what they were.

I have a family that escaped rumspringa about the 1870's from the Cromwell_Lancaster area of the Amish, but getting research is a slow progress for me. I just know that when we are up there its part of our ancestry and thats enough even though we are english as they say. They keep their politics in the barn as punishments and certain other things in life as you may know. So it's not that bad.

If you are checking with that blinding cell phone light like I am doing the same inside my computer case or whatever so be it. They can laugh and tease. Let em. Its their joy in life don;t you know?

Maybe I am the damaged one. But we had some fun along the way a little bit.

 

Have you considered doing otr? I hauled produce for a while, you talk to the customer for about 5 minutes every 3 days and you can go even longer without talking to your boss as long as you're delivering on time.

 

If you're near Lancaster, Pa, check out Mt. Joy Farmer's Co-op. They've got some sharp trucks.

Kuntz & Sons is up in Hummelstown, had a buddy that worked there for quite a while. He loved it there and made good money. But he burned out on hauling milk. At the time, they ran a pretty loose operation, meaning they really didn't care how the work got done as long as it was done on time and safe.

If you'd consider staying out a few days at a time, I have an uncle in Newville, Pa that does longer haul milk , as well as local stuff. He seems to have trouble finding drivers that can pass a drug test. (I don't work for him because he's 80 miles away, and I'm not relocating)

In Lancaster area your options are plenty.

 

If there is a McKesson or similar Drug Facility to run VERY high dollar medicines and cardboard bales back, you don't hardly see anyone except to get the bills walked back to your cab.

That is our favorite freight by far. It eliminates everything that is a parasite to the ability to earn miles. Whatever they be. 9-11 was the one exception, they loaded us very full, barely closed the doors on the volume for NYC the day after on a war footing from Detriot.

To this day I don't know the true value of THAT one but there were many bosses interested in seeing that one go through.