First Week Of Car Hauling, FYI

Just finished my first week and a half of hauling cars. In summary; big bucks, HARD work, learned a lot and still a lot to learn. Did I say HARD WORK!! Hard part for me is loading upper and lower levels in a way that makes both height and length. Never been shy of physical labor so I like that part. Girlfriend will like the bulk that will come! The actual driving is like break time compared to loading/unloading. All in all I like it better than any driving job I've done so far, but it does take a different kind of person to do it. Truck feels like a ocean liner on the interstate. Lots of time spent climbing around on trailer as if it were a big set of monkey bars. Hard to keep clean. If anyone wants to know more let me know and I'll try to respond soon. Not much free time in this gig.

Dude that is so cool! Kind of seems like a puzzle to have to determine what goes on the top and what goes on the bottom.

How does the trailer feel around turns? Does it feel top heavy? Does it feel like it constantly wants to tip over?

What quality cars are you hauling? Junk cars? Accident cars? New cars? New Audi's? Or a mix?

That's interesting, Bill. I did have an arbitrary question, though. I had heard that car haulers have to join the Teamsters Union. Did you have to join?

Welcome Bill !!! You are our very FIRST parking lot !!!!! I've heard such horror stories about hauling cars...So I'm glad you came here, so we can get it from someone who knows !!!! Fell free to post about your experiences and the learning curve...

Dude that is so cool! Kind of seems like a puzzle to have to determine what goes on the top and what goes on the bottom.

How does the trailer feel around turns? Does it feel top heavy? Does it feel like it constantly wants to tip over?

What quality cars are you hauling? Junk cars? Accident cars? New cars? New Audi's? Or a mix?

Feels like a frickin boat on many turns! One place in Washington state where 205 N. merges with 5 N is under construction and it feels like a earthquake is goin on under the truck. Sharper 60MPH turns tell you right off that you are running top heavy, but all in all it's not as bad as I expected. I've been hauling lots of rental car returns from Oregon up to a auction house near Seattle. No junker cars yet.

That's interesting, Bill. I did have an arbitrary question, though. I had heard that car haulers have to join the Teamsters Union. Did you have to join?

I think that's for the big fellas. This Co. only has 5 trucks on the road and wants to grow to 15 and stay at that size. No mention of union.

Welcome Bill !!! You are our very FIRST parking lot !!!!! I've heard such horror stories about hauling cars...So I'm glad you came here, so we can get it from someone who knows !!!! Fell free to post about your experiences and the learning curve...

Although this company is a solid one, they did put me solo a bit too fast. With the holidays and all I think they were short handed and sent me out with only three days training. Understand though that I'm also a heavy equipment operator and learned the hydraulic system rather fast. My issue was that I put two Toyota Vans, 2013's, too close. One facing forward on the top over my drive's and one backed on at the front top position of the trailer. (Loading cars/vans/trucks/suvs is like doing puzzles to make height, length, and weight.) These things are long and I already knew I was not going to get as many on as they wanted. Two vans were close to each other making my turn radius very tight but felt I could just be extra cautious. Well, my first drop had a detour about 1 mile from the lot and it included a jack knife turn. Long story short I put a basket ball size dent in one van, busted three tail light lens covers between the two vans, and shattered the rear window of one van. Called my boss right away to let him know so he could start damage control with the client and he just said, "Look Bill, we stuck you in the truck with only 3 days training. We told you you would get from two weeks up to two months! Don't even worry about it!" When I got back he teamed me up for a day with a guy who's been hauling cars for 15 years and was picking up full size trucks. Long and tall! This guy made loading look easy! I learned a ton of good stuff from him and expect to be dispatched out this AM with a full load. Then the boss gave me a cool, stainless steel company coffee cup. (Already got a jacket worth about $150 bucks and lined sweat shirt worth about $50) Feel very lucky to have found these guys!

Welcome Bill !!! You are our very FIRST parking lot !!!!! I've heard such horror stories about hauling cars...So I'm glad you came here, so we can get it from someone who knows !!!! Fell free to post about your experiences and the learning curve...

A"Look Bill, we stuck you in the truck with only 3 days training. We told you you would get from two weeks up to two months! Don't even worry about it!"

What a great company!

Hang in there! It's nearly impossible not to have issues like that with only a few days training. It would happen to anyone. It sounds like the company understands. So if you can keep your composure and stay patient long enough to figure out the rest of the things you'll need to know it sounds like you'll be in great shape there.

Welcome Bill !!! You are our very FIRST parking lot !!!!! I've heard such horror stories about hauling cars...So I'm glad you came here, so we can get it from someone who knows !!!! Fell free to post about your experiences and the learning curve...

Although this company is a solid one, they did put me solo a bit too fast. With the holidays and all I think they were short handed and sent me out with only three days training. Understand though that I'm also a heavy equipment operator and learned the hydraulic system rather fast. My issue was that I put two Toyota Vans, 2013's, too close. One facing forward on the top over my drive's and one backed on at the front top position of the trailer. (Loading cars/vans/trucks/suvs is like doing puzzles to make height, length, and weight.) These things are long and I already knew I was not going to get as many on as they wanted. Two vans were close to each other making my turn radius very tight but felt I could just be extra cautious. Well, my first drop had a detour about 1 mile from the lot and it included a jack knife turn. Long story short I put a basket ball size dent in one van, busted three tail light lens covers between the two vans, and shattered the rear window of one van. Called my boss right away to let him know so he could start damage control with the client and he just said, "Look Bill, we stuck you in the truck with only 3 days training. We told you you would get from two weeks up to two months! Don't even worry about it!" When I got back he teamed me up for a day with a guy who's been hauling cars for 15 years and was picking up full size trucks. Long and tall! This guy made loading look easy! I learned a ton of good stuff from him and expect to be dispatched out this AM with a full load. Then the boss gave me a cool, stainless steel company coffee cup. (Already got a jacket worth about $150 bucks and lined sweat shirt worth about $50) Feel very lucky to have found these guys!

Wow! If only all companies handled their business this well! Who are ya hauling for if you don't mind my asking? I always thought this would be an interesting sector of the trucking industry. I would be interested in the enclosed vehicle haulers as well.