Posts Tagged “Utility trailer”
If you are a produce association, produce grower or shipper, or anyone else in the fresh produce industry looking for ways to market and promote your products, there may not be anyone better than this trucker, who has been a professional driver for over a quarter of a century, and hauls nothing but fresh fruits and vegetables.
Meet Lee Weaver, a driver for Alan DoBorde of Fayettville, GA.
Lee has logged over two million accident free miles during his career, and still runs about 100,00o miles a year.
The company driver not only is proud of his profession, but takes pride in the fact he is delivering such healthy, nutritious fresh food.
“I like hauling produce even though it sometimes can be a hassle,” he notes. “But you are picking up fresh fruit and you are delivering fresh fruit. I am being partly responsible for families having fresh produce on their tables at home. I am making a difference.”
Lee drives a beautiful red 2013 Kenworth powered by a 500 hp Cummins. He pulls a 53-foot Utility trailer with a Thermo King SB-210. His sleeper has all the amenities ranging from a refrigerator to microwave oven and flatscreen tv.
A resident of Roanoke, AL, Lee has a regular run originating in Georgia, where he pick ups produce. He’ll then truck to Texas, then over to Louisiana and up to Arkansas, before heading west to Los Angeles. After delivering and picking up in Southern Calfiornia, Lee heads back to either Georgia or Florida.
Lee has never owned his own truck and has no desire to take on the headaches associated with being an owner operator. At the same time he likes being an over-the-road driver, which pretty much allows him to be his own boss.
“You have to be responsible,” he says, “Plus you are not in the same place everyday. You are getting paid to see the world.”
A concern being on the road is the lack of attention to driving by so many motorists. It is a primary reason for accidents. Paying attention while driving is one reason this long haul truck has an impeccable driving record, covering so many miles over such a long period of time.
Intrusive and excessive government regulations have been reported numerous times in HaulProduce.com and further proof of probably the greatest threat to the trucking industry, and particularly owner operators, comes from Dale Gray of Trenton, ON.
Dale is a veteran and drove a truck in the military before becoming a driver in civlian life in 1997. For over two years now he has been driving for Scotlynn Commodities Inc., of Vittoria, ON a Canadian transportation operation that has a sister company with several farms in Ontario and the USA that grows numerous items ranging from sweet corn to pumpkins.
Trucking both in the states and in Canada, Dale says American “rules are not as lienient.”
Although the hours of service regulations in both countries are similar, he prefers those in Canada because it allows him to be more profitable. For example, he can legally truck 13 hours in his country, compared to only 11 hours in the states.
“I prefer the the 13 hours driving time, because I can drive more hours. It makes a difference if you are paid by the mile,” Dale says.
He also notes he can split his sleeper berth hours by doing 8 1/2-hour increments during the day. In the US, the hours must be in 10-hour blocks.
“I can’t sleep for 10 hours,” he states. “Canadian rules are more user friendly.”
Speed limits are another matter, according to the 57-year-old driver. He notes Canadian speed limits in most of the country are 100 to 110 kilometers (65 – 70 mph). He prefers the higher American speed limits which range from 55 mph in California to 80 mph in Utah (75 mph in North Dakota where this interview took place).
Dale drives a 2012 maroon 386 model Peterbilt powered by a 485 hp Paacar MX diesel. The truck has a 60-inch sleeper with a 244-inch wheelbase and 13 speed tranny with overdrive. He pulls a 53-foot Utility trailer with a 2100 Advance Carrier refrigeration unit. Dale notes the reefer has a 120-gallon fuel tank that will run for a week.
“The reefer unit has a larger fuel tank so it can be shipped by rail,” he says.
Dale’s favorite thing about trucking is even though he is a company driver it is similar to being your own boss. “There is no one looking over your shoulder all of the time. In part of my military career, I was stuck in an office. I didn’t like that,” he states.
The worst part of driving is the attitudes of both four wheelers and truckers seems to have worsened over the years.
Dale hauls a lot of fresh produce grown by Scotlynn, plus he delivers a lot of frozen doughnuts and dry freight. On this particular day he was waiting to pick up a load of macaroni in Grand Forks, ND for delivery in Ontario.
Dale Hunt of Milwaukee, WI has no doubt lived an interesting life – but perhaps the most interesting adventures he has lived will never be known. After all, the former owner operator and now company driver, who used to be a Navy SEAL, will never talk about it.
As he said to me with a slight smile on his face, “If I told you anything I’d have to kill you.” I look at the Navy SEAL ballcap he is wearing and the SEAL sticker on his truck and reply, “let’s move on to another topic.”
Although the roots for Navy SEALS dates back to WWII, the group as it is known today was formed in 1962. The SEALS mission is to conduct counter guerilla warfare and clandestine operations in maritime and riverine environments. In other words, these are “bad” dudes doing brave and good things.
But Dale’s life these days appears more normal as a driver for Maglio & Co. of Milwaukee, a wholesaler and processor primarily for foodservice companies. Dale delivers produce mostly to Maglio customers.
He has been trucking 30 years, including 12 years as a Navy SEAL and five years as an owner operator.
Dale has been driving for his current company for two years and he sees advantages whether being an owner operator or a company driver. Right now he prefers being the latter, considering the weak state of the nation’s economy.
The company delivers freight to eight states stretching from Ohio to North Dakota. Although some of the firm’s drivers have no regular places they deliver, he has a regular route which brings him into North Dakota.
The Wisconsinite may be away from home as much as five days, but normally he is away from home closer to two days at a time.
Dale drives a 2013 Kenworth powered by a 435 h.p. Cummins diesel, and 10-speed Eaton transmission. He pulls a 53-foot Utility trailer with Thermo King SB-230 reefer unit.
He likes trucking because if you are an owner operator, you are your own boss, and even if you are a driver the freedom is still “sort of like being your own boss.”
“There is a demand for good drivers,” Dale says. But it is a demanding job dealing with all the traffic, etc. But it’s a good profession to be in, if you are dedicated. It’s makes it a lot easier if you like what your are doing.”
Dale has dealt with demanding work most of his life, and what could be more demanding than a professional Navy SEAL?
— Bill Martin