Question of the Weekend: Say you're the owner of a Trucking Company; What would You run?

Jim Brennan

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Simple enough question, or is it. What kind of Trucking Company are you? Moving and Storage? Less than Truckload Shipped? Produce Hauler? Baked Goods? Rubbish Hauler? See, maybe it’s not so easy. I’ll make this easy. State what you want to haul, then decide on the fleet of trucks. This should be interesting.

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Jim Brennan

Jim Brennan

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  1. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    I just returned from a tour of the Southwest's National Parks. I'd like to be responsible for hauling the donkeys that carry tourists down the Grand Canyon. Then, no matter what vehicles I run, I'd always be hauling ass.

    Reply
    1. CptSevere Avatar
      CptSevere

      If the rig broke down, you could ride your own ass into town for help.

      Reply
    2. SeanKHotay Avatar
      SeanKHotay

      You'd have a crappy time keeping the truck clean.

      Reply
  2. SeanKHotay Avatar
    SeanKHotay

    Running illegal substances seems to have high profit margins.

    Reply
  3. tonyola Avatar
    tonyola

    I want a fleet to haul the sound system and stage gear from gig to gig as part of my rock star godliness. And with these in my fleet, I'd want to get off the luxurious tour bus and take the wheel once in a while. Rock and roll world domination is MINE!…
    <img src="http://www.truckpaper.com/images/Truck/fullsize/81589971.jpg&quot; width=480>

    Reply
  4. scroggzilla Avatar
    scroggzilla

    And the correct answer is……
    __<img src="http://nimg.sulekha.com/entertainment/original700/strippers-on-wheels-2009-11-13-22-46-1.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      That's a race truck – note the pole position. Plus, there's a pretty good chance you'll get the holeshot.

      Reply
      1. zaddikim Avatar
        zaddikim

        OK, you win.

        Reply
  5. Hopman Avatar
    Hopman

    Okay, let's say I'm running a food service distro company like Sysco, or PFG.
    I know four things:
    1. The driver is going to have between 15-20 stops per day, with appoximatly 30-50 items per stop, mostly in congested metro areas. So he's going to be in and out of his cab AT LEAST 40 times per day.
    2. Most places do not have loading docks.
    3. Being a metro area, space is going to be tight.
    4. The trucks are going to be hard on brakes due to the buttloads of stop & go traffic.
    My truck of choice would start with a 35' multi compartment refridgerated trailer equipped with a lift gate. The tractor would be a refuse-style low cab forward Mack with an Allison automatic. The reason for the low cab is less step height and less risk of injury jumping in and out all day. Plus, refuse trucks are plenty durable as they get he living snot abused out of them. The liftgate is for obvious reasons. Less back strain from the driver lifting the goods and rolling down a ramp. While I'm at it, there will be strobes equipped on the front of the truck and rear of the trailer for on-street deliveries as an added safety measure.
    Now long haul is a whole different ball game. The trailer would be one that meets the EPA Greenway standard for reduce fuel use. The tractor would be equipped for driver comfort. So, an air ride seat, CD player, and premium sound are first and formost. Make the drivetrain a C15 Cat or Detriot Diesel DD15 (the replacement for the LEDGENDARY Series 60!), backed with a 10-speed transmission. Air ride on all axles, and a nice loud horn. BTW, no governor on the truck. But ALL tickets would come from the driver's pocket.

    Reply
    1. Black Steelies Avatar
      Black Steelies

      So you have thought this out before, huh?

      Reply
      1. Hopman Avatar
        Hopman

        I've just done enough hauling and driving to know what works and what doesn't.
        Making the driver's job easier means he gets more done with less fatugie, and thus less injuries.
        Besides, no governor on a truck allows the driver to keep up and adjust to traffic more effectivly. Plus, he can shave an hour off his transit time in Texas where you can run 80 + mph.

        Reply
  6. HycoSpeed Avatar
    HycoSpeed

    I assume you mean other than vintage Ferrari racecars in this:
    <img src="https://hooniverse.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/100809-03-1959_Fiat_682-RN2_open_deck_Ferrari_race_car_transporter_by_Carrozzeria_Bartoletti_circa_1960-320×191.jpg&quot; width="600">
    And there is always Coors beer with these:
    <img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_g6OB3VDfHew/TC4iLQ9rYMI/AAAAAAAAANU/AR4byEHME4k/s1600/rig+and+my+ta.jpg&quot; width="600">
    But I think I would have to go with "Gas Hog Trucking," using old trailers and hauling pretty much whatever over the road long haul, using GMC B model 7000 series trucks, circa 1960-1966, with the stupendous Twin 6 power.
    <img src="http://www.6066gmcguy.org/biggmc/GMC-B-7000-sm1a.jpg&quot; width="600">
    <img src="http://www.6066gmcguy.org/biggmc/GMC-B-7000-sm1e.jpg&quot; width="600">

    Reply
    1. CptSevere Avatar
      CptSevere

      Gave you a +1 clicky for the engine choice.

      Reply
    2. ZomBee Racer Avatar
      ZomBee Racer

      …and another clicky for the gratuitous Trans Am/Bandit pic.

      Reply
  7. jjd241 Avatar
    jjd241

    I live in logging country, sometimes you need to haul the loggers as well as the logs… http://tinyurl.com/38oxpr3

    Reply
  8. jjd241 Avatar
    jjd241

    Or maybe you feel your rig is a little to plain, just dress it up a bit… http://tinyurl.com/yz8wt94

    Reply
    1. ptschett Avatar
      ptschett

      Ow, my eyes…

      Reply
  9. Z71 Avatar
    Z71

    Haulin' beer, weapons, or maybe a fifth wheel rv trailer on vacation with a Mack Granite tractor with the Maxidyne MP8 engine (485hp, 1750ft/lbs torque) Not really a highway hauler, but what do I care.
    <img src="http://www.mackgranite.com/_images/images_granite/1381.jpg&quot; border="0" height="550" width="750">

    Reply
  10. Lotte Avatar
    Lotte

    <img src="http://www.sportscardigest.com/wp-content/uploads/Ferrari-250-GT-Breadvan.jpg&quot; width="500" >
    I plan to haul two things.

    Reply
    1. Black Steelies Avatar
      Black Steelies

      'Lets burn some dust here, eat my rubber!'

      Reply
  11. Black Steelies Avatar
    Black Steelies

    I'd haul a tanker full of road rage in this bad 'sumbitch.
    <img src="http://stlouisdumptrucks.com/Duel/sitebuilder/images/Duel_at_Shady-505×376.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. coupeZ600 Avatar
      coupeZ600

      My Dad had a couple of those 281's, and when that movie came out and it showed the Truck gaining on Dennis while his Valiant was showing 100mph, we all had to laugh. You couldn't get a 281 up to 100mph if you dropped it out of an airplane, even with the windows up.
      The mirror above the emblem on the hood is a "smoke mirror", and it was used to tell you how the engine was running before all the new-fangled in-cab gauges were standard. White smoke meant water in the fuel, silver smoke was the worst because that meant oil was getting into places it wasn't supposed to, but the black smoke was the best, the color of money.
      You can tell an old-timer now because he always runs a "smoke mirror", now mounted on the Drivers-Side mirror bracket pointing up I've asked them, "Ever see anything out of that?", and they almost always say that the bells and buzzers happened before they even had a chance to look.
      I put one on every Truck I drive, and when the youngsters say "You don't need that". I tell them, "I need to know." Buzzers and Bells lie all the time, but the smoke always tells the truth.

      Reply
  12. zaddikim Avatar
    zaddikim

    Day-cab/local delivery? Freightliner M2 106.
    Long Haul? Freightliner Columbia 120 Raised Roof Sleeper. No low-beds or flat-decks, nothing but vans, everything nicely palletized, please.

    Reply
    1. Hopman Avatar
      Hopman

      But what engine would you run?

      Reply
      1. zaddikim Avatar
        zaddikim

        For the long hauler, Cat 3406, although the new DD16 intrigues me.

        Reply
  13. Manic_King Avatar
    Manic_King

    After reading your Mitsu-Fuso um… review I'd say my choice would be long haul trucking and I'd use fleet of modern hi-tech european trucks to challenge the seemingly somewhat old-school (moar chrome!) design decisions preferred by US truckers and companies. Would be interesting to see, what truckers opinion would be on these:
    <img src="http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/world-trucks-blog/MAN_5%201%20.jpg"&gt;
    <img src="http://www.traraba.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/kamyon_renault_trucks_2.jpg"&gt;
    Also, maybe I'm wrong but it seems that trailor design is a bit un-innovative in US? I could imagine, building norms etc. restrict loading hight but there's all kind of strange new trailor types here I never saw when last time road-trippin in America some 3 years ago..
    <img src="http://www.mhwmagazine.co.uk/MHWMagazine/Trailer-manufacturer-Schmitz-Cargobull-supply-two-FP25-dry-freight-box-trailers-to-Stardes_7037.jpg"&gt;
    <img src="http://www.logisticsbusiness.com/images/sparks.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Hopman Avatar
      Hopman

      I like the look of the Euro cabovers. Pair them with a CAT or Cummins and a larger sleeper, and you'd have a match made in heaven in my book.

      Reply
    2. zaddikim Avatar
      zaddikim

      Personally I like the combination of COE and that particular trailer design, but the vast majority of North Americans (and yes, I'm including some of my fellow Canadians in this) are far too stupid to stay out of the 'swing-out' of a trailer like that. A buddy of mine has unintentionally run over a few cars when turning right because some dimwit thought that a truck in the left lane turning right was stupid.
      Imagine the back end of one of those trailers taking out a car or truck because Soccer-Mom Of The Year thinks that 'semis' can turn on a dime and give you $0.09 change.
      No, I'm not cynical, why do you ask? 🙂

      Reply
  14. P161911 Avatar
    P161911

    How about pulp wood with a motley assortment of rusty Chevy C-60s, Ford F-500s, and old Internationals?
    <img src="http://www.forestpests.org/tpsp/fig3.jpg&quot; width=600>
    [youtube xDNWmEM4a2U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDNWmEM4a2U youtube]

    Reply
  15. joshuman Avatar
    joshuman

    I wouldn't mind hauling anything Christian Horner asks me to haul.
    <img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/formula1/1/0/7/1/-/-/bulltruck.jpg"&gt;

    Reply