Camper delivery jobs!!!

[KLauber]

I quit in 1989 also and went back to college. I've been to that Albertsons warehouse and many others just like it. Awful places that treated truck drivers like criminals. The memories of truckin across the USA I cherish, the ones of loading and unloading I deleted...

Ken

 

[MAshley]

So whats the skinny on Horizon? I have the option of working for them but to be honest the pay doesn't sound all that great and Im getting 2 different stories about the possibility of back haul loads. Im not working right now and have been looking for work for about a year, I have a 3500 truck, and CDL, need a 5th wheel hitch and a TQ wrench to make there requried list of things but still decideding if it what I should do?

 

[mrtrombley]

Harvey said it very well. I also worked for Horizon and would again if I was retired, had good retirement income and wanted to travel around the country. To put it bluntly, you really can't make a decent living in RV hauling. The only way to make any money at all was to keep driving as much as possible, sleep in the truck and watch the food budget closely. You can't afford hotels!! Plus, if you drive long distances, you have to watch the hour limits as tracked in your log book, just like the big trucks. You could get stuck someplace undesirable for a couple "days off".



Horizon is one of the better ones to work for as they are completely computerized, and they do get some "backhauls" once in a while (usually don't pay much!). I once pulled a horse trailer for less than it cost me to buy the gooseneck attachment for my 5th wheel hitch. But you take those loads because, like in this case, it got me home with some pay for my fuel.



There are some guys that know the routes pretty well and by working their *** off they do ok. These guys usually have a cheaper truck that doesn't kill them with operating expense and they pretty much live in their truck.



Not a job for a family man. You have to go out for weeks at a time and put on many miles if you want money coming in.



Like I said, if you are retired and just want to travel around the country, it can be fun. As far as I know, you only have to run one load a month to stay actice as a driver.

 

[GAmes]

If you have a class A CDL I hear advertisements on the radio every day about trucking lines hiring drivers. If I had to make a living driving that is what I would do. Let someone else pay for insurance, fuel, permits and repairs. An added bonus is having a real sleeper, not the back seat of a pickup.

 

[TWaterman]

Will share an experience with you. Over the last 3 years I had worked as a service manager for an RV dealer till the industry went crazy and many went under. I bought a '98 from a customer that had many extras, he wanted a new '08 however they would not give him much on trade. I offered him a good deal, then after I became the owner put some money in the rear end, killed to dowel pin, etc. So long story short, after sitting out last year, as many people needed work, I had my retainer from a 30 year stay with the US Navy, I contacted Horizon with the thought of hitting the road for a while, as my youngest son is a long hauler for one of the semi dispatchers. My '98 had less than 125K on it and well taken care of, Horizon informed my I needed one 3 years old or nearer. You can guess what went thru my mind. I had in my possession all their requirements except for the newer truck. I now am an owner of a '10 2500 Ram which is an awesome truck. Think we will just hit the road and see the rest of the country. Think you can sense my feelings toward Horizon..... Sorry.

 

[HBarlow]

Horizon's policy sound harsh and unnecessary to someone like yourself considering a transporting job but they know from long experience that if you are a serious transporter you'll put 100k to 140k miles a year on your truck and an older one, at least in theory, will begin to develop problems sooner than a new one.

Horizon's owner is a bit picky about his company's image. He strives (unsuccessfully) to have only neat and properly attired drivers with clean and well maintained trucks displaying his signs.

They must be having no problem hiring drivers with new trucks if they turned you down. Was it P. T. Barnum that said a sucker is born every minute?

If you really wanted to be a transporter another company would have hired you with your old truck. Horizon might have given you a waiver if you let them see and inspectg your truck.

When I worked for them in 2005 and early 2006 drivers could have older trucks.

 

[Barry]

Here is an alternative.



Hour Glass Transport in Oklahoma. They also have a terminal up north in RV land. HGT is a quietly owned sub of Sundowner Horse Trailers.



Nice folks. You don't get lost in the numbers. Billy White is the GM. I load a lot of their trux out of Florida back west.



Tell Billy I asked you to call... ... ... ...

 

[mrtrombley]

Another note about Horizon, the reason they are one of the best companies is because they do have rules! When I was there, the truck could be up to 5 years old, but once on with them you could keep on running it as long as it would last. That is why you do see some older trucks, they have probably been there for some time. But be sure that you would put many, many hard miles on the truck if you want any decent money coming in. That could be pretty hard on an older vehicle.

 

[GAmes]

Horizon must change their criteria depending on applicants and contracts. I passed 15 or 20 of them on I30 in Arkansas yesterday hauling old FEMA trailers out of Hope, AR. One of the pickups was a Chev 1500, another was an older Dodge with a camper shell on the back. :-laf

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

I apologize for having not responded much to this thread, have been on the road making lots of money.

While it is true that Horizon has required a 5 year old or less truck at the time of hire the current market situation for lots of drivers does have them bending that rule somewhat. I know a guy who started this week with a 2003 Dodge.

The requirement for the 5th wheel and goose neck hitches is not mandatory now, a bumper hitch will do. Also, short bed trucks are being hired.

The Hope, AR, base has its own fleet of drivers who can ONLY haul the 11,500 FEMA trailers out of Hope and are not allowed to pull loads out of the permanent terminals. Thus the truck requirements for that operation are different than for a regular Horizon driver.

Hope this clears up some of the confusion.

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[JohnBoy5]

This does NOT sound like a smart idea to me. Rag your truck out for a few bucks. I think i will buy a camper and just haul my own!!!!

 

[mickeyblueyes]

I apologize for having not responded much to this thread, have been on the road making lots of money.



I hate to be a nay sayer ,but whats lots of money? divide that against your hours spent actually working,your food cost, fuel,vehicle depreciation ,I am only posting this because when you post things like "I am making lots of money" It stirs anxiety for guys that are having are real hard time right now and it sounds like you have the market cornered. When all is figured out tell us how much per hour you are making please, in the mean time, Hi welcome to Walmart how can I direct you?

 

[TWaterman]

What a thread. Enjoyed all the comments. In the end I am not going to put our '10 CTD thru that many miles. Going to hook onto our own 5th wheel and enjoy seeing the country on our own terms. And continue my membership at TDR, your knowledge have enhanced me greatly. Thanks.