Rock The Stock – Part 1
Posted on Apr 13, 2009 - 12:24pm by Donna Snelling in Trucking
I think one of my favorite things that I have ever done, was to haul livestock. Why? Because of the sheer excitement in it all!
There’s a bit of a danger factor in hauling livestock. I think that’s what makes it exciting. That and you have to keep on the move, no stopping. I know you all have seen the trailers before, dreading parking next to them at night because of the smell and sometimes because of the sound as well (for those who have the longer runs and have to grab some sleep before delivering).
But livestock haulers are just as important as an any other driver out there. Afterall, if you think about they are the ones who provide the meat for your family meals. They are also the ones that provide the meat for the refrigerated loads as well.
I know there are a lot of stereotypes about the intelligence of drivers, but when I think of those who haul livestock, I know they are pretty intelligent. Math comes into play a lot when hauling livestock. Knowing how to divide the weight up among the cuts in the trailer or whether to run them straight in, of course as with any load – knowing what you can legally pull with the weight you have on (and weighing out with moving freight is no easy task – but you do have to consider “shrinkage”), and of course how much you will be paid.
Some companies pay guys hourly, some pay by hundred weight (a percentage times the weight usually divided by 100), and those who haul for themselves get paid either of those ways or they get paid by “rail” (the weight of the meat after dressing out times a certain pay). So you have to use your brain in this job and A LOT of common sense so you do not get hurt!
The next part of the blog, which will be published in a day or two, will contain information on loading and the trailers used for hauling livestock.
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Ashes to Ashes
Dust to Dust
If it weren’t for cow haulers
The left lane would rust
lol I LOVE it!
I’m a vegetarian. OMG. Do you people ever wash out those trailers? Explain to us how you prevent cruelty to these animals? Most the livestock looks sick or dead. They’e just a paycheck to you – right?
So you don’t eat cheese? Or anything like that? Kudo’s to you! A lot of people could not do that.
Yes, people do wash the trailers out and put down (most generally) either sawdust or shavings for the animals to make it safer for them to be hauled. There are laws that have to be adhered to as far as cruelty is concerned. If you are vegetarian and for animal rights, then you already know this.
I don’t see how you think most livestock looks sick or dead? Are you talking about the ones being hauled? The ones newly born? The ones grazing in a field?
The animals themselves are not a paycheck to those HAULING them. They HAUL them – period. That is where the paycheck comes from – HAULING them.
Well, I doubt I’ll change Avalon’s mind about anything, but here goes. Cattle haulers are in fact quite concerned about the health and well being of their charges. When they are first loaded, they are compartmentalized so that there is enough room for each animal but not too much room – if you load them too “loose” one could fall and not be able to get back up – getting trampled in the process.
“Bull haulers” also take personal pride in how smoothly they operate their equipment – smooth shifts, stops and starts means the cattle keep their feet. A panic stop can mean knocking a bunch of them down, and that isn’t good. Long trips require frequent inspections looking for downed cattle and getting them back up – again so the animals aren’t harmed.
I’d certainly be interested in your livestock diagnostic abilities seeing cattle through the vent holes in a cow pot driving in the next lane. And, as for cleaning out the trailers – let us consider a “fat” cow hauler – who may haul five or six loads a day. Cattle urinate and defecate no matter where they are, so there can be a lot of turnover in that trailer in just a few days. Most slaughter houses require frequent clean outs for their haulers.
But, I doubt any of this will change your preconceived notions, and was a waste of time. Oh well – I’m gonna keep eating meat and supporting the beef industry, so deal with it.
Jeffro – Thank you for your comment. Bullhaulers Rock !
Well, you can see where I’m from – the middle of the “Golden Beef Triangle.” So I’m probably not biased or know anyone who hauls cattle or anything. ;>)
lol I totally understand
My husband used to haul out to Garden City 
Now he hauls the end product.
Ah the smell of MONEY! Good article and don’t forget all the great stories and adventures that we get to tell… oh and us GALS haul too! (ie….Some companies pay guys hourly….)
lol sorry !! I always try to say “drivers” to include EVERYONE
There’s a part two coming to this!!!