Hauling livestock ama

Posted by Randomuserr012@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 34 comments

Well long story short I’ve hauled livestock for a number of years, took a break, and getting back into it now. I seem to get many questions from family, friends, and just bystanders anytime I stop somewhere with livestock on the trailer. So fire away any questions you have about hauling livestock or cattle in general and I’ll answer them the best I can.

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PlsCheckThisBush@reddit

How did you get into it and what’s the typical first step to get into it?

Are most of y’all O/Os and how is the pay? Like is it per head, per pound/kg etc. and can it support a family during off seasons?

It always seemed like a fun challenge honestly especially if you care about the animals as well.

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Defiant-Tennis5072@reddit

My dad actually did this for couple years when I was kid and always said it was way more stressful than regular freight because you're dealing with living creatures that can get spooked or sick during transport. He started just working for local rancher who needed someone with CDL, then eventually got his own trailer setup.

From what I remember him saying, most drivers were mix of O/O and company guys, and pay usually worked on per mile basis but with bonuses for no losses or injuries to animals. The seasonal thing was real issue though - he had to do regular loads in winter months because livestock transport slows way down.

He really cared about treating animals right but said some drivers just saw them as cargo which made him mad. Loading and unloading was always most dangerous part according to him, especially with cattle because they can crush you if they panic.

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PlsCheckThisBush@reddit

Thank you for the info! It definitely seems like a “need to know someone” to get in but looks really nice if you care about the animals. I’m sure a lot of drivers see them as cargo that uses the bathroom in your trailer, but some (myself as well probably) would love to give them a safe (albeit quick I’m sure) ride to wherever they’re going and actually care about them. Having a sick or injured animal just makes it harder on all the others and they’re already not having a great time.

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RectumRavager69@reddit

What steer tires do you run on your trucks? I've yet to find any that are N rated and also load rated for what the front axle of a loaded semi would be at.

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greedybanker3@reddit

what is your favorite pokemon?

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MssMoodi@reddit

I found a bull hauler, I asked if I could go with him for loading. He obliged and had just got well from being torn up in a gate. No prod, picking up Brahmas, I was at the gate yelling, "Hey bull," waving my hat, slamming that gate shut.
My question is, would you allow a driver to go with you to experience your job ?

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Lazy_Rhubarb716@reddit

Ever seen a cow piss on someone's car from the trailer?

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QueenScottish@reddit

I have on the outskirts of San Antonio, TX. I was with my family and we were praying not to get blasted next. The little car ahead of us not only got peed on, it also got shat on.

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

I sure have and it’s funny every time 🤣

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warwgn@reddit

I’ve only ever seen a livestock truck haul cows or pigs. Do you guys ever haul anything else?

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

I don’t myself but I’ve heard guys hauling many other animals. Horses, sheep, goats, ostrich, really anything

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oneshadeoff@reddit

After unloading do you muck out the trailer yourself or pay someone to do it for you?

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

Really depends. Mostly done ourselves where I work. If we’re stupid busy sometimes the company will let ya get it washed out on their dime

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smiles4Ubitches@reddit

How do you go about loading and unloading? Do you have to pick them out? Are they all in a pen already and all you have to do is move them into the trailers?

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

Loading and unloading is all done yourself. Most times they’ll be in a pen already and you just run them from their pen into the different compartments in the trailer

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No_Edge_7964@reddit

What's the worst pun you've heard related to livestock hauling?

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truckensafely@reddit

What’s the pay like?

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

25% or so of what the company makes if you’re paid percentage. Or some guys I know are hourly $30-$40 an hour

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ConsciousAwareness69@reddit

Why does EVERY cattle hauler I’ve seen HAUL ASS and speed like crazy?

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

Because that load of cattle on the trailer is crazy expensive and the longer they’re on the trailer the more issues you have with them. I don’t want them on there any longer than they have to be.

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ConsciousAwareness69@reddit

How expensive we talking?

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

Depending on many factors can be $250,000 or so I suppose. More or less depending on the weight of the cattle and how many on the trailer

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Dual-use@reddit

Do you have to feed/water the cows or are they fine without it for a day or 2?

Is there any kind of electrical heating system in the trailer? Going 120kph in -40 seems like those cows would freeze rather quickly.

Finally, do they get spooked at all by the straight pipe?

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InvestigatorBroad114@reddit

Most cows are actually built for extreme conditions like that believe it or not. I always hear people when it’s snowing and whatnot saying they’re cold and I just say believe me, they’re built for it

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

They don’t get feed or water unless they’d be on the trailer for like 32 hours or something like that. Which atleast where I work is rare. I’ve never had to do that. Most runs I’ve done you can have them off the trailer within 18 hours or so.

No heating though. I suppose if it was -40 you could put boards in the side of the trailer like you do for pigs but cattle are pretty resilient to the cold and heat. They really don’t have issues in the cold.

I don’t think the loud trucks really matter honestly. I’ve never seen them get spooked just from the noise of the truck once they’re on the trailer

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Silent-Room-4987@reddit

Flatbed driver here, ive always wondered how yall deal with a few things; does the smell follow you into the sleeper or do you just get used to it? Do the cops really let you get away with such blantant speeding or is that a myth? Do you even have an hos law?

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One-War4920@reddit

your nose notices change in smells

if youre around cow shit all the time, you dont smell it anymore

same with ppl that live in pulp mill towns and ppl that dont think they are crazy.

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

Smell wise, honestly you just have to keep your truck interior clean but it does make your clothes smell for sure. Shower whenever you get a spare minute lol.

Cops definitely are more relaxed with hauling cattle, especially when loaded. I’ve never been bothered at a scale or anything while loaded, never pulled over for speeding either but probably depends how fast you’re going. Lots run radar detectors.

I’m up north in Canada and yes technically still need to follow hos. And unfortunately here we still are “required” to run elogs. Most companies don’t run them plugged in though so it’s basically paper at that point.

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HatedReaper@reddit

The toothpicks. Whats in em, and can I get some. Need something to combat these 14 days I be getting

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Randomuserr012@reddit (OP)

Ahhh age old question right there. I wasn’t around back when they were “popular” but I’ve heard it used to be Bell drops. Horse medicine lol. If you find a “special toothpick” nowadays I’m not sure I’d take it anymore lol. Probably some mystery drugs now

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leadpoem@reddit

"Fun" fact: Bill drops were just poison. They basically worked on the principle of "congratulations, you're dying; you better wake the fuck up."

The original recipe contained extract of deadly nightshade, strychnine, and aconite. All which are deadly naturally occurring poisons.

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