Leaving later today to Chicago for Schneider Intermodal training. Has anyone else gone thru this? What's it like. Any other Intermodal guys feel free to chime in. Any tips or something for good safe driving with a container. Thanks in advance!
I've been a trainhopper for nearly 2 decades, riding the rails primarily on the West Coast and Western states of the USA. California Union Pacific? That's my cup of tea, all day long.
These robberies aren't necessarily a "new" thing, they have been happening for years, increasing significantly every single year.
On the other hand, 20 years ago, these kind of robberies on intermodal trains were rather few and far between, and were mostly done by a wider array of criminals and trespassers. The burglaries were mostly done late at night inside the actual yards or just outside of the yards, hastily done by local petty thieves from the nearby ghettos and trailer parks that are always on the "wrong side of the tracks", those kinda criminals.
I remember watching that demographic start to shift in the early 2000's. It was becoming much more organized, and they were much larger operations. Instead of just one or two train cars being broken into, it became 5, sometimes even 10. Instead of cars being broken into that contained worthless shit like plastic coat hangers or wtf-ever, they were now becoming high-value cars containing mac books and large screen TVs, cars that were obviously tracked and targeted by organizations and gangs far, far, more organized and powerful than local ghetto and trailer park gangs.
And so came the cartels, and that's when shit really started affecting trainhopping throughout the entirity of Southern California.
Security in the yards increased ten-fold. And not just railroad security either, local police and county law enforcement as well. And the bulls weren't just packing a taser and a ticket-book like they generally used to, they were packing Desert Eagle .44 Magnums and pointing the barrel at your face.
And you weren't just going to get a way with a warning and a boot out of the yard either, suddenly you gotta explain how youre "just a lil hobo" to like 4 fucking LAPD officers dressed like they were freakin paramilitary.
SHIT GOT REAL, REAL FAST, throughout all of the Los Angeles and So-Cali yards.
I went from hopping out of LA, which I did quite easily for years, to having to hitchhike all the way out to Fontana/Colton just to get a chance at a decent hopout. That lasted for a few years, but soon the cartels stretched out to those yards as well. and now that hopout is all blown-the-fuck-up.
Although it's still possible to hopout of Colton/Fontana, it's still a pain in the ass. Just a couple years ago I got busted near the
... keep reading on reddit โกhttps://www.insauga.com/parcels-of-land-across-from-planned-cn-intermodal-terminal-in-milton-have-sold-for-165-mil/
So I may be jumping from Werner to JB Hunt and doing local runs out of Memphis. Pay is a little less but considering itโs home daily and I donโt have to do any unloading it sounds good.
Pay is 46 cents per mile with drop and hook pay, and additional amounts if itโs hazmat or delayed. They told me I should make about 1000-1200 a week and only work 4 days, 5 if I wanted.
Sounds pretty good, but my worry is after reading reviews online itโs kinda mixed. I know every company has drivers who love it and others who hate it. Just wondering what yโall thoughts are.
I see an opening for this job and would love to chat with someone who works there.
Post from another subreddit:
I drive 18 wheelers when im not driving my 94 mr2 gt-s.
Theyre brainstorming ideas on how to get people to work these jobs, when the jobs are pretty undesirable.
July of 20, JB. hunt intermodal container off of Hallstreet, there were 2 nights in a row, I was making $10 an hour. Somedays i averaged $16, never cracked $20.
It's all local. So ideally, for all of this in and out of the cab work, hooking up gladhands, cranking up and down landing pads, inspecting trailers and red taggimg them if theyre unsafe to tow, swapping out containers, all the paperwork and scanning it in from a phone app, it should be hourly. And it is work, it is not relaxi g in a chair...it's a top 10 most dangerous job, the pay schedule went like this.
$26.00 for a drop and hook.
$40.00 fpr a live unload. $15.00 for a chassis move/crosstown move/empty move.
$.31 a mile.. Oh and if delayed at a shipper/receiver, if the delay lasts 2 hours it's initially $20 fpr 1 hour, and then if it goes 3 hours or more $15.00 thereafter.
Also bonuses were $10,000 for 1 million miles (6-8 years of work) $20,000 for 2 million miles, $35,000 for 3 million accident free miles, basically staying at that outfit for 24 years.
Anytime there was a hickup, I as the driver ate the loss. Jobs dont get paid unless completed. Hourly would fix all this, but then they might have to pay time and a half, 10 hour minimum days, often enough closer to 13. Sun rise to sun set.
I walked off the job on the 3rd week. The only decent pay I got at that outfit was the stipend check for watching all those bullshit anti-union vids.
Oh btw...when the jb hunt lady was telling me about those "big bonuses"...$20,000 for dedicated 16 years of my life to this rag of an outfit, that shit is for the birds.
Minus good pay, the jobs are rather terrible. That's why no one wants to work them.
For the lurker, whatโs the differences and challenges with intermodal? Is it better or worse pay? I see companies that have just intermodal divisions.
Hi all,
I guess the title pretty much sums it up, but I'm hoping to get some insight on some things I should consider before switching to intermodal? I've mainly done flatbed, with some van and reefer sprinkled in there. Aside from the brief rundown I got from the recruiter I spoke with I don't really know anything aside from the reputation containers have of being in rough shape. What are some key day to day differences I can expect? It's a local hourly position, so spending a lot of time not moving isn't a huge concern. Thanks!
Hi, I'm just looking to see if anyone here is waiting to start with CP in Vaughan.
I got hired as a spare intermodal employee.
I had my interview at the beginning of October, followed by the medical, etc. I was cleared for duty a month later at the beginning of November.
They haven't been able to provide me with a start date with training, and I'm just wondering if anyone would have an idea?
Thank you in adv, have a great day :D
Hi Everyone,
I was looking at houses in Milton and came across the intermodal project. Wanted to know your opinion on which areas are likely to be more impacted by it. Didnโt really see any discussion about that on this sub. Thanks.
