In the Driver’s Seat

Winter months can be the most difficult, as snow and ice add pounds to both the cab and trailer, forcing drivers to lose even more time knocking it all off. Given Jimmy is paid by the load, not the hour, interminable delays can cost him dearly.

So can miscalculations on cargo weight. Though he picks up prescribed loads for a certain number of pallets, things can still go awry. On the day I accompanied him, his trailer was nearly full after the fourth stop, and he still had two to go.

In general, customers don’t look kindly on partial shipments or missing pallets, but in this case, Jimmy was given the green light to head back across the country to the distribution center, despite being a few pallets short.

One would think with all of today’s advanced technology and tools, that weight calculations would be exact, down to the ounce. Not so. For example, if a 53-foot trailer can hold a total of 24 pallets, and there are three stops of 8 pallets each, how could a load not add up properly? Jimmy says it’s not all that unusual, and happens from time to time.

Many scenarios can impact loads from heavier individual crates, an extra box, cartons listing to the side, or pallets put in crooked or not placed tightly in the trailer.

All of these factors can complicate loading, skew weight, or worse, restrict air flow within a trailer, affecting refrigeration by several degrees here and there. The latter is a whole new can of worms; if cooling is inconsistent, we all know it can be highly damaging to sensitive perishables like strawberries.

Inside and Out
Jimmy’s rig and routine are a blend of high tech and old school. His blue, two-tone Peterbilt cab was built to specifications in 2002. It is a beauty of custom paint and detailing, with plenty of shiny stainless steel.

His 50-foot trailer, from 1998, was rebuilt in his own shop where he maintains all equipment. He is not a fan of overly flashy bells and whistles—inside or out—though his sleeper is plenty comfortable and does have a flat screen television.

He does use a cell phone but distrusts GPS, insisting everything he needs is “All in my head.” In a pinch, however, he will pull up Google Maps on his phone.

Cash and Carry
Perhaps more unusual in today’s electronic world is that Jimmy runs his business on cash, eschewing the use of credit or debit cards. This can slow him down at the pump (his tank holds 120 gallons) and at toll booths where “cash only” lines can be ridiculously long at high traffic times.

Yet Jimmy manages to get a different kind of bonus at the booths—dog biscuits. Friendly toll collectors often have treats for his pooch and frequent companion, Zip (short for Zipper), a miniature Doberman Pinscher.