Mackman, RollOver, I drive a dump truck, not a end dump or tractor trailer dump, think I know what I'm talking about just a wee bit, whaddaya think?? Once I got used to driving something that big, it became very easy. Not sure what ya mean by "picking the truck up off it's side" RollOver. I use my head when dumping a load on a slope, I don't dump it at that spot. I also don't go blasting down the crooked roads like some of these local guys here do.

Maybe it's easy for me because usually I'm pulling a 35 foot trailer behind me moving equipment from jobsite to jobsite. You are right though, running a tri-axle will beat you up when empty. Smooth as heck when loaded though.

 

So ya all think if I have a cdl and I just get my name to the local companies and stuff that I want to learn and work for them with no experience, u think they will actually take me on? Thanks for the info guys I love this site.

 

You could also try local temp agencies. My brother found some job opportunities driving dump trucks just by looking there. And if you go to work somewhere and you don't like it you could go to work for another company and it wouldn't be that you quit. They might be temporary,and it may not be the job you want in the end but, it's a job, it's a start and you get some experience.

 

Eh, simply put, MrFord -I stated THAT IF you go into this type of work with the mindset it's as easy as riding a bike, or even running bobtail, you'll find yourself in a heap of trouble. That's what I am talking about. I've been doing this type of work for years, had close calls, but never an incident -thankfully.

I too am the lowboy operater -I really enjoy it. In fact I enjoy it more than operating dumpers. I don't really think this is "easy" either. Dragging a lowboy loaded with a Cat 345 B Track Hoe isn't a walk in the park. Sure you become accustomed to it, but I don't think it ever get's "easy".

As I said, I wasn't trying to start anything, and I expected a reply much similar to the one you left. I guess different people have different opinions. *shrugs*

 

I've had somewhat of a share of dumptruck driving for the City. ([b]Mind you, we have mainly the 6-wheeler trucks, the kind that'll turn sharp, almost as sharp as my little S10), and I can say it has it's ups and downs.

Ups:

-They turn sharp (of course, the 10-wheelers probably don't)

-When driving them, you don't have a loooooong as trailer behind you when making turns

-Easier to turn around in if you were to get lost

-They're fun (to me, anyways)

-They're girlie dumptrucks (A.K.A. dumptrucks with automatic transmissions) LOL

Downs:

-They do ride rough

-Ours don't have A/C or radios

-There is some rough, muddy terrain you have to go thru, including dumping at the landfill, where you can get stuck or even slide off a ledge if the dirt gives in

-Not much OTR driving, where you can just cruise and let the window down and let the cool wind blow in your face. A lot of times, it's stop and start, so you don't really have a chance to get up speed and get some wind in the cab.

-LOTS and lots of backing involved

 

Your right Mackman, pulling a backhoe for me is nothing, always comfortable. Pulling a Curbmachine, I am never comfortable with it behind me. The thing is so top heavy that I literally drive scared. Even the company who hauls them from the manufactuer is the same way, their drivers pull'em just like me, slow and easy. I have yet to pull an Ex.