Seems like we've been hearing more and more about chains breaking. I used to think this was primarily a problem of cluster chains in the lower position that had been dragged, but I was talking with someone the other day who said he's seen plenty pop right in the middle of the chain. In his words, "There must have been a bad link or something."
He said he's seen plenty of chains on the top positions do this, so it is clearly not a wear or misuse situation.
The link is for a notice put out by Cottrell Trailers about their switch to 5/16" chain and their adoption of the longer winch bar.
I know some guys aren't into the heavier chains for their trailers, but since I occasionally drive down the highway behind auto haulers, I wanted to do my part to get the information out there!
Boydstun offers a new winch bar that tells you how much torque you're putting on your ratchet box. They have detailed information on their website regarding the proper use of their chain ratchets. Of course, whether you've got a JM Trailer, Wally Mo, Take 3, Kaufman, whatever, the basic principles remain the same. If you are new to hauling cars, find out what the proper technique is for chaining cars down. (Or using car hauler wheel straps.)
I guess maybe if gas keep going up, eventually the weight of these cars is going to go down, and then maybe there won't be all these quarter inch cluster chains popping.
Inspect those chains and straps. Get your brakes fixed before they cam over on the expressway. Carry a spill kit. Don't push too hard. Know how much your vehicles weigh and keep track. If you're traveling empty, don't leave your flippers out. (big fines in some states!)
Talk to some of the old-timers in the business who are actually making money. If you find one willing to talk, find out how he's filling empty positions, where he's finding loads, what made him successful. And also ask him about tie down chains and straps.
Remember: Safety is no accident.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Car Hauler for Sale
Here are the latest car haulers for sale at West Coast Enterprises. Looks like late-model Cottrell trailers are hard to come by!
2006 FREIGHTLINER cottrell car hauler COLUMBIA
/C-10LT Caterpillar C-15 47548' '13 Speed $221,746
2006 PTRB cottrell car hauler 379 Caterpillar C-15 47548'' 13 Speed Call!
2001 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDSTUNFL 112/9178S Caterpillar C-12 4302413 Speed$105,000
2001 Peterbilt379/9178SCAT C15 5504813 Speed$125,000
2001 Peterbilt379 /3 CAR BOYDCaterpillar 3406E 5504818$119,000
2000 FreightlinerFLD120Caterpillar C15 5504813 Speed$130,000
2000 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDFLD 120/9178SCAT 3406E 4754813 Speed $70,000
2000 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDSTUN FLD 120/9178SCAT 3406E 4754813 Speed $87,500
2000 FREIGHTLINER cottrell car hauler FLD120/C-14IWADetroit SERIES 60 50048''10 Speed $91,500
2000 FREIGHTLINER/DELAVAN FL112/2878CAT C12 43030''10 Speed $69,500
1999 Freightliner FLD120Detroit SERIES 60 50048RTLO16913A $73,500
1999 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDSTUN FLD 120/9189SCAT 3406E 60"$68,000
1999PTRB/BOYDSTUN379/9101QLCaterpillar C-15 55036"18 speed $88,000
1997 Peterbilt379 EXHD/C-14Caterpillar 3406E 55048''18 SPEED $67,000
1997 PTRB/BOYDSTUN379Detroit SERIES 60 4754813 Speed $63,000
1995 International 4900/4CCINTERNATIONAL DT 466 5 Speed $18,500
1995 VOLVO/BOYDSTUN610/9178SDetroit SERIES 60 37060"13 Speed $62,000
2006 FREIGHTLINER cottrell car hauler COLUMBIA
/C-10LT Caterpillar C-15 47548' '13 Speed $221,746
2006 PTRB cottrell car hauler 379 Caterpillar C-15 47548'' 13 Speed Call!
2001 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDSTUNFL 112/9178S Caterpillar C-12 4302413 Speed$105,000
2001 Peterbilt379/9178SCAT C15 5504813 Speed$125,000
2001 Peterbilt379 /3 CAR BOYDCaterpillar 3406E 5504818$119,000
2000 FreightlinerFLD120Caterpillar C15 5504813 Speed$130,000
2000 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDFLD 120/9178SCAT 3406E 4754813 Speed $70,000
2000 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDSTUN FLD 120/9178SCAT 3406E 4754813 Speed $87,500
2000 FREIGHTLINER cottrell car hauler FLD120/C-14IWADetroit SERIES 60 50048''10 Speed $91,500
2000 FREIGHTLINER/DELAVAN FL112/2878CAT C12 43030''10 Speed $69,500
1999 Freightliner FLD120Detroit SERIES 60 50048RTLO16913A $73,500
1999 FREIGHTLINER/BOYDSTUN FLD 120/9189SCAT 3406E 60"$68,000
1999PTRB/BOYDSTUN379/9101QLCaterpillar C-15 55036"18 speed $88,000
1997 Peterbilt379 EXHD/C-14Caterpillar 3406E 55048''18 SPEED $67,000
1997 PTRB/BOYDSTUN379Detroit SERIES 60 4754813 Speed $63,000
1995 International 4900/4CCINTERNATIONAL DT 466 5 Speed $18,500
1995 VOLVO/BOYDSTUN610/9178SDetroit SERIES 60 37060"13 Speed $62,000
Press Release Source: International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Teamster Members at Allied Continue Strike Authorizations
Tuesday June 13, 10:54 am ET
Company Threatens Continued Interim Wage Rates
WASHINGTON, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Managers at Allied Holdings, Inc. repeated their request to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Georgia on June 8, 2006, to continue to impose wage and compensation reductions at the U.S.- operations of Allied Systems, Ltd., F.J. Boutell Driveaway Company, LLC and Transport Support, LLC, from July 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006.
ADVERTISEMENT
The bankruptcy court has scheduled a hearing on Allied's motion beginning June 23, 2006 in Atlanta.
"Current managers at Allied have failed job one in the trucking industry and the Teamsters national negotiating committee as well as many of our affected members will oppose this latest attack against our contract at the court in Atlanta," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. "Intentional neglect of the operating fleet in order to pay non-productive and exorbitant turnaround fees and bonuses totaling multi-millions of earned revenue dollars is unacceptable."
Teamster drivers, yard personnel and maintenance employees perform skilled and dedicated professional service in a physically demanding, time-sensitive industry.
On June 10 and 11, members working at Allied in the jurisdictions of Local 89, Louisville, Kentucky; Local 327, Nashville, Tennessee; Local 957, Dayton, Ohio; Local 299, Detroit, Michigan; Local 355, Baltimore, Maryland; Local 961, Denver, Colorado; Local 391, Greensboro, North Carolina attended specially- called meetings. Members at the meetings showed unanimous support for a resolution authorizing strike action if Allied uses the bankruptcy court to reject and void Allied's participation in the National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement (NMATA) and Supplements. These authorizations follow the similar support received from the members of Local 332 in Flint, Michigan on June 4.
"It is obvious to all industry employees that Allied's current management has breached the basic covenant between management and Teamster labor under the NMATA," said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division.
Tuesday June 13, 10:54 am ET
Company Threatens Continued Interim Wage Rates
WASHINGTON, June 13 /PRNewswire/ -- Managers at Allied Holdings, Inc. repeated their request to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Georgia on June 8, 2006, to continue to impose wage and compensation reductions at the U.S.- operations of Allied Systems, Ltd., F.J. Boutell Driveaway Company, LLC and Transport Support, LLC, from July 1, 2006 through September 30, 2006.
ADVERTISEMENT
The bankruptcy court has scheduled a hearing on Allied's motion beginning June 23, 2006 in Atlanta.
"Current managers at Allied have failed job one in the trucking industry and the Teamsters national negotiating committee as well as many of our affected members will oppose this latest attack against our contract at the court in Atlanta," said Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa. "Intentional neglect of the operating fleet in order to pay non-productive and exorbitant turnaround fees and bonuses totaling multi-millions of earned revenue dollars is unacceptable."
Teamster drivers, yard personnel and maintenance employees perform skilled and dedicated professional service in a physically demanding, time-sensitive industry.
On June 10 and 11, members working at Allied in the jurisdictions of Local 89, Louisville, Kentucky; Local 327, Nashville, Tennessee; Local 957, Dayton, Ohio; Local 299, Detroit, Michigan; Local 355, Baltimore, Maryland; Local 961, Denver, Colorado; Local 391, Greensboro, North Carolina attended specially- called meetings. Members at the meetings showed unanimous support for a resolution authorizing strike action if Allied uses the bankruptcy court to reject and void Allied's participation in the National Master Automobile Transporters Agreement (NMATA) and Supplements. These authorizations follow the similar support received from the members of Local 332 in Flint, Michigan on June 4.
"It is obvious to all industry employees that Allied's current management has breached the basic covenant between management and Teamster labor under the NMATA," said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Car hauler wants wage cuts extended
Allied is doing it again
Found this article tonight by the following writer:
By Robert Schoenberger
rschoenberger@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Car hauler Allied Holdings, which is in bankruptcy, has asked a court for permission to extend wage cuts for its drivers until Sept. 30. The temporary wage cuts are set to expire at the end of this month.
The Teamsters union, which represents the drivers, said it will fight the proposal.
Last month, Allied won approval from a federal bankruptcy court in Georgia to cut the wages by 10 percent. It said without the cuts it would run out of money by July. In court filings then, Allied said it would spend the two months trying to negotiate a contract with the Teamsters.
But if talks failed, the company said then, it would ask the court to void its union contracts. Union leaders said contract cancellations would likely lead to a nationwide strike, which would make it difficult for automakers to move vehicles from plants to dealerships.
Allied is the country's largest auto hauler. In Kentucky, it has terminals in Louisville, Georgetown and Bowling Green serving Ford, Toyota and General Motors plants.
Fred Perillo, an attorney for the Teamsters, said Allied has not offered a workable contract in negotiations, and he said he plans to oppose the extension of wage cuts at a hearing on June 23.
"Our objective is to protect our members," Perillo said. He added that he sees no benefit in keeping wages depressed while the company drags its feet at the negotiating table.
In its filings, Allied said it was ready to request that the contracts be voided but was asked by an investor to seek the extension and continue negotiating with the Teamsters.
The Yucaipa Cos., a California investment firm owned by Democratic Party fundraiser Ronald Burkle, bought about two-thirds of Allied's $150 million in bonded debt. The investment firm retains former President Bill Clinton and civil-rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson as advisers.
In its filing, Allied said Yucaipa asked it to continue bargaining and arranged a $30 million loan so the company could keep paying its bills.
Yucaipa representatives did not return calls seeking comment on their request to delay the contract cancellations.
The firm has been described as union-friendly.
Last year, when Yucaipa invested $150 million in Pathmark grocery stores in New Jersey, United Food and Commercial Workers President Joe Hansen said the firm has great relationships with unions.
Yucaipa is working with the union representing newspaper employees in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to buy the Times-Leader from its parent, the McClatchy Co., and turn it into an employee-run operation.
In addition to extending the pay cuts by another three months, Allied asked for permission not to make increased payments to its pension and health care plans that are scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.
Reporter Robert Schoenberger can be reached at (502) 582-4669.
Found this article tonight by the following writer:
By Robert Schoenberger
rschoenberger@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal
Car hauler Allied Holdings, which is in bankruptcy, has asked a court for permission to extend wage cuts for its drivers until Sept. 30. The temporary wage cuts are set to expire at the end of this month.
The Teamsters union, which represents the drivers, said it will fight the proposal.
Last month, Allied won approval from a federal bankruptcy court in Georgia to cut the wages by 10 percent. It said without the cuts it would run out of money by July. In court filings then, Allied said it would spend the two months trying to negotiate a contract with the Teamsters.
But if talks failed, the company said then, it would ask the court to void its union contracts. Union leaders said contract cancellations would likely lead to a nationwide strike, which would make it difficult for automakers to move vehicles from plants to dealerships.
Allied is the country's largest auto hauler. In Kentucky, it has terminals in Louisville, Georgetown and Bowling Green serving Ford, Toyota and General Motors plants.
Fred Perillo, an attorney for the Teamsters, said Allied has not offered a workable contract in negotiations, and he said he plans to oppose the extension of wage cuts at a hearing on June 23.
"Our objective is to protect our members," Perillo said. He added that he sees no benefit in keeping wages depressed while the company drags its feet at the negotiating table.
In its filings, Allied said it was ready to request that the contracts be voided but was asked by an investor to seek the extension and continue negotiating with the Teamsters.
The Yucaipa Cos., a California investment firm owned by Democratic Party fundraiser Ronald Burkle, bought about two-thirds of Allied's $150 million in bonded debt. The investment firm retains former President Bill Clinton and civil-rights activist the Rev. Jesse Jackson as advisers.
In its filing, Allied said Yucaipa asked it to continue bargaining and arranged a $30 million loan so the company could keep paying its bills.
Yucaipa representatives did not return calls seeking comment on their request to delay the contract cancellations.
The firm has been described as union-friendly.
Last year, when Yucaipa invested $150 million in Pathmark grocery stores in New Jersey, United Food and Commercial Workers President Joe Hansen said the firm has great relationships with unions.
Yucaipa is working with the union representing newspaper employees in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., to buy the Times-Leader from its parent, the McClatchy Co., and turn it into an employee-run operation.
In addition to extending the pay cuts by another three months, Allied asked for permission not to make increased payments to its pension and health care plans that are scheduled to take effect Aug. 1.
Reporter Robert Schoenberger can be reached at (502) 582-4669.
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Finally!
Ok, finally! Apparently you just have to wait a hellaciously long time before the blogger computer figures out what to do with these pictures.
Meant to get these up months and months ago. Somebody from Southeastern Transport wasnice enough to send me some new pictures of the Boydstun screw trailers they bought to haul Toyotas.
I'd be interested in hearing what folks think. I've heard good things from Walter down at Southeastern. Some other guys at Selland were grumbling last year about too much maintenance on the Cottrell screw trailer, but I didn't hear too much beyond the fact that the maintenance guy wasn't too keen on lubing those screws once a week. Don't even know if that's required, though that is a heck of a lot of metal-on-metal.
Boydstun Screw Trailer
Picture
Hopefully if you click on this, you'll see the new Boydstun screw trailer.
If not, I may have to take this computer out to the driveway and drive over it a couple times.
Hopefully if you click on this, you'll see the new Boydstun screw trailer.
If not, I may have to take this computer out to the driveway and drive over it a couple times.
Coming Soon: Auto Transport Directory
Of course soon is a relative term. We'd like to get as much in it as possible: auto transport equipment repair facilities, manufacturers, salesmen, parts, finance, insurance... you name it. (I'm tired of working so hard to find phone numbers when I need them... seems like there ought to be a book for car haulers!)
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Boydstun Screw Actuators Selling Well
Sources in the industry report that Boydstun is in the process of closing a huge deal that will give a boost to their screw actuator auto transport trailer line. They're already selling around four screw trailers for every hydraulic car hauler!Must be nice to be a car hauler salesman these days!
My back-of-the-envelope calculation puts the gross of this one deal at over $17 million. I'd take 5% of that any day of the week.
Looks like there's a big deal in the works from Honda in rail auto transport, too. We'll have to see what happens there. If Greenbriar Gunderson gets that deal, then the Portland, Oregon area will get a "two-fer"
(Boydstun Metalworks is located in Portland. I think Gunderson is in Beaverton, which is close by.)
If you can't see the image to the left, go to www.boydstun.com
But don't expect to get your new screw trailer any time soon. I hear Boydstun has a hell of a backlog. From what we're hearing from dealers like Rush, it's the same over atCottrell trailers, though I don't think their screw trailer is anywhere near as popular as Boydstun's. Time will tell I guess.
The big question is what these rigs will be worth at turn-in time, and how many guys will want them. I'm guessing that if they do well, there will be a pretty good market with the medium-sized fleets picking up at the ports. The open design of the screw actuator car hauler lends itself well to that kind of car hauling operator. Not sure how many POV car haulers will be jumping onto the bandwagon.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Auto Transport Trailer Manufacturers and Freightliner Trucks
I might have been hallucinating, but I think I heard someone say the other day that Cottrell Trailers is putting out six or eight trailers a day. I have no idea how much Boydstun is making up there in Portland, but the other day when I was talking to Mark Mecklam, he had about thirty seconds before he had to take another call.
That Cottrell number might not be far off the mark. I was talking to someone at Rush Truck Center the other day and he said he wasn't having trouble getting new Peterbilts, but getting trailers was like pulling teeth.
Haven't talked to Jakes in a while, but if these guys are THIS busy, Jakes Truck Center will be ten times as busy. He was busy when everything was slumping a while back.
I have no corroboration on those numbers from Cottrell Trailers, but if they're true, and if Boydstun is as busy as they seem, I've got to believe it has to do with the 2007 emission standards for commercial trucks.
A reliable source says Freightliner's North Carolina plant is pumping out over 200 tractors a day. 200 Freightliners a day!
Seems as if every fleet in the country decided to upgrade at the same time.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Improvements to CarloadUSA
Latest Additions:
One click setup of Instant Notification when new loads posted
Distance & Directions available for all loads
Carrier Package available online
Broadcast email regarding Available Space to all brokers
Broker's phone hours and carrier requirements added
New members that want to View Loads (Carriers and Carrier/Brokers) get a 30-day free trial and then pay a fee of $19.95 per month. Membership to Post Loads only is FREE.
To find out more, go to www.carloadUSA.com
One click setup of Instant Notification when new loads posted
Distance & Directions available for all loads
Carrier Package available online
Broadcast email regarding Available Space to all brokers
Broker's phone hours and carrier requirements added
New members that want to View Loads (Carriers and Carrier/Brokers) get a 30-day free trial and then pay a fee of $19.95 per month. Membership to Post Loads only is FREE.
To find out more, go to www.carloadUSA.com
Telephone Service
Normally, I don't talk about things that aren't related to car hauling equipment or the car hauling business, but I wanted to draw your attention to a new affiliate for Carhauler News: Lingo. This is an amazing company offering VOIP telephone service.
VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. What this basically means is that you can use your DSL or cable broadband internet service to make phone calls now.
There are several different companies that have really started to pull ahead of the others in VOIP service, to my knowledge, Lingo offers the best service yet, especially compared with adding an additional line through your regular phone company.
Between long distance, local service, fees and taxes, I was easily spending over $120 a month for my second business line. For $20 a month, I now get unlimited local and long distance calls in the US, Canada as well as over a dozen countries in Europe!
Basically, I'm saving about $1,200 a year by using this service. The calls are actually clearer than they were when I had my second business line, plus I get free voice mail, call forwarding, three-way calling, speed dial, call return, caller ID block and a bunch of other features. My phone company made me choose my top three. If I wanted more than that, I had to pay extra. If I wanted to call Canada, I had to pay extra.
What's really funny is my Lingo phone service runs on my DSL which is provided by the local phone company.
An additional source of savings comes from the fact that I don't have to pay a bunch of stupid local, state and federal taxes for the extra phone line.
I highly recommend this service. If you want to try it out for yourself, click on the link to the right. The good news is you don't have to be highly technical to get the thing to work. I set up my Lingo box and got my service working in about a half hour.
Their customer service is also great. After making a change to my office's network configuration, I discovered my VOIP line wasn't working. After trying some basic tricks to get it to come back, I called customer service. After about a five minute hold, a service tech came on the phone. In about fifteen minutes, we had the whole thing sorted out and the VOIP line was working great.
If you want to ask me about the service, you can me on the Carhauler News VOIP phone! Our number is 503-342-2085.
VOIP stands for Voice Over Internet Protocol. What this basically means is that you can use your DSL or cable broadband internet service to make phone calls now.
There are several different companies that have really started to pull ahead of the others in VOIP service, to my knowledge, Lingo offers the best service yet, especially compared with adding an additional line through your regular phone company.
Between long distance, local service, fees and taxes, I was easily spending over $120 a month for my second business line. For $20 a month, I now get unlimited local and long distance calls in the US, Canada as well as over a dozen countries in Europe!
Basically, I'm saving about $1,200 a year by using this service. The calls are actually clearer than they were when I had my second business line, plus I get free voice mail, call forwarding, three-way calling, speed dial, call return, caller ID block and a bunch of other features. My phone company made me choose my top three. If I wanted more than that, I had to pay extra. If I wanted to call Canada, I had to pay extra.
What's really funny is my Lingo phone service runs on my DSL which is provided by the local phone company.
An additional source of savings comes from the fact that I don't have to pay a bunch of stupid local, state and federal taxes for the extra phone line.
I highly recommend this service. If you want to try it out for yourself, click on the link to the right. The good news is you don't have to be highly technical to get the thing to work. I set up my Lingo box and got my service working in about a half hour.
Their customer service is also great. After making a change to my office's network configuration, I discovered my VOIP line wasn't working. After trying some basic tricks to get it to come back, I called customer service. After about a five minute hold, a service tech came on the phone. In about fifteen minutes, we had the whole thing sorted out and the VOIP line was working great.
If you want to ask me about the service, you can me on the Carhauler News VOIP phone! Our number is 503-342-2085.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Buy & Sell New & Used Trailers at TrailerShopper.com -- Search
Buy & Sell New & Used Trailers at TrailerShopper.com -- Search: "2006 Featherlite Enclosed Carhauler Mdl#4926"
I've been thinking for some time we need to have a site dedicated to the smaller types of carhauler trailers, parts and supplies. This site here has over a hundred of smaller car hauling trailers, both enclosed and open.
I've been thinking for some time we need to have a site dedicated to the smaller types of carhauler trailers, parts and supplies. This site here has over a hundred of smaller car hauling trailers, both enclosed and open.
Auto recalls archive for 1998 boydstun trailer vehicles
Auto recalls archive for 1998 boydstun trailer vehicles: "ACCURIDE/AKW WILL REPLACE THESE WHEELS."
For the price they charge for aluminum wheels, it's nice to see manufacturers standing behind them!
For the price they charge for aluminum wheels, it's nice to see manufacturers standing behind them!
Auto Recalls: 1997 - BOYDSTUN - TRAILER -- Nolo
Auto Recalls: 1997 - BOYDSTUN - TRAILER -- Nolo: "1997 BOYDSTUN TRAILER - WHEELS:RIM"
I never heard of this one myself, but I suppose if you've got a 1997 Boydstun, this would be worth looking into.
I never heard of this one myself, but I suppose if you've got a 1997 Boydstun, this would be worth looking into.
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