I just found out what it can be like trying to hire someone to do some trucking for me - via the Yellow Pages. I've been moving heavy equipment most of my life - but . . . needed a small wheeled backhoe moved from the Detroit area of Michigan - up to northern Michigan in Alpena County. I live 800 miles away in New York.
So, just picked a name from the Yellow Pages in the area where I wanted the hoe delivered. Told them it's a smaller wheeled, 2WD loader-hoe. IH 3414. Gave them the weight, all dimensions, etc. They gave me two prices - one for immediate pickup and a cheaper price if I could wait until they had a partial-load coming through that area. I said I could wait no problem. Just needed to know the day before so I could wire money to the guy that owned it. This is a situation of me buying a hoe - and not wanting to pay for all of it until just before pickup.
The trucking company also asked if there was a loading dock available - or - a lowboy with ramps was needed. I told them there is no dock - they must have ramps - and if too high - might need a winch.
So, got a call yesterday - they said they want to pick up the hoe 8 AM this morning. I said fine, and wired full payment to the owner/seller. Then, they show up with a 4 foot high trailer - with half a load on it already - in the rain - and no winch. They asked the owner of the hoe to get a running start - then drop the loader when halfway up the ramps- and the ramps were so narrow only a few inchs of the tires made contact. After a near disaster and several attempts, the guy gave up. And, I'll add - he's an expericienced heavy equipment operator. The truck driver was scared to try the loading at all. So, then the company calls me up - and says this is my fault because they asked the homeowner to dig a couple of holes in his suburban front yard so the trailer wheels could be driven into them to get the height down. They had no winch on this thing. Homeowner refused - and I don't blame him. Now, I've got a backhoe sitting in New Boston, Michigan that I've never seen and paid all the money to a person I've never met - thanks to this apparrently incompetent trucking company. Hansen and Sons Trucking, Herron, Michigan.
I guess I've got to call some more places from the Yellow Pages - and hope I find a place that knows what they're doing?
So, just picked a name from the Yellow Pages in the area where I wanted the hoe delivered. Told them it's a smaller wheeled, 2WD loader-hoe. IH 3414. Gave them the weight, all dimensions, etc. They gave me two prices - one for immediate pickup and a cheaper price if I could wait until they had a partial-load coming through that area. I said I could wait no problem. Just needed to know the day before so I could wire money to the guy that owned it. This is a situation of me buying a hoe - and not wanting to pay for all of it until just before pickup.
The trucking company also asked if there was a loading dock available - or - a lowboy with ramps was needed. I told them there is no dock - they must have ramps - and if too high - might need a winch.
So, got a call yesterday - they said they want to pick up the hoe 8 AM this morning. I said fine, and wired full payment to the owner/seller. Then, they show up with a 4 foot high trailer - with half a load on it already - in the rain - and no winch. They asked the owner of the hoe to get a running start - then drop the loader when halfway up the ramps- and the ramps were so narrow only a few inchs of the tires made contact. After a near disaster and several attempts, the guy gave up. And, I'll add - he's an expericienced heavy equipment operator. The truck driver was scared to try the loading at all. So, then the company calls me up - and says this is my fault because they asked the homeowner to dig a couple of holes in his suburban front yard so the trailer wheels could be driven into them to get the height down. They had no winch on this thing. Homeowner refused - and I don't blame him. Now, I've got a backhoe sitting in New Boston, Michigan that I've never seen and paid all the money to a person I've never met - thanks to this apparrently incompetent trucking company. Hansen and Sons Trucking, Herron, Michigan.
I guess I've got to call some more places from the Yellow Pages - and hope I find a place that knows what they're doing?
