Traveling alongside

Ralph Johnstone · Sep 7, 2022

The_Sailing_Pelican said:
Is it common for owners to supervise/travel alongside the tractor trailer hauling their boat

Are you a skilled and experienced trucker ? Do you have anything useful you can offer ?

If you're smart, you'll meet him at the other end. If you're not, you'll ride along until you risk getting a poke in the nose.

Stu Jackson · Sep 7, 2022

Do you think the trucker is trying to steal your boat?

dmdiehl64 · Sep 8, 2022

Personally, I wouldn’t want to be witness to something meant to travel gracefully through the water at 6knts doing 70mph down the highway. Every pothole would make me cringe. I’d just trust the process and meet at the other end.

dlochner · Sep 8, 2022

Depends on how far the boat is being trucked. A few miles to your home from the yard, not an issue, besides you need to be there when they unload the boat. Hundreds of miles? Probably not. On the one occasion I had a boat trucked, I was there when it was loaded, met the drivers, and followed it out of the marina to the main road. By showing up for the loading and meeting the drivers the boat was associated with a person who cared about the boat, not just another delivery somewhere.

Scott T-Bird · Sep 8, 2022

The_Sailing_Pelican said:
Hello again
Quick question... Is it common for owners to supervise/travel alongside the tractor trailer hauling their boat to the next destination or isn't common practice?

Who is paying who? I wouldn't care if the driver doesn't like it. Hell yeah, I would follow the trucker if I wanted to. That doesn't mean I want to follow the truck, but if I'm paying the freight, it's up to me if I want to follow, not up to the trucker. I couldn't give a rat's ass what he would think. A poke in the nose? Well that's assault and could be a felony ... so I really doubt a smart trucker would go down that road. Actually, I can't think of any trucker who wouldn't want the escort.

capta · Sep 8, 2022

I can't imagine a worse scenario than what you are proposing. If you are a trucker then rent a low boy trailer and do it yourself, otherwise leave it to the professional you've chosen, theoretically because he was the best you could find.
Take a few days at Disneyworld or just seeing the sights and save yourself the Rolaids by rolling along with your boat.

Siamese · Sep 8, 2022

Wouldn't that be like watching sausage being made?

markwbird · Sep 8, 2022

Wear a disguise.

Scott T-Bird · Sep 8, 2022

capta said:
I can't imagine a worse scenario than what you are proposing.

Well, the whole question is a little silly. He can follow the trucker if he wants to. You can travel the road when you want to, at the speed you want to and for as far as you want to. If you are paying the freight, you can follow the truck! I've never heard of anybody ever suggesting that you don't have a right to follow your boat down the road. Why would a trucker even think of objecting? It doesn't make any sense. I agree, injecting supervision would be pretty obnoxious ... but no trucker has any expectation that you can't follow down the public road if you want to. And if the trucker is violating any travel regulations (or agreements between trucker and owner) and the boat owner is pointing it out, it's on the trucker, not the boat owner.

dLj · Sep 8, 2022

Personally I look at it as what's going to be the best use of my time. If I follow the truck, what would I be contributing? Advice? Manpower?

I'd prefer to be present when loading, there I can do a fair amount in addition to seeing all the parties involved. Then I'd just get to the destination and make sure everything is in order for when the truck arrives. Definitely want to be present at unloading. In between those two points - I'd be bored. Now if you want to take photos or whatever, go for it. Just seems like a waste of time to me. I'd prefer to make sure the destination was fully ready. It's been my experience that is not always the case.

dj

capta · Sep 8, 2022

Scott T-Bird said:
Well, the whole question is a little silly. He can follow the trucker if he wants to. You can travel the road when you want to, at the speed you want to and for as far as you want to. If you are paying the freight, you can follow the truck! I've never heard of anybody ever suggesting that you don't have a right to follow your boat down the road. Why would a trucker even think of objecting? It doesn't make any sense. I agree, injecting supervision would be pretty obnoxious ... but no trucker has any expectation that you can't follow down the public road if you want to. And if the trucker is violating any travel regulations (or agreements between trucker and owner) and the boat owner is pointing it out, it's on the trucker, not the boat owner.

If I'm not mistaken, in some states a "wide load" requires a warning vehicle front and back and must travel below a certain speed. I couldn't imagine anyone who would want to travel near or with that rig for any length of time. Furthermore, it's just a boat, another possession, that is most likely over-insured, so whatever happens, the owner would lose nothing should there be damage.
As for violating any travel regulations, I'd think that was between the trucker and his company or law enforcement. Should the owner of the cargo interfere, I'd be inclined to suggest he continue the trip and I'd take a hike. Nobody likes "the boss" looking over their shoulder all the time.

Ralph Johnstone · Sep 8, 2022

The_Sailing_Pelican said:
You see I'm retired and once a year for 4 months I drive an 18 wheeler myself.

Then rent an 18 wheeler flat bed from your part time employer and DO IT YOURSELF. You then become your own escort and driver all rolled into one.

Scott T-Bird said:
Actually, I can't think of any trucker who wouldn't want the escort.

Scott T-Bird said:
Who is paying who? I wouldn't care if the driver doesn't like it.

The last full moon was two days ago on Tuesday, September 06, and does it ever show itself here

! ! !

capta said:
I can't imagine a worse scenario than what you are proposing.

And that pretty much sums it up for this thread.

Stu Jackson · Sep 8, 2022

Scott T-Bird said:
I've never heard of anybody ever suggesting that you don't have a right to follow your boat down the road. Why would a trucker even think of objecting? It doesn't make any sense.

This doesn't make any sense either.
Why?
Because what is the trucker actually doing?
He is driving from place A to place B with stops to assure that his cargo is secure. Like checking the lock at the back of a closed van when he stops, he may check the tightness of any straps, but I'm sure the loaders had dealt with that issue.
At place A they load the cargo. At place B they unload the cargo. In between, the trucker drives his truck. If he's any good, he knows that boats on a trailer are different than a closed van, but otherwise, except for width and height restraints perhaps, it's no different than driving loads of beer.
Do you follow the moving van when we move your house?

Nah, thought not.

Scott T-Bird · Sep 8, 2022

Stu Jackson said:
Because what is the trucker actually doing?
He is driving from place A to place B with stops to assure that his cargo is secure. Like checking the lock at the back of a closed van when he stops, he may check the tightness of any straps, but I'm sure the loaders had dealt with that issue.
At place A they load the cargo. At place B they unload the cargo. In between, the trucker drives his truck. If he's any good, he knows that boats on a trailer are different than a closed van, but otherwise, except for width and height restraints perhaps, it's no different than driving loads of beer.

Yeah, right ... I'm sure they all do all of that! It seems to me we've all heard some horror stories when it comes to boats and trucking! It seems odd to me that when @The_Sailing_Pelican asks if it is common to supervise/travel alongside the tractor trailer hauler, the responses seemed to indicate that it would somehow be disrespectful to the tractor trailer driver. Last I checked, it's a free country and if he's paying the freight, he has every right to follow along as he desires! Also, I'd guess that there are more than a few of us who would take a look at these guys with some valid questions. Everybody responding so far has made their fair share of derogatory comments about numerous trades working on and around their boats, so I wouldn't find it surprising at all if anybody wants to follow their boat down the road.

I'm not saying it is common and I'm not saying that I necessarily would. But I sure wouldn't discount the notion. I think I could be inclined to follow my boat as it was trucked if I had nothing else I needed to do. Acting as supervisor? No ... but I'd speak up if the driver was driving like an idiot! And to hell what the trucker might think of it as long as I'm paying for the service.

And yes, I have heard of people following the moving van ... and watching as the movers load and unload their valuables.

Ralph Johnstone · Sep 8, 2022

Scott T-Bird said:
the responses seemed to indicate that it would somehow be disrespectful to the tractor trailer driver.

Experts in their field just LOVE to be second guessed by people who don't have a clue in hell what's going on.

Scott T-Bird said:
Last I checked, it's a free country and if he's paying the freight, he has every right to follow along as he desires!

And harass him at every turn. Brilliant ! Then he's REALLY going to take care of you and your boat.

Scott T-Bird said:
Everybody responding so far has made their fair share of derogatory comments about numerous trades working on and around their boats, so I wouldn't find it surprising at all if anybody wants to follow their boat down the road.

Many trades working on boats are unlicensed in any field.
I would think anyone driving an 18 wheeler must be licensed in that area.

As @capta said:

capta said:
I can't imagine a worse scenario than what you are proposing.

Go back and R E A D the other posts and you'll understand what people are saying. There's nothing new or exciting that anyone has said so far. It's just plain old common sense. Know how your fellow man thinks. Maybe something like yourself. Don't harass him. Let him do his job. He's hauled many loads before. How many times have you hit the garbage can backing out of the driveway ?

Stu Jackson · Sep 8, 2022

Scott T-Bird said:
Everybody responding so far has made their fair share of derogatory comments about numerous trades working on and around their boats, so I wouldn't find it surprising at all if anybody wants to follow their boat down the road.

Scotty, except that is simply NOT true.

I'm sure you could go back, list each post including the OP and "vote" on yes or no: did the poster denigrate boatyard workers or truckers.
Everybody? Hardly.
I'd say, off hand, you'd be at 8%. And I have not done so.
If you're attempting to make a point, it would be wise to use those little stubborn thing called facts.

Scott T-Bird said:
Acting as supervisor? No ... but I'd speak up if

Could you define the difference, please?

Crusty Ol Salt · Sep 8, 2022

Funny topic.

I couple of years back I had a guy that decided to witness my work instead of verifying my work. It all went well until he started telling how to do my work.I asked him if I could see his certifications that would allow him to do my work. He was not certified to do my job.
I ask him to leave and he would not.
I told him to leave and he would not.
I buttoned up the HVAC rooftop unit I was testing, packed up my tools and told him I would be back to finish once he was gone.
Eventually he got the message and left and I went back and finished my work.

You are hiring someone to do a job. You are not paying him enough to supervise his work.
Get 3 estimates. Asks for references. Never take the low bid. Verify they are licensed, bonded and insured. Let them do their job. If you do not trust them, don't hire them.

danstanford · Sep 9, 2022

The world has changed in this area for the worse in the 40 odd years I have been serving customers. We design and build millwork and kitchens and do so in a custom fashion for several hundred clients per year. I have 3 designers all of whom have practical experience plus design training.

Here is the new cycle; client calls you the expert and asks you to come up with a solution, the client then asks why you have done some of the things and then proceeds to argue and suggest that what they want can and should be done, we ultimately find a way to give them what they want, finally when they don't like the result they ask us why we didn't warn them.

They make us the expert, then they become the expert, and when things are not proper (or their friends don't think it is proper), they want us to be the expert again. I believe the internet and social media have eroded the trust they may have had in others and they believe they have to micro-manage to be successful.

Having said all that, like the original poster I would want to drive along with the load if it were practical but would certainly avoid telling them what to do!