Jasonavalent
Seasoned Expediter
Just wondering
can 2 straight trucks run 1 semi load
- Thread starter Jasonavalent
- Start date
The quick and easy answer is no since a semi can be 53' and 40k and the typical straight is 22' and 13k or less. The real answer is sometimes... maybe. It all depends on what the load is and what it weighs. If it's 3x feet of moderately lightweight material then yes two straights could also carry it. It's just a matter of doing the math with the truck specs vs the cargo requirements.
gotta go
Veteran Expediter
I met one of my best friends when we were dispatched by different carriers to share one load from Washington state to Texas. The shipper was not thrilled, but the freight fit, was delivered on time, and had no damage. The consignee had freight ready to go to Michigan. Made for a good week for solo drivers. 
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Yep, done it a couple times. I was the 'extra' truck in the bunch to cover the last 13 feet of a load. I got paid pretty well for it.
Now the opposite happened to me too.
I had a couple loads where they stuffed my truck full and put for pallets on a 53 foot trailer - we went to the same place and arrived at the same time. We were paid the same too - $2.53 a mile.
Now the opposite happened to me too.
I had a couple loads where they stuffed my truck full and put for pallets on a 53 foot trailer - we went to the same place and arrived at the same time. We were paid the same too - $2.53 a mile.
Leaving out the weight difference, and considering a Dry Van is usually 53'. Two Straight trucks being 24' each will still be short.
Dispatcher03
Not a Member
Okay here is the ACTUAL correct answer to that. Me being a dispatcher if I see that a customer is not covering a 53' tractor load, then I will give them a call. I will ask them what the freight is. Okay so they say it is like 30 pcs. 48x45x46 500 lbs. ea. Well I will tell them I can send 2 filler straight trucks. This means they are aware that I am simply sending whatever size straight trucks down there I can get, and they just fill 'em up. No requirements just dock high straight. Now, if it were like 8 pcs 30000 lbs. 290x45x48 or some craziness like that then no you cannot because it simply would not fit. This is the correct answer. Its not about the size of the truck, its about the size of the freight, and if it can be fractionalized that way. Now, If your customer does not know that you are sending 2 straight trucks instead of a 53' trailer, then you got a problem if they were trying to "fill" the truck with whatever they could. Even if you thought it was going to be only 18 skids, If they add more, and then they wont fit on your trucks, they are going to be asking why 20 skids wont fit on your tractor.