PARIS, Ont. – Hauling freight for a living can sometimes become a lonely way to make a living, but, when you have approximately 5,000 chickens trailing behind you, being alone no longer applies.

Doug Mitchell, a seven-year poultry hauling veteran for D.A.C. Checker Produce Ltd. a company with bases in both Paris and Walkerton, Ont. wouldn’t dream of changing jobs.

Mitchell ran his own chicken catching crew (managing 15 people) before he ventured into the driving side of it.

“It’s different from other driving jobs because it is a lot of physical labor,” he says.

“You have to take care of the birds. You have to keep checking on them to make sure they are comfortable.”

Most poultry hauling jobs are done during the evening hours although sometimes, they are loaded throughout the day.

“It is better to load at night because the birds can’t see you coming,” says Mitchell. “During the day they (catchers) have to put up gates so the birds don’t end up trampling each other.”

– Brandi Cramer uses her love of photography to highlight a different aspect of the trucking industry each month and she can be reached at 416-442-2194.