Kirk said:
We send our bees(doubles) out of Michigan in January heavy as hell for a
Michigan winter. We only get 380 on a truck...but we don't have to worry or
chase them around with feed.

They must be heavy to only get 380 on a semi. We have never sent a load from 
Missouri with less than 448.  480 is possible if the bees have only about a 
months worth of feed.

The semi's we use have a scale on front and back so we know the weight right 
at the loading point.

We have been clearing *at least* a $100 per hive so lets see what the 
difference might be on sending in January with less feed.

Kirk 380 = 38,000

448= 44,800 or $6800 made to pay a California beek to feed a semi load of 
bees once *if needed*.
3.47 a gallon for sucrose X 448 = $1554.56  plus a couple hundred for the 
California beek= $approx. 1754.56

$6800
-1754.56
=5245.44

over $5000 in your pocket.

We have never had to feed  a load of 448 when sent and we fed three semi 
loads only twice when sent in November one year.

Unless 380 is all the hives you are sending I would adjust weight to get at 
least fourteen tiers or 448 hives to a semi. I am speaking doubles.

I keep a calculator close by at all times. I have had a CDL since I was 18 
years old (when the age for such was 18). Have drove semi's all my life. Go 
four high and send a load to California. Those hives do not need to be that 
heavy.

In Georgia beeks take around 1800 double hives and trash into 1400 singles 
full of bees. Get top dollar as at least 8-9 frames of bees. One frame of 
honey usually plus what's around the brood. Makes two semi loads of 700. has 
been working for years!


bob 

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