- Lane
- North Orange County, 91 and 57
- Freeways
- ZIP codes
- 92831
- 92832
- 92833
- 92835
- County
- Orange County
Empty cable reels picked up in Fullerton
We pick up empty wooden spools and reels in Fullerton on the north Orange County run along the 91 and the 57. Stops are mostly in the industrial area south of Orangethorpe Avenue and along the railroad that runs through the city.
What gets made in Fullerton
Fullerton is a railroad town. The BNSF main line between Los Angeles and San Bernardino runs through it, and the Fullerton station is one of the busiest stops on the Amtrak and Metrolink routes in the county. The industrial land grew along those tracks, especially on the south side of the city along Orangethorpe Avenue and down toward the 91, with distribution buildings, manufacturers, food plants and contractors.
California State University, Fullerton, one of the largest campuses in the state system, sits on the north-east side near the 57. Fullerton Municipal Airport, a small general aviation field, is on the west side.
Southern California Edison serves the city, and its distribution work adds utility reels now and then.
Older packing houses from the citrus era still stand near the tracks, converted to warehouses, workshops and studios, and each conversion is rewired from scratch.
The mix here is steady rather than spectacular: production-line rewires, warehouse fit-outs along the 91, building projects at the university and contractors with a few months' worth of empties. Most of it is 24 to 48 inches, nailed or plywood, the size range that resells best. The 91 and 57 run passes through Fullerton every time, so a small stack here waits only for the next run. Small stops on the south side can be added the same morning if the driver is already on Orangethorpe.
Where Fullerton's empty reels come from
- Distribution and manufacturing along the 91
- Fit-outs and production lines empty 30 to 48 inch nailed reels.
- Campus building projects
- University construction leaves building-wire and feeder reels.
- Contractors near the railroad
- Electrical contractors store mixed empties between jobs.
How the North Orange County, 91 and 57 run reaches Fullerton
The north county run reaches Fullerton from Buena Park along Orangethorpe Avenue or the 91, then continues east toward Anaheim Canyon. Railroad crossings on the south side can hold a truck up; give us a window, not a single time.
Other stops on the North Orange County, 91 and 57 lane: Buena Park, Anaheim, Orange. Reels from Fullerton can share a deck with any of them.
Getting Fullerton's reels ready for the truck
Count by flange
Measure across the round end of each reel and group them: 24, 30, 36, 48 inch flanges are the sizes we see most from Fullerton. A phone photo of the stack helps us size the run. The measuring guide shows where to put the tape.
Stage them where a flatbed fits
Put the reels where a 53 foot flatbed can pull alongside off Route 91, not down a lane it cannot turn in.
Give us a window
Tell us the hours your gate is open and staffed. Stops on the North Orange County, 91 and 57 lane get a pickup window by email once the run is planned.
Say how they get lifted
A forklift on site loads anything up to 96 inches. Without one, reels up to about 42 inches can be tipped and rolled up a ramp; bigger ones need a lift.
Flag the stencilled ones
A reel painted with a cable maker's name may be returnable. Tell us and we will say whether it should go back to its owner before we take it.
After the run, sound reels from Fullerton are sorted for resale to contractors, makers and growers who want wooden spools; split flanges, torn arbor holes and rotten staves go to wood recycling. See resale or recycling for how a reel is graded.
Reel sizes that usually come out of Fullerton
| Flange | How it loads | Empties per 53 ft deck (est.) | Empty weight, lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 in | Flat, stacked 4 high | 416 | 23 to 24 |
| 30 in | Flat, stacked 3 high | 189 | 39 |
| 36 in | Flat, stacked 3 high | 102 | 64 to 77 |
| 48 in | On edge, two rows | 26 to 30 | 106 to 177 |
Estimates from published reel and loading charts; method on reels per load.
Nearest areas to Fullerton on the grid
Straight-line miles between town centres, not road miles.
Other Orange County areas, by grid square
- Anaheim 92801F7
- Santa Ana 92701F8
- Irvine 92602G8
- Huntington Beach 92646F9
- Garden Grove 92840F8
- Orange 92865G8
- Costa Mesa 92626F9
- Tustin 92780G8
- Buena Park 90620F7
Fullerton pickup questions
Do you collect at Cal State Fullerton?
From contractors working on campus projects, yes, where reels are staged with truck access.
Is Fullerton on the same run as Anaheim?
Yes. Both are on the 91 and 57 lane, and the run passes through Fullerton on its way east.
Do you pick up in Placentia or Brea?
The truck passes close to both on the 57. Send the address and the counts.
Will railroad crossings make the driver late?
Sometimes. Freight trains on the main line can hold traffic for several minutes, which is why we quote a window rather than a time.