Abstract: An apparatus for starting the flow of a compacted material from a hopper trailer is disclosed. The apparatus may include a means of substantially joining the apparatus with the rim of a hopper trailer, an auger shaft having flighting, and a means of turning said shaft on a longitudinal axis in order to displace compacted material and initiate the flow of same. In one embodiment, the auger shaft consists of an internal shaft capable of receiving segmented sleeves having flighting in order to allow for compatibility with a wide variety of hopper trailers. In another embodiment, the drive means of the apparatus may be operated by wireless control.