This is my first post here so take it easy on me. I have read quite a few threads though.

I recently got my cdl class A. I took the skills test in a friends truck. I really have no experience driving though.

I'd never sign on to a company to drive because I couldn't live on $.25 per mile for six months to a year and would not want to be stuck driving with a loser trainer anyway.

I have excellent credit, and driving record.

I have previously owned my own business for several years so can take care of most paperwork.

I know I can get insurance through Progressive for around $700 a month with a 500 mile radius.

I know diesel is high.

I should be able to get a nice truck and flatbed for around $50K.

I know the tags and everything is going to be expensive.

I know at anytime things go wrong mechanically with the equipment and repairs and roadside repairs are expensive.

My biggest concern is being able to get loads at a rate where I can make some decent money. Since no one seems to share info on good brokers how does one go about finding good ones? Trial and error?

Flatbedding will kill you and the unexpected passerby. You ever see what happens when a 50.000 lbs coil comes loose? If you want to flatbed you need load securement training. Some companies pay well even for newbies, maverick, tmc, etc. I would say get some exp in trucking and securing before you venture out on your own. There's buisness, then there's trucking, both are different worlds. One needs to know the ropes of trucking to pull that biz off.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

The only insurance company I found that will insure me (new guy with no experience) is Progressive. Progressive will not let me move coils.

You missed the point completely.. As a novice driver, it may be better for you to sign on with a company to gain the experience you'll need to prevent yourself from doing yourself in as well as others.

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Electile Dysfunction - The inability to get aroused over any of the presidential candidates.

Coils is not the only thing that will kill you. Almost anything you put on the board will come thru the cab or go off the side. I saw lumber kill a driver last summer. Trust me flatbedding is no place to start green on your own. Get some training. Me and everyone else on the road wants to get home.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Good Luck be Safe and Welcome to the forum

So only novice drivers have accidents or kill people? Are there any examples at all of a novice driver not having an accident? Are there any examples of experienced drivers killing people?

I know someone who does this and it just doesn't seem hard. How hard is it to strap a load?

Perhaps you should consider a different line of work? While confidence is needed in order to survive in this biz, cockiness is a sure fire way of getting hurt or worse. This is one line of work where a mistake can have extremely dire results. In just 3 posts, I'm not sure I'd want to share the road with you.

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Electile Dysfunction - The inability to get aroused over any of the presidential candidates.

I'm not going to sign on with anyone, it isn't an option.