Newbie Prime question, flatbed

Discussion in 'Prime' started by CactusJay, Sep 18, 2014.

  1. CactusJay

    CactusJay Light Load Member

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    I'm heading to MO for orientation sometime in late October or early November. Can't wait! Still waiting to hear back on a final date. Prime recruiters seem to be super-busy, but when you can get a hold of them, they are very kind and up-front about careers with Prime.

    My recruiter told me that when starting off with the reefer division, your chances of getting a lightweight truck are around 90% or more, very rarely do newbies start out with a fullsize.

    Is this different with flatbed? She wasn't sure at the time. I have read thru quite a few threads on here that say flatbed drivers usually get the full size. I was hoping to hear the straight dope from a veteran with Prime. I like the exercise and excitement if a flatbed and I will be living out of the truck full-time with my small'ish dog, so a full size truck would be much more preferable. Any thoughts or experiences you would be willing to share?

    Many thanks!
    - J
     
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  3. michaelg

    michaelg Light Load Member

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    I've yet to see a flatbedder in a LW. Think they get the fullsize due to all the extra "stuff" they have to lug around.
     
    justink58 Thanks this.
  4. CactusJay

    CactusJay Light Load Member

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    Yeah I have no idea where anyone would stow a giant tarp and straps and tools and the whole everything. One person on here in another thread said he/she saw a Prime LW hauling a flatbed in the northeast, but perhaps it was a fluke or special circumstance.

    Thank you for your response!
     
  5. PChase

    PChase Road Train Member

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    I've seen a flatbeders with the mid roof trucks and the sleeper was longer than the lightweight. A lot of thier stuff is stowed in the big boxes right behind the sleeper.
     
  6. ironpony

    ironpony Road Train Member

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    I've seen a few company LW flatbeds... its rare. If they don't have a full size or a turn-in, then, yeah it can happen. Now, a final observation... a "full size" is not exactly a whole bunch larger than a "light weight." You're still living in a rolling shoe box.
     
  7. CactusJay

    CactusJay Light Load Member

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    Ha true. Aren't we all, in one way or another!
     
  8. skellr

    skellr Road Train Member

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    The flatbed trailers are alot lighter so they can still haul a lil over 49k without a lightweight truck.

    If I was paid by percentage I wouldn't mind driving a LW as some of them are paid by weight.
     
    justink58 Thanks this.
  9. n3ss

    n3ss Heavy Load Member

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    I've had a few 49k lumber loads.. You can have those, skellr.

    Theres nothing more fun than crawling across the mountains of I90 with a 48-49k load.
     
  10. Danfromwindsor

    Danfromwindsor Road Train Member

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    Yes a lw is possible but rare. However I caution against going flats simply to avoid a lw truck. Flatbedding is work that most cant hack due to all the extreme weather we work in. Nothing like sweating your backside off in 110degree heat or pulling tarps off a load caked in ice and snow. If you can hack the work and weather its a rewarding division that gives you a real pride in doing what most wont.
     
    justink58 Thanks this.
  11. CactusJay

    CactusJay Light Load Member

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    That is exactly what I'm after, thanks Dan. The fact that you get a little exercise at the beginning/end of your haul is appealing to me. I think it would be fun to tarp and strap down loads, at times at least. Driving a reefer around doesn't seem as appealing, but really it comes down to miles. The recruiter said that flatbed is in demand right now and I might have a little better luck getting more miles in the flatbed division. Is that your experience as well?
     
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