Vans or flatbeds?

**Okieman** · 08.21.2010

For just starting out is there big difference from flatbeds and vans. Also I'm not driving yet and not real familar with some of the terms, but what is a "Lumper" mean?

**REDD** · 08.21.2010

Flatbed is a real trucking job... But I may be biased

Lumper is what the vans & reefers pay when they are to lazy to unload their own trailer

**lego1970** · 08.21.2010

Here we go again with the tough guy remarks. Redd, your such a freaking joke.

Lumper are guys you pay to unload your truck. A lot of time the consignee wants the freight broken down a specific way and unless your familiar with the way they want it, it can become a hassle for both the driver and the consignee. To top it off there are a lot of docks where it becomes a fight to aquire the equipment to do it. Some places the guys working on the docks won't share the pallets, pallet jacks, shrink wrap and in some places you are not allowed to run an electric pallet jack, yet there is no way some of those pallets will come out without either breaking it down further, or with the use of an electric pallet jack.

I've unload hundreds of trailers, matter of fact that's what I did when I worked for my friends parents air cargo company. Trust me, there are times when it's just better for everybody if you let the guys on the dock do it since they know how it's supposed to be done. When I had a Van, I unloaded it many times, but it was places I was familiar with and knew the way the freight had to be sorted.

**CBtalker205** · 08.21.2010

As a guy just starting out myself I would say go with vans. I got a job with a flatbed company and its tough work. The heat is killer and just standing there while the crane opperator or forklift driver loads you will make you sweat. Then you have to strap or chain your load so it dont come off and kill you or someone else. It takes some getting used to but after that you learn some great short cuts and can do the job fairly quickly and safely.

The vans on the other hand can be as easy as sitting in your truck while the fork lift drives on and off your truck. All the while you are in the AC of a drivers lounge or your truck. Other times it too can be a PITA. With lumpers and the fees they charge you can get bald from the stress of that. LOL! Sometimes you will have to unload it yourself and that can and will make you sweat your butt off.

In the end you have to make your own decision. Each has its own pros and cons. Just look around on here and you will get some great info from drivers of both sides. Either way you go I am sure you will get help and awesome advice from this forum and co-workers. Just remember the only stupid questions are the ones that dont get asked. Good luck to you and see you on the road!

**REDD** · 08.21.2010

Originally Posted by lego1970

Here we go again with the tough guy remarks. Redd, your such a freaking joke.

You seem to have a problem with everything I post on this forum. I don't understand why though. You even sent me private messages stating this. Personally I'm beginning to think that your a whiney puss. Are you scared of the truth? Are you scared of people being blunt? How about you do this.... Since you've got a problem with me, why don't you take your spineless ### & hit the "IGNORE USER" button! That way you will no longer see my posts on this forum & you will once again be happy in never never land with your rainbowed colored flag!

Originally Posted by lego1970

Lumper are guys you pay to unload your truck.

WOW! Isn't that what I said genius?

**outerspacehillbilly** · 08.21.2010

Originally Posted by Okieman

For just starting out is there big difference from flatbeds and vans. Also I'm not driving yet and not real familar with some of the terms, but what is a "Lumper" mean?

Yes there is a big difference.

Some people like working outside and doing the flatbed thing, some don't. Flatbedding ain't easy, and there is a lot to learn to be safe and good at it.

A lumper is highway robbery, you basically pay someone to unload there own freight that they ordered. You generally only have to deal with them at food warehouses when pulling a reefer but you also may go to them with a dry van but not as much.

Dry van you pretty much bump the dock and wait for them to unload you or load you.

That being said when I pulled a reefer I unloaded all my own freight and got paid well to do it. It is not hard or confusing as some people might have you believe. It is physical, but it's a good work out.

**lego1970** · 08.21.2010

Originally Posted by REDD

You seem to have a problem with everything I post on this forum. I don't understand why though. You even sent me private messages stating this. Personally I'm beginning to think that your a whiney puss. Are you scared of the truth? Are you scared of people being blunt? How about you do this.... Since you've got a problem with me, why don't you take your spineless ### & hit the "IGNORE USER" button! That way you will no longer see my posts on this forum & you will once again be happy in never never land with your rainbowed colored flag!
WOW! Isn't that what I said genius?

Problem with you......just get tired of all your tough guy BS.

Truth....what truth. That last statement about being lazy wasn't the truth. Flatbed is only for real truckers, that ain't the truth either.

I pm you last time because I didn't want to hijack the thread, beside you sounded like a woman with all your questions.

Spineless and a wuss..........Yea, ok tough guy. What's wrong not enough people listen to your CB rambo garbage so you brought it online?

**REDD** · 08.21.2010

Well since you seem to be refusing to block me... Then stop attempting to start with your ####. I do not address you unless you address me.

**lego1970** · 08.21.2010

Fair enough.

**oldmacksrule** · 08.21.2010

Okieman --

One of the best parts of flatbedding is rarely mentioned: Flatbed freight runs on much more of a weekday, sunlight-hours schedule instead of 24/7. It always has to be loaded and unloaded by some sort of heavy machinery, and doing it outdoors in the daytime is the case 80% of the time.

The net result is you rarely get sideways with the rest of the world's schedule, or your own biological clock.

Another bennie is you get off the beaten path more often. Vans tend to run between distribution centers, warehouses, and so forth, which are (naturally) as centrally located and as near to main travel lanes as possible. Flatbeds usually go from a manufacturing plant to the individual customer, which can be anywhere. It sounds like a lack of predictability would be a negative, but at 150K miles/yr., you get to know the country's arterial roads with alarming speed---in the first 6 months of driving you'll have seen a high percentage of what can be seen from the Interstates---and variety will be welcome.

Finally, because of the varied and non-standard consignees flatbedders usually make their own appointments and delivery arrangements. Something that makes you feel more like a driver and less like a robot controlled by a computer program.

The main bad news is that it can be dangerous, and is often dirty work. You DO tend to stay in shape, though, which can actually be difficult when driving vans because the work is almost exclusively done from a seat.