I just got my CDL, and have dreamed of driving flatbed. Could a 55 y/o healthy woman have a future in this?

Whether you're a man or woman doesn't matter. Anyone can do it. It's just a question of would they want to keep on doing it. You just need to know the full extent of what you plan to get into, such as working with straps and chains.

Tarps also present challenges of their own, like on cold and/or windy days.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

I'm curious how this will work out for you..please let me know if you have success. I too wanted to do flat bedding. I'm a 44 y/o woman, very strong, excellent shape. I've been self-employeed in landscaping for the last 11 years so I know hard physical labor and weather conditions. And still.... everyone gives me the "why do you (a woman) want to flat-bed?" I'd enjoy that more than sitting on my behind all day, to be truthful.

Any way I applied at McElroy..the recruiter..Diane down at their Cuba office, says to me, "Sweetie, are you sure you want to lift those heavy 'ol tarps?" Then I tried TMC after they came to our school to recruit. So I put in an application, and when I spoke to the recruiter there (think she only returned my call because of my uni-sex name, I mentioned to her that the school had told me "they don't do girls", and ask if I had a chance..her response in very icy tones, was well, sure, if you aren't afraid of heights. When I questioned this, she said "heights" was a 13' 6" ladder that I would have to "carry 120 pound tarps covered with ice and snow up and down". I about fell out of my chair laughing!! A lot of unnecessary hostility I thought, from women no less. Sure it's a tough job, not for everyone, but I was really surprised at the hostility and resistance I met.

So, I'm curious how you fare and with which company. I just kind of gave up, I thought maybe going to work for companies with closed-minded attitudes might not be such a good choice. I know this is a lLONG rant...I feel better now!! It looks like I will be sitting on my butt all day for Crete or Roehl. Oh well. Lots of luck in your search.

Cowgirl, have you looked into Maverick, ATS, or Willey? ATS(Anderson trucking) and Willey( i believe its actually OS Willey) may be out of your hire area, but I think Maverick would work. I have reead a lot about Maverick on this site, I believe No Tarps works for them and speaks highly of them. I can't give you much on ATS, i'm just starting, and obviously i'm not even sure of Willey's name so.... Hope this is helpful.

if notarps says maverick is good, ill believe him

as for me and my personal experiance......you guessed it...davis transport

The only place I have had to lift my tarps too so far is the back of the trailer the forklift drivers will stick them on top of the load for you otherwise they get rolled on the ground and I don't do anymore lifting then I absolutely have too.I bought a four foot ladder I keep locked on the back of my trailer for climbing.Tarping and securing a load is a really sweaty dirty job but there is no reason I can see why a woman couldn't do it.We have a couple of women at maverick. One was our driver of the year last year.Hope that helps Later

Ohh so true. Anybody can do it, the only thing that sucks is fighting the tarp on windy days.

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Ohhh welcome to Ouch Town, population you Bro!!!!

i work at roehl and they told us if a company refuses to put up lumber tarps for you, don't tarp it. lumber tarps are too heavy to for anyone to lift safely, i've been there 7 months and never had anyone refuse to put them up. as far as a woman being able to do the job, anyone can do it if they have enough patience, and don't judge it right away it takes a little time to develop a system that works for you. good luck

The only time I hafta lift tarps up on the load BY MYSELF is when something extremely rare happens, like a load that is supposed to be pre-tarped isnt or when a tarp slips off. As far as putting the rolled tarps back on top of the trailer, I dump the air valves. I'm 5'10", 170 lb, and with the valves dumped, 100-120 lb tarps are not a problem. BTW, I work for McElroy, and there are no women, but quite a few men smaller than me there. Also lots of older million milers there who have been with the company for decades. Forklifts are your best friend!

I too was feeling very interested in driving a flatbed. I like the idea of getting in some exercise without having to force myself to do it in my spare time as some sort of routine. I have also heard alot of ..'why the heck do you want to do that??' I guess at the end of the day, its the "dirty, sweaty" part that gets to me. I couldnt stand to get dirty and sweaty then sit there and drive all day in it..yuck.