Which flatbed company to go with?

I think System would be the better option. Melton would probably want you out at least a month at a time. Never heard of "small" Knight just "big" Knight. Not saying anything against them just not enough info on them to form an opinion one way or the other.

 

From what you post, the small Knight is best for home time.
Leavitt's Freight Service is another to look at. They hire new CDL grads.
Lynden might have local/regional but it's not flatbed. They run daycabs & sleepers.

 

Central Oregon Truck Company (Redmond, OR)

Hunt Transportation (Omaha, NE)

 

I've talked to a couple Central Oregon drivers out here in the East, and they have all been very happy with the company. In fact, they've tried talking ME into signing up! And I live in freakin' PA!

Yes, they tarp. But tarping is pretty much a fact of life in most flatbed operations. Heck, I'd probably suffer a nervous breakdown if I couldn't find my tarps!

 

I don't think COTC takes new CDL holders

 

and melton has driver facing cameras now

 

COTC is not a bad company. They are OK.

Hunt is crap!!! The safety director is Adolf Hitler and they will tell you anything to get you to orientation. Then you find out there is no reimbursement if you discover what they don't want you to realize about Hunt during orientation. If you are there for orientation, they repeatedly tell you that you are "not" hired, yet. What??? We came to Omaha, NE from all over the country to sit in a little room and be told we "don't" have a job yet!!! Seriously??? They are still checking your application etc., during orientation!!!

They also got upset because we were talking to current drivers about the company during our breaks. They freaked out and told us to get in the room!!! It was like being in Kindergarten and the 4th graders were filling us in on all the garbage happening at Hunt.

I could go on quite a bit about these jokers, but I won't. Maintenance is fair and their equipment is adequate. They give you barely enough chains, straps, etc., to do your work and ##### if you need more. When you get permission to do "whatever" they demand to know you talked to and then that person says "what? I didn't say that!" In other words, same old stuff, different company.

 

I can tell you about Melton. They're a really good company. They screw up and hire the occasional bad dispatcher, just as a bad driver sneaks through the filter, but they never last long.

The miles are decent ONCE you get efficient at tarping. They tarp a LOT. I would 80-90% of my loads had to be tarped. They paid $40 tarp pay when I was there.

I've heard they put cameras in their trucks now. They didn't when I worked there. But, to date myself, I ran paper logs when I was there. Lol

Also, I would dare say you'd have to stay out at least 3-4 weeks based on where you live.

I don't have any experience with the others you mentioned. But, if it were me, I'd give a hard look at that small outfit that doesn't tarp.

I never minded securing the loads, but I hated those tarps and that's why I left the flatbed world.

 

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