Requesting Insight/Advice to make my final decision.

First of all I would like to say thank you too everyone who has offered advice, information, knowledge and at times much needed comedy.

A special thanks to @Chinatown bigfoot030475, peterbuilt 2005 mountaingote, dano86 semi retired, MJ1657, TripleSix SMTatham farmboy73 and Flatbed Forum for taking the time to respond answer questions and paying it forward. By sharing your opinions, advice knowledge and years of experiences with a newbie looking to become a part of your industry . I greatly appreciate it. I have acquired some valuable insight, had my eyes opened to things I never even considered and have developed an even greater appreciation, respect appreciation and passion for the Trucking Industry and YOU the people who are the Industry..

While I think I now know what it takes to become a Professional Driver .. I will spend the rest of my Trucking Career working to the best of my ability. In hopes that one day I will know what it means to be a Professional Driver.

So for the last several months I have done extensive research. Gathering information on the industry, companies, divisions/ types of trucking, laws, rules, regulations, equipment, pay rates schools and really everything trucking. I took some advice from several of you and contacted several companies and got Pre-Hire letters. Through this forum I have used the information to first decide that I will be going into Flatbed. with that decision made I have narrowed down my list to the following 3 Companies.

Now before I get to my question for those who do not know. The last 25 years I have had a successful career in business as an executive and I am coming into this industry for 1 reason.. I Want To Be An OTR Truck Driver...While I want to be paid for driving MONEY is not my deciding factor. I would prefer percentage pay over mileage but that is a preference not a demand.. Home time is also Not a priority I am used to being gone for 6 weeks to 8 months at a time. Miles are a priority not because of cpm but because I want to be able to run as much as I legally can run. I was told by a couple of companies I had to go home every 2 weeks whether I wanted to or not. I am very apposed to driver facing cameras..

Finally I have pre hire letters from these 3 companies System trans Washington state, Boyd Bros Alabama and TMC Iowa. I am asking for any thoughts advice opinions and information that anyone wants to offer. I am also open to any other recommendations of other Flatbed Companies. They can have Flatbed as a division but do not have to be strictly flatbed... Also I have a passport already and I am able and open to getting Hazmat endorsement I did not see with most flatbed companies that it was required but I could be wrong..

Thanks

 

Thanks, Although I know that none of the 3 are exactly small but System and Boyd are both not what I would consider large or Megas. I guess I was looking for more of any info you guys might have first hand or have heard through your time in the industry. TMC has fallen a great deal with me as the more I have learned of them.. I agree with you as my desire was to go to a smallish company. But as I researched I found a majority of them want 1 year of experience OTR. Which I respect and understand as it shows that they are not willing to just have a warm body fill a seat.. I also learned that below 1000 trucks in many cases especially with flatbed carriers I could still find some what appear to be quality companies... TMC has just shown what many of you guys have posted about in reference to large/Mega carriers which is they are only concerned with the mighty dollar... Thanks for the knowledge as I follow the posts by you and a few others which is always informative and many times entertaining.. I will get there and because it is the desire to truck that is driving me I wont be forced to make a less than desirable choice..lol

 

Thanks I did take your advice and have gotten my pre-hire letter from them.. I am pretty impressed with every thing I have seen an information I have gotten.. Even come across a couple of there drivers on here.. Recently have found out some things about TMC that are a legitimate concern for me so they are almost out of the picture.. Although there boat transport division was quite impressive..
Unfortunately I have found out that most if not all the drivers in that division are not only industry veterans but TMC long time employees. In fact I was told that NO new employee could ever come in and join that division and 95% of the drivers in that division have minimum 5 years with TMC..

So should have have anyother quality flatbed recommendations I would absolutely take a look at it

 

thanks and I most certainly will..

 

Lol I think I know what you mean but care to expand on the TMC is silly? I have pretty much eliminated TMC from consideration.. Although I would be open to replacing them if there are other quality flatbed companies that I may have missed or overlooked.. If you have any recommendations I would be happy to look into them.

I am leaning more and more towards System. based primarily on the options such as all 48 and Canada they have other divisions, also with regional for the 11 western states and they appear to have more miles available to someone who want's to stay out and run..

Thanks