Flatbed Wages

nate980 · May 28, 2017

skootertrashr6 said: ↑

That's because you have the determination, knowledge, and skill it takes to do the job, you are a exception.
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I don't know about the skill part with the rail haha. I'm willing to learn though and that's why I think I got the rail and the other guy got the deck section. Took me almost all day to load. First I didn't have it blocked enough, then it got all bound up on the trailer when I put it back on blocks again. Then it was to heavy on one side so had to shuffle it over when it was on blocks. Having the rail shaved off almost 5000lbs though so I was pretty good on weights compared to the guy with the deck who had to be bang on his load placement pretty much.

johndeere4020 · May 28, 2017

nate980 said: ↑

I don't know about the skill part with the rail haha. I'm willing to learn though and that's why I think I got the rail and the other guy got the deck section. Took me almost all day to load. First I didn't have it blocked enough, then it got all bound up on the trailer when I put it back on blocks again. Then it was to heavy on one side so had to shuffle it over when it was on blocks. Having the rail shaved off almost 5000lbs though so I was pretty good on weights compared to the guy with the deck who had to be bang on his load placement pretty much.
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The worst part with that hoe is no boom to lift it onto the blocks. I ordered to 50 ton bottle jacks for next time I move ours.

Rontonio · May 28, 2017

Don't worry nate, when I finally get my beam I will be a rookie with it as well....

johndeere4020 · May 28, 2017

Rontonio said: ↑

Don't worry nate, when I finally get my beam I will be a rookie with it as well....
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You have a beam coming?

Rontonio · May 28, 2017

Thinking very hard about ordering one - 30' I think

Will probably need to pick your brain as I get closer to finalizing the size

passingthru69 · May 28, 2017

Big beam better, refer to the hassles Skootertrash had the other day with the RT crane.

Feanor · May 28, 2017

Rontonio said: ↑

For what it is worth, here goes....

You are worrying too much about specific details about what someone else is getting paid.

You don't even know if you can do the job and whether or not you will enjoy the job. Some ridiculous figure like 90% of new drivers don't last a year. I know, I know - you are different, better, more motivated, tougher than all those other guys. Except statistically, you aren't.

You should be more concerned with the quality of training you get and the opportunity to hone your skills as a developing driver.

The bottom line is your pay is not going to match up with someone who has been doing the job for a while. An experienced driver is going to be better and faster at every phase of the job from planning to tarping to conserving hours. This the reason companies like to hire experienced drivers. They have already fought through the frustration and home sickness and loneliness and the million other things you learn in the beginning of your driving career.

So no I a cannot offer you detailed pay information but no one else can either - even guys drive for companies you are interested in.

Who knows and chances are you are not going to like the job and are not gong to be that good at it anyway.

I say this to help you gain some perspective going into this that squeezing the last penny out of the pay per mile is a waste of time and you should be looking at more relevant to you concerns.

And no jumping into hauling heavy freight with no experience is not a great idea.

Good luck
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I appreciate the response!

I am sure you are right, I have no idea whether I am going to stick with this long term or not, although everything I have read lines up well with my personality/preferences. Reality is rarely if ever what you expect.

I have absorbed enough hours of blogs, guides, videos and forums (I like to prepare) to get that flatbed trucking is long, lonely, dirty, exhausting, sometimes boring, sometimes dangerous work. This doesn't compare to seeing it for myself, but my point is, I know it's gonna suck. I have hope that it will also be awesome, but I know it will suck too.

And it is for this very reason that I want to get a real idea going in of what I can expect the compensation to be. Tell me I'm not cut out for it if I'm doing it for the money if you want, but the fact is pay matters. Would I hop in a semi truck and haul 30 ton trailers around the country for fun? Absolutely not. I'd do it for 50k a year though (and maybe just have a good time while I was at it). 40k? Maybe. 30k? No thanks.

I am not saying I expect to make 70k as a rookie. Or even 50k for that matter. I stated clearly in my question that I was asking about both rookie wages, and down the road. I know they will be very different. I know from a variety of other jobs I've worked that a rookie will take much, much longer than a pro to do even the simplest tasks, and no, I don't think I'm an exception, in any regard.

The concerns you are talking about are my concerns, but money is a factor too. I think I will enjoy driving (maybe I'm wrong), but I also greatly value my free time. These things have to be compared. I know trucking will take up a very, VERY, large amount of my time, and I wanted to know from the mouths of people who have been there whether it is financially worth it.

It also seems I have bothered some people in asking this, and I apologize. I wasn't meaning to demand private information of anyone, and I didn't request any sensitive information that could compromise your security (that I am aware of). I know of many forums where people have gone so far as to upload edited photos of their paystubs for sharing purposes, so I didn't think much of asking.

I didn't think I was asking anything inappropriate, and I'm sorry if I did.

Diesel Dave · May 28, 2017

Feanor said: ↑

I appreciate the response!

I am sure you are right, I have no idea whether I am going to stick with this long term or not, although everything I have read lines up well with my personality/preferences. Reality is rarely if ever what you expect.

I have absorbed enough hours of blogs, guides, videos and forums (I like to prepare) to get that flatbed trucking is long, lonely, dirty, exhausting, sometimes boring, sometimes dangerous work. This doesn't compare to seeing it for myself, but my point is, I know it's gonna suck. I have hope that it will also be awesome, but I know it will suck too.

And it is for this very reason that I want to get a real idea going in of what I can expect the compensation to be. Tell me I'm not cut out for it if I'm doing it for the money if you want, but the fact is pay matters. Would I hop in a semi truck and haul 30 ton trailers around the country for fun? Absolutely not. I'd do it for 50k a year though (and maybe just have a good time while I was at it). 40k? Maybe. 30k? No thanks.

I am not saying I expect to make 70k as a rookie. Or even 50k for that matter. I stated clearly in my question that I was asking about both rookie wages, and down the road. I know they will be very different. I know from a variety of other jobs I've worked that a rookie will take much, much longer than a pro to do even the simplest tasks, and no, I don't think I'm an exception, in any regard.

The concerns you are talking about are my concerns, but money is a factor too. I think I will enjoy driving (maybe I'm wrong), but I also greatly value my free time. These things have to be compared. I know trucking will take up a very, VERY, large amount of my time, and I wanted to know from the mouths of people who have been there whether it is financially worth it.

It also seems I have bothered some people in asking this, and I apologize. I wasn't meaning to demand private information of anyone, and I didn't request any sensitive information that could compromise your security (that I am aware of). I know of many forums where people have gone so far as to upload edited photos of their paystubs for sharing purposes, so I didn't think much of asking.

I didn't think I was asking anything inappropriate, and I'm sorry if I did.
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What a perfect gentleman. Seriously......

LoudOne · May 28, 2017

Feanor said: ↑

I appreciate the response!

I am sure you are right, I have no idea whether I am going to stick with this long term or not, although everything I have read lines up well with my personality/preferences. Reality is rarely if ever what you expect.

I have absorbed enough hours of blogs, guides, videos and forums (I like to prepare) to get that flatbed trucking is long, lonely, dirty, exhausting, sometimes boring, sometimes dangerous work. This doesn't compare to seeing it for myself, but my point is, I know it's gonna suck. I have hope that it will also be awesome, but I know it will suck too.

And it is for this very reason that I want to get a real idea going in of what I can expect the compensation to be. Tell me I'm not cut out for it if I'm doing it for the money if you want, but the fact is pay matters. Would I hop in a semi truck and haul 30 ton trailers around the country for fun? Absolutely not. I'd do it for 50k a year though (and maybe just have a good time while I was at it). 40k? Maybe. 30k? No thanks.

I am not saying I expect to make 70k as a rookie. Or even 50k for that matter. I stated clearly in my question that I was asking about both rookie wages, and down the road. I know they will be very different. I know from a variety of other jobs I've worked that a rookie will take much, much longer than a pro to do even the simplest tasks, and no, I don't think I'm an exception, in any regard.

The concerns you are talking about are my concerns, but money is a factor too. I think I will enjoy driving (maybe I'm wrong), but I also greatly value my free time. These things have to be compared. I know trucking will take up a very, VERY, large amount of my time, and I wanted to know from the mouths of people who have been there whether it is financially worth it.

It also seems I have bothered some people in asking this, and I apologize. I wasn't meaning to demand private information of anyone, and I didn't request any sensitive information that could compromise your security (that I am aware of). I know of many forums where people have gone so far as to upload edited photos of their paystubs for sharing purposes, so I didn't think much of asking.

I didn't think I was asking anything inappropriate, and I'm sorry if I did.
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Diesel Dave said: ↑

What a perfect gentleman. Seriously......
Click to expand...

Ok look here it is.

You'll make anywhere between $35 maybe high $40's as a rookie. Depending on how hard your willing to work.

Once you have decent experience under your belt. Show that your willing to learn and work. How much you make after that is all on you.

The way to make money in this industry is a solid work ethic. Not just saying it. But following thru.

Good luck hope you get out of it what you seek.

INRUT · May 28, 2017

Feanor said: ↑

I appreciate the response!

I am sure you are right, I have no idea whether I am going to stick with this long term or not, although everything I have read lines up well with my personality/preferences. Reality is rarely if ever what you expect.

I have absorbed enough hours of blogs, guides, videos and forums (I like to prepare) to get that flatbed trucking is long, lonely, dirty, exhausting, sometimes boring, sometimes dangerous work. This doesn't compare to seeing it for myself, but my point is, I know it's gonna suck. I have hope that it will also be awesome, but I know it will suck too.

And it is for this very reason that I want to get a real idea going in of what I can expect the compensation to be. Tell me I'm not cut out for it if I'm doing it for the money if you want, but the fact is pay matters. Would I hop in a semi truck and haul 30 ton trailers around the country for fun? Absolutely not. I'd do it for 50k a year though (and maybe just have a good time while I was at it). 40k? Maybe. 30k? No thanks.

I am not saying I expect to make 70k as a rookie. Or even 50k for that matter. I stated clearly in my question that I was asking about both rookie wages, and down the road. I know they will be very different. I know from a variety of other jobs I've worked that a rookie will take much, much longer than a pro to do even the simplest tasks, and no, I don't think I'm an exception, in any regard.

The concerns you are talking about are my concerns, but money is a factor too. I think I will enjoy driving (maybe I'm wrong), but I also greatly value my free time. These things have to be compared. I know trucking will take up a very, VERY, large amount of my time, and I wanted to know from the mouths of people who have been there whether it is financially worth it.

It also seems I have bothered some people in asking this, and I apologize. I wasn't meaning to demand private information of anyone, and I didn't request any sensitive information that could compromise your security (that I am aware of). I know of many forums where people have gone so far as to upload edited photos of their paystubs for sharing purposes, so I didn't think much of asking.

I didn't think I was asking anything inappropriate, and I'm sorry if I did.
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OK, I'll respond as a 2 year driver. 1st full year 60, this year I'm on pace to do mid 60's. Find a solid company with good benefits & 401k. Don't super truck yourself into a lease purchase.

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