Well, I got TMC out of my system real quick...

i dont think i ever lifted my lumber tarps from the ground onto my shoulders. maybe from ground to trailer then onto my shoulders. if it has to go length of trailer then i will roll it along the ground. there is no upside to throwing ur back out trying to look like a macho flatbedder throwing 125 pounds up and down.. forklift guys put em up top or the load aint getting tarped

 

Went to a shipper one time had this fancy crane that you hooked to the d rings and it picked up the tarp. Whole side at a time and then it walked it over the load and you sat it down on top. No need to climb the load or anything.

 

Right on with this post.....how much is the shiny truck really worth it for you to drive?
Well, to be honest for me it would worth a bunch. I prolly could tolerate a whole bunch of crap but that’s just me

 

Well, I run a nice shiny Western Star, as a company puke, and I love the thing. But I'm leaving way too much money on the table to justify it. I actually made more money driving a worn out Freightshaker.

 

Lol that ain’t no lie!

 

To each their own is all I am saying.
I know we always believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence but I am not aware of any industry that isn’t getting pinched right now.
We all learn to live on a budget that is sometimes called our gross pay.....for the O/O who pays their own taxes. It doesn’t matter if that budget is big or small we all face the same issues. Some would argue that they want the larger budget but remember with a larger budget comes more responsibility.
I am willing to sacrifice some things to be a little more comfortable and enjoy what I do.

 

I'm a 50 year old female who spent her first career at a desk. also overdid both shoulders building an addition in my 40s and never spent the time to regain the strength lost, only enough p/t & gym time to make the pain go away lol.
The desk job evaporated 4 months after buying a renovation house, sinking every dime into it and gutting enough to make it basically worthless... 7 years of making #### wages working for a ####### after moving back to my hometown area just to be doing what I love...quite the kick in the backside. So here I am with a new career!!
6 months in I decided to go from reefer to flatbed. scared of getting fat and weak. it's kicking my butt but I feel my shoulders getting stronger every day. Just for those few minutes between tarping and passing out at the closest truck stop LOL. Find a company without all the hoops to jump thru and you will learn how to get the job done. There's tiny females doing this. I'm 5'8 and 150lb so that's a help. I've seen guys so short they are shoulder height to my flatbed- I kid you not. That's a serious challenge even with the benefit of testosterone!! If you are up to the awesomeness that is flatbed you can find a company...