Starting flatbed or reefer Company for New driver in Phoenix/Tucson AZ

Lol what are you talking about? Lots of new drivers get hired on to flatbed outfits, even if they didn't go through their schooling like Roehl offers. I've seen many drivers over the years get started with TMC, or the aforementioned Melton. I broke in doing flatbed, except I started with the "lowly" Western Express. It was a good experience for me. I think it's good when drivers come out of school learning flatbed. They get the advantage of learning to back a spread axle trailer. Should they ever switch to reefer or dry van afterwards, it'll be a piece of cake to back those trailers. Also, they become more sensitive about load securement. A driver that breaks in on flatbed, in my opinion, is more likely to do everything with attention to detail, even if he doesn't stay doing flatbed. It's not so much that flatbed companies don't hire new drivers, the selection of ones that will aren't as plentiful as when I got started.

 

Roehl Transport has a terminal that offers training in the Phoenix area. It is a flatbed terminal but I know people who run reefer out of there as well. Roehl offers exceptional training for new drivers.

 

For a flatbed carrier, the list of sent-home reasons includes:

• The driver in question failed their drug screen
• The driver in question did not pass their physical condition/agility tests
• The driver in question put questionable info on their application -- that did not later check out
• The driver in question somehow failed a qualifying driving test

....are among the likely most common reasons.

Note that flatbed is VER-RY PHYSICAL work -- & potential drivers must have a certain mininimum level of physical condition to pass -- & get on the fleet.

Flatbed is NOT A GOOD CHOICE for couch potatoes.

-- L

 

I agree, I started with Roehl working reefer and then switched to flatbed and was much happier. You will definitely get some exercise working flatbed but that is not a bad thing unless or until you can't handle it.

 

Just about every mega carrier has a flatbed division, and takes new drivers all the time.

 

“VER-RY PHYSICAL” compared to what?! I guess if you’re sedentary it would be tough to pick up, but most starter companies/megas with flatbed don’t let the super chunk/couch potatoes in without a lot of hoops to jump through.

 

When I left Pride Transport back in 2021, new CDL holders and Drivers with less than six months experience were required to complete a comprehensive 300 hour training program (approximately six-weeks in length). During this time, the new Driver was not allowed to bring their dog, but be provided the ability to do so, after solo-qualification.

Again, this was back in 2021 and things may have changed regarding the experience level to be solo-qualified and the ability to bring a dog during the 300 hour training period.

 

I think it's safe to predict that most flatbedders here on the Forum would readily agree....when I say that most flatbed duty is much more physical work than dry van or reefer duty (where driver loading/unloading isn't required).

-- L