please read the whole post. need help!

I have 2yrs experience but I have been off the road longer than I was on it. About 6yrs this spring. I want back on the road. I am much wiser after my last experience and I know what I want. I am looking for a flatbed company that runs the southeast region. I live in Columbia, SC and have designs on Jacksonville, FL. So the southeast region is a must have.

Don't think I'm being unreasonable for wanting that. Hometime does matter thats why I want into flats, I don't mind the work. I'm 35 and in great shape. I thought I had it all figured out. I was going to go with Maverick, but they shot me down. Now before anyone starts judging me let me explain. I worked for swift right out of school for 8mos. was all I could take. Blessing in disguise was I deployed to the mideast aka the sandbox.

My job would have been there when I came back but I didn't want it. I came back and went to work for jb hunt for 6mos, liked jb so much I went out got my own truck and leased on as an ic driver. It was like I entered planet bizarro when I got my own truck. I liked jb as a company driver got miles, money and home. As an ic driver no miles, money or home. So I left I could not afford to wait for the situation to improve when I got a note over my head. So I went out did some regional and intermodal work thru a broker/agent for about 6mos. Then I was deployed again. Got rid of the truck, went off to play in the sand. When I came back we got orders to AZ. So I went back to swift for a few months until I could find a better job. Now AZ is a very aviation freindly state lots of work for a guy like me.

Oh I was a aircraft mechanic befroe I started driving and I owe the Air Force for the Middle East sight seeing. So I decided to stay out of the truck and turn wrenches again. So I was Honorably Discharged for the second time. This time the reserves, and commit to trucking again. Without the idea of being deployed over my head. Long story short Maverick shot me down for not having enough stability in my driver jobs. None of them were more than a year. Thats what I get for using poor judgement in the companies I chose and the thanx i get for serving my country.

Now it is what it is and I'm not crying or making excuses. Just putting it out there. I made my bed so I'll sleep in it. Maverick's turn down was an obstacle not a road block and even if it was I still would overcome. So I'm starting all over in my quest to find a flatbed company that will take me after my layoff and get me home to SC most weekends. I thought my search was over when I found maverick. They are good and fit my needs but can't be the only good company that fits my needs. Please would someone point me in the right direction. Remember I've been on a layoff and want southeast flats. There has to be another company out there.

 

Ok I never said the job hopping was because of the deployments but neither swift or jb were worth going back to at the time. also for the record i was an impressionable newbie and was told that I should give any and every co. atleast 6mos which is what I did. I'm not making excuses like I said I used poor judgement picking those companies and I've learned. That's why I'm doing my resaearch this time. I didn't want to be a percieved hopper thats why I gave every company 6mos thought that was enough didn't know a year was the gold standard, but a yaer with swift can you blame me, and a year as an ic with jb not going any where. I had to do what I had to. II still don't regret it, just learned from it. So I saw the cypress suggestion but didn't see them on the carrier thread. Can some one give me some more info on them their website doesn't say much. Oh and mcelroy too. Thnx

 

I do work for an airline right now. Since this isn't an aviation forum I won't get into the pros and cons of aviation. I will say this I don't want to get back to driving because I have to, its because I want to. I think that is a plus for me. Some people get into cause thats all they can find and its the best they can do, then find out its not for them but continue to do it cause they have no other options. Wrong people to be out there in my opinion cause its human nature to not give a 100% to something you don't want to do. Driving requires a 100% if you want to be safe and professional. That percentage of people with the wrong attitude is why the industry has a bad rep. I liked driving and look forward to doing it again. I got a good thing where I'm at but that only helps me be choosey and gives me a chance to make the right choices this time and not rush in. Someone suggested cypress so far the posts don't paint them in a good light. Mcelroy was also suggested and is fairing better than cypress according to the driver's posts. Does anyone else have any suggestions for flatbed companies that operate in the southeast that will have me after a layoff. Feel free to chime in. I know companies are like prescription medicine what works for one person may not for another. I'm just trying to get some ideas and the overall feel of a company.