Thinking of trying out flatbed

If only that were true, it's not. Granted, a lot has to do with what you haul - if lumber - most of those places are easy in/easy out and brickyards, etc...

Still, I had many blindside backs and one I still occasionally think about is a McNeilus plant in Colton, CA, steel mills anywhere can suck but especially in Chicago - 3 inches on either side backing into a dark hole and on & on...

I flatbedded for 20 years and it is true one doesn't back EVERY time one gets rid of a load, but many times one does and sometimes they aren't the easiest.

 

Ya I guess I should have said I at least don’t have to. Haul all building materials tho that gets loaded and unloaded with forklift.

 

Do you throw the 8' tarps quite a bit? That can suck this time of the year, depending upon where one is in the country. I remember many times (trying) to fold lumber/steel tarps in winter, like folding a sheet of ice...

 

I run the northeast and yes I tarp quite a bit. It does suck, but not as much as pulling a Conestoga. We have a couple of them. I had to open one at -2 degrees this morning. It was frozen and the cover is so stiff with cold it’s definitely a two man deal to mess with them. Not to mention the stiff rubber running over your strap winches. Those things really suck in the cold. Makes a tarp seem fairly good lol.

 

I've been out of the trucking industry for five years, but sometimes I miss it. If I were to return, it would be seasonally, with winter at home. One can call me a wimp, not a real trucker or whatever, just don't call me late for dinner...
I agree Conestoga's aren't the answer to all the difficulties in the flatbed world, and no matter what one does as a trucker, whether one pulls dry box, tanker, refrigerated, tanker or flatbed there will be difficulties to overcome. No "free ride" no pun intended...