heavy haul

Most heavy haul operations want 5 + years of flatbed experience. Then they will take you on as a flat driver and slowly, repeat SLOWLY, move you into bigger and heavier loads. It's an interesting portion of trucking because each load is so different than the norm. There's plenty of drawbacks too...lot's of wait time in loading and unloading, finding parking spots early, receiving the flying fickle finger of fate on an hourly basis or even more often! You will pay your dues getting in but if you like craziness it's the way to fly!! By the way I think oversize is more fun than overweight...much more pucker power to the mile and the brakes last longer!!! Good luck.

 

I'm getting in on it early I guess. I found a logging outfit to train me, and I've been learning heavy haul / lowboy work as we move from site to site. All daycab stuff too, no OTR megafleet slave here. All the experience that I had was 4 months in a school bus, and two weeks as a yard jockey. Slow is the operative word of course, this isn't one of those 3 week crash courses.

Right now, my primary job is to operate a skidder, and help the drivers with load securement. Remember, that tight is tight and too tight is broken.

For me it wasn't hard at all. I applied, got a call, (did some paperwork and interview, etc) showed up to work. Getting the job is the least challenging part of the whole thing.

 

OTR megafleet slave? Another rookie who ASSumes alot.

 

The numerous accounts of those who have worked at Werner, CR England, Prime, Knight, and the other "starter" companies led me to that sarcastic remark. Sounded like miserable working conditions to me. The prevailing opinions here indicate that there is no other way into the industry other than to all but donate one's time to one of the companies in order to gain experience. By sharing my experience, however limited, I was hoping to show the original poster that there is at least one exception to the "rule."

If the only part of my post you saw fit to attack was a lighthearted jab at companies known for mistreating their employees as well as operating with questionable business ethics, I guess I'm doing alright.

 

Just because your hauling a heavy load don't mean its Heavy Haul freight.

 

The way to gain exp is: Do your job and keep your mouth shut. Nobody likes whiner.