Why do some truckers dislike flatbed trucking

I will say that some guys can gift wrap a load while others are flapping in the breeze. I saw a guy the other day that tarped a coil so perfect the security guard told him he had to tarp it to get out the gate. From the video camera you couldn't tell it was tarped and it wasn't a coil bag. It looked like he wrapped it with shrink wrap. Definately wasn't his first day.

 

That's how I do'em! I loaded a couple of months ago in Coshocton, OH. and when I pulled out the gate the guard looked and then looked again and said "I didn't think you had'em tarped at first and I had to look again!"

Tarping them snug keeps the tarps from flapping and wearing out.

I've seen some of the company drivers over here wear out a set of tarps in 6 months! There's NO excuse for that!

 

Guilty as charged. But not for the reasons you think. I avoid backing at truck stops because backing into a parking spot at a truck stop is too short. When I have to back up I usually have to do it for 1/4 mile or so down a winding narrow road, avoiding mail boxes and old ladies walking their dogs. Truck stops usually don't have mailboxes or old ladies walking dogs so I have no referrence points that I can use. It just screws up my whole game and makes me look like an amatuer even though I'm not.

And of course the other reason I don't like to back at truck stops is because... well... I never get to truck stops. All you hard core pros, bless your little cotton socks, get to truck stops every day. But I only stop at a truck stop once in a blue moon when I'm near one and I've got some extra time and I didn't bring a lunch from home.

I have to admit that I always feel a little bit guilty walking around amonst you guys at truck stops like I'm a real live trucker all the while knowing that I'll be home in an hour or two relaxing in my easy chair watching my wide screen TV while you guys are out there driving all night to make sure my local stores are well stocked with goods and what not, but I tend to get over it quick when Mattlock comes on. I love that Mattlock guy. He's the best.

As for the flatbed vs van thing, I don't really think about it all that much. I've driven both and they're all just trucks to me. But having flat experience means I get to work a job that allows me to have dinner with my wife every night and sleep next to her in our own bed every night as well. And for me, that's important. If that makes me less of a trucker in the eyes of some, well I'm just going to have to find a way to live with that.

 

Purtty good thread so far.....so here is the 64K dollar question. I'm starting school and want to do flats. Anything I can do to get my training drive time on a flat instead of doing a van. Who do I have to bribe?

Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...I Know...I ain't right

 

Lol, I'm just playing. I hauled all kinds of heavy equipment around. I like loading track hoes.
Tarping I never done. I'd say it's fun in the wind.

 

There's a technique to it...

Real flatbedders help each other when it's windy...But most of the new breed just sit there in their trucks like dummies and watch while you work!

I have my wife on the truck and we have a good system worked out and we can get most loads tarped and tied in 30 minutes or less.

Team work rocks!

 

Pulling them isn't any different, though backing them can be. (Most flats have spread axles, and most vans have sliders.) But that level of detail isn't covered in driving schools. Their job is to help you get your CDL.

The securement part of driving flatbeds is an entire subject in and of itself, and something only the companies that run them train for. Get hired, they'll show you how they want it done.

There aren't many outfits that hire flatbedders out of school, though. They figure your life is complicated enough for the first year or two without having to worry about squishing Toyotas with a loose coil or Cat bucket.

 

Maverick
mcElroy
TMC
Falcon

And many more hire out of school

 

Really? That's new to me. Thanks for the info. I can see Tach smiling from here.

 

You betcha!


I'm going to Swift for school...they have a flat division so I have read. Seems to me it would be a smart thing to teach a guy via trainer right from the giddy up how to do it the "company way". .... but hey thats just my thought process.....I'm a pre-noob .... I'm sure I don't see the BIG picture quite yet