Questions on boyds..

I just literally got off the phone with them. If you are a newb you train for 4-8 weeks with a trainer at $400 per week. They teach you about strapping/tie down saftey, how to tarp, etc. Then after you get your own truck and go out on your own they pay you .35-36 cpm. The recruiter told me right now their drivers are averaging about 2000 miles per week. I guess some weeks are more and some less.

I did not inquire about any health issues because I don't have any so I can't answer that. The main reason I called them was to see if they took tech school grads which they do. So that is good.

The best thing to do is call them. They sounded like very nice people. The lady I spoke with said to call her after I got done with tech school if I was still interested but she did not ask for any information from me like name, address...so no pressure from them. So far I like what I see from them. Just hope the miles are there if I go work for them.

Anyway, that is my two cents.

 

I have been driving flatbed for several years, and I frequently go into several different Boyd yards. I know 2 drivers from Boyd & 2 from WTI ( a sister company of Boyd bros.) All 4 have been there over 5 years, and have few complaints. Their equipment always seem to be well kept. I have never worked there though, this is just my observation.

 

As far as there Birmingham terminal, no where near by to eat,theres a flying j up the street,terminal looks really nice.Most of there drivers seem very happy there.Also looks like they keep there trucks up.I have seen them running alot of prostars lately.

 

Orientation is 1 week, followed by a week of load securement training if you need it. I believe that if you have experience driving a truck they won't send you out with a trainer. Once you finish your orientation/training they'll give you a truck and turn you loose. They'll put you up in a motel during orientation, 2 guys to a room, lots of places to go eat around there.
Boyd hauls pretty much anything they can put on a flatbed. I mean a lot of the obvious stuff, for sure, steel, lumber, pipes, roofing, plywood, drywall, etc.
When you get your truck they'll give you the equipment you need, chains, binders, tarps, etc.

 

The Boyd drivers that I have met along the way have all seemed very content.
The equipment seems to be very good.

 

Ima give it to you straight i been here 5 months

boyd is a great company to work for, and treat you good. There is absolutely nothing bad to say about boyd. I love boyd. And am thankful for them giving me an opportunity.


Flatbedding, tho, other than the exercise you get, (which is really not all that much), well it sux......, only,......... Due to the shippers and recievers being super slow most of the time. They will waste much of your day for you and you will struggle all night to make $'s...
You will work long hard days and make a decent weekly paycheck...pay vs hrs worked, sux tho.you will unload in the morn and load in the afternoon before you get to do any miles....lot of days ill put in 6-10 hrs at maybe $30 worth of pay before i can get rolling and start getting milage pay...but...at the end of the week i usually bring home 700-900 with a low of like 550 and high of a few 950's so far, 550 was having mech issues that week...i run hard to get those pays tho. And stay away from non planned stops till i sleep. There is absolutely no liesure time in flatbed.

As for power in the 9400's, well. Boyd has them choked down for mpg...and we are the slowest truck on the road.(61 mph) that sux and is kinda unsafe getting passed all day long...i think anyway. But it keeps tickets down and dot off your back, somewhat. Dot like to pick on flatbedders because of the securement laws

remember, winter is coming and you will be climbing all over all types of loads and tarping every one, just about....ive had a few 13,6 ers ive had to climb on and tarp, and a lot have uneven frieght you have to walk on to tarp. Take some of this round pipe for example, add in some oil and ice, i imagine that could get nasty quik.

Your bp at 130/70 is fine,, at 140/80 you wont make it tho.... Stress test is like 3 minute stair climbing, some lifting, flexibility measuments,

if you want you can call me if you have any ?....let me know and ill set up to get you my numbr.

 

Not sure if you know it or not, but they do have company cars to use if you want to go get something to eat, shopping etc. The B'ham terminal is the biggest, but they do not have a cafeteria, only vending machines. If they use the same hotel, there is a steak house and some kind of burger joint well with in walking distance.