Specialized Trucking

I have hauled oversize and wind energy for @19 yrs.
No qualifications per say, just time on the job, and a willingness to learn.
Specialized is certainly not for everyone though, as patience is needed a lot more than with regular freight!
If you are mechanically inclined that would help too. As loading and unloading is up to the driver a lot of the time where equipment is concerned.
I guess if you want to do the oversize stuff, flatbed would be the place to start. I can't remember the last flat of step I pulled myself, but it would be a logical starting point I think.

Martin

 

My grandfather and father owned a construction company so when i was younger i was allways around heavy equitment and when i turned 18 i started driving lowbed and dump trialer for my father so thats how i got started on oversize trucking. As the above post stated you should have a good idea as on how to run machines as most places you need to load and off load yourself.

 

IMO,flatbed/stepdeck would be the place to start,the small oversize would eventually start in,(did for me) you know,the 12ft wide stuff,and then so on and so on..

 

Pre-tripping those trailers must be fun when you have like 30 wheels to look at...but that's for those especially long or really oversized loads.

 

I agree with Leftlane. You have to have patience, common sense, attention to detail and mechanical ability to pull oversize. You dont just throw the load on the trailer, grab your permits and hit the road. If your permits says that you can be 13' wide then you better not be 13' 4" and say "Thats close enough". Sometimes the license plate number of the truck and the trailer are on the permit, they better match the truck you are driving and the trailer you are pulling. Routes have to be followed and matched. You have to watch speed, spacing, cars, other trucks and overhead wires, sometimes all at the same time. Basically, it is organized mass confusion. It can be very intimidating trying to get something 14' wide 15' tall and 125' long into downtown Camden, New Jersey but the sense of accomplishment is well worth it.

 

Just work for Anderson. They will run you around the USA and Canada with all kinds of weird oversize stuff.

 

you are on the right track looking at specialized IMHO,way better money but way more responsibilities also, not for everyone...I pull a cryogenic tanker ,the money is top notch,sleep in a motel everynight...trucks are slow ,basic,stripdown ( one seat and no jake and a small fuel tank) but the moneys great...how I got started was hauling bulk milk when I was 19(intrasate only,due to age) fairly easy to get into bulk milk here anyway due to hours were very long and pay was very low but it was the best experience a person can get..chaining up in wintertime to get into the farms on the side of mountains...no baffles slamming you all over the road...I did this over 5 years then moved onto other adventures but 5 years later saw ad in paper for cryo tanker driver required 5 years tanker exp and bingo not many guys had 5 years tanker so I ended up getting it...best job ever( although I dont think anybody requires near that much exp anymore..back to your question,my advise is try to get into something local bulk milk,farm supply,oilfield,logging something along that line,stick it out a while you can get a lot of good exp. and knowledge then try to move onto the bigger places where the money is a loy better