Diary of a current Swift flatbed driver

Flatbed freight out of Florida is a bit difficult to find, unless you're willing to haul it really cheap. If you're driving for Swift, regardless of where you live, you can operate out of any terminal. If you wanted to be a flatbedder, you're not obligated to run out of Ocala - your could be assigned to a fleet from the Greer terminal, Phoenix terminal, etc.

 

Would it be hard to get back home?

 

Getting freight into Florida isn't all that difficult. For a flatbed load out, there's a good chance of them having to deadhead you to Georgia. Honestly, you would probably be better off to talk to one of the flatbed DMs in Greer, Phoenix, or Gary. Greer would probably be the one I'd start off with, were I in your position. They can give you a better assessment of the feasibility than I could.
They seem to have expanded the flatbed division when I worked for them. When I drove for them, flatbedders ran out of Greer (SC), Eden (NC), Shoals (IN), Gary (IN), and Phoenix (AZ). I've been seeing Swift daycabs pulling flatbeds here, running out of the Denver terminal, so they've added more flatbed boards since, although I don't know if these new flatbed boards (out of Denver, for example) are just daycabs or whether they include OTR fleets. Eden, NC (where I ran out of) and Shoals, IN are shut down now.

 

Schmud - was going back through the earlier pages of this thread and the pictures reminded me of something, what did you use to polish your rims/tanks?

 

Good luck on the interview.

 

Papi,

It is important to me that you know that I am honored to live in the country you so gallantly protected on that day. It is veterans like you and SSgt Jenkins provide the freedom that we all enjoy on a daily basis. Thank-you most heartedly for your service to our country. And, thank-you for sharing your story with us. I salute you sir.

Rattle...

 

Just some notes about the Flatbed Division. I've been out in a Van now for 5 months. When I started I was told there were no Flatbed trainers availible. At 3 months I was told that I needed 6 months in Vans. At 5 months I was told there was a freeze in Flatbeds, no new drivers. I was in the OKC Petro and the Martinsburg WV yard last week and ran into3 different Flatbed trainers, 1 from Phoenix and 2 from Greer. They all had trainees straight from driver school, all agreed that 6 months in vans should be the minimum, 1 year would be better. All were not happy to be training Truck Driving and Flatbed at the same time.
I am relocating from Tucson to San Antonio after New Years( got 4 acres and a 4yr old 1900SqFt house in San Marcos for $36K in back taxes thru the Texas Veterans Land Board, vets check it out). I am looking at Averitt, Maverick, Hunt and BTC Flatbed, all over .40ct per mile with 1 year exp. Goodluck to all. But sure wish Swift had some consistency in its policies!