Options for running flatbed right out of school?

Try Maverick or Roehl, won't keep you from running vans later.

 

I can't imagine it affecting your ability to run dry vans. You can jump
To vans from flats easy, but not from vans to flat. Make sure you find a company that offers securement training. Some of the bigger flatbed companies that take beginners are Maverick, TMC, and Roehl. Do some research, all of them have pros and cons for beginners. Put some time in to get some experience at some place, then find a better gig after you have some time in.

 

I'm curious as to why you feel this way. Not trying to talk you out of it or anything, my second job was running flats. But I didn't take the job because it was flats, I took it because it was available and had a schedule that I wanted (home every night, weekends off). So like I said, I'm just curious as to why you feel flats are attractive. Care to share?

 

Yeah plenty of OTR flatbed jobs out there. Showers just depend on where you stop or if you make time for them. Summertime showers are a necessity.

 

Well this is understandable I suppose. But if you're going into flats for the free workout, I think you might end up disappointed. Don't get me wrong, flatbedding can be hard physical work. But it most definitely isn't a workout. When I was pulling steel coils and doing several loads per day i.e. several cycles of tarping/untarping and chaining/unchaining, I worked along side lots of guys who were far from resembling anything that might be considered in shape. And like I said, I was local and doing between 2 and 6 loads per day, 5 days a week. If you're going to go OTR, you'll likely tarp/secure much less often than that.

So like I said, if you're looking for a free workout, you might be disappointed. OTOH, if you're looking for getting soaked to the bone in rain wind and freezing snow or covered in grime and sweat before you have to get in the seat and drive for 11 hours, then you'll love every minute of flatbedding.

And again, I'm not trying to talk you out of it. Some people love it and you might end up being one of them. As for me I don't mind having to do it, but if you offered me a flatbed gig and a no-touch van gig for the same money, I'd take the van gig every time. To me flatbed work is something you do because the money is better or because you can't find any other work. But that's just me.

 

The pay will never justify the extra work unless you get paid on percentage...

I liked running for Mercer but had to sell the flatbed when I needed a shoulder replacement... flatbed work is tough on the body.

 

Western Express hires for flatbed without any experience. 30 days out with a trainer, and you'll be on your own.

Oh, and 2/3 days of load securement once you finish the initial orientation.