How do I get in flatbed when Iam experienced

Why go work for such large companies if your an experienced driver?

 

I would suggest you look into TMC, Boyd or Maverick. They are good companies, haul good freight and have nice equipment.

 

I would actually suggest the opposite of a national carrier. I'm biased because I work in a family business, but if you're able to find a smaller open-deck carrier that is willing to train you, you'll likely end up much further ahead. I work behind a desk now, but when I was on the road I couldn't stop laughing at how a few particular trainers at TMC, Decker, and the like seemed greener than the rookies they were training. Of course this is not representative of all trainers, but if I've seen 5 or 6 there has to be 200 more just like them.

So much of this industry is learning by doing and experiencing a variety of situations. Smaller carriers usually give you a higher level of autonomy with hands-on guidance from the owners, higher-ups, or just the good ol' boys who have been doing if for 25 years (not a driver who has been doing it for 5 and was gifted the title of "trainer").

 

appy to B.M.Bowman they will accept your current experience and hire you for flatbed.After you ger your HZMAT,TWIC,AND YOUR PASSPORT YOU WILL THEN BE ELIGIABLE FOR THE GUARANTEED MIN. PAY OF $1000!! GOODLUCK

 

All those roller-bed gig's are hard work. i filled in for a driver when i was at SNI back in 2004 that was a Family Dollar account and I won't ever do that again, especially in August !!!!

Living in J'ville, why not look into Lonestar. they do a lot of freight into the JAXPORT and would probably love a guy who'd be willing to go in and out every week.... just my thoughts. Just going to have to get used to driving a hood instead of the snub-nosed USX junk LOL

 

What???? Got a degree and now you're riding a desk.... shame shame !!! LOL

 

I'm down from 240lbs to 170lbs and feel stronger than I have in years. Oh yeah, and they pay me too!

 

I took a big pay cut to do it too. Should pay off in the long run.... I'll be making that SHC money someday.

 

hey man im a new grad 24 years old out of Rochester NY. i have a pre hire threw central ref but i have my heart set on flatbed maverick and tmc passed because of some bullsh** and Melton wants a month otr exp you have any tips or company's i can try i want the challenge of flatbed and work out every so often not bumping docks thanks brother man

stay safe out there!

 

Well after reading everything here, I would like to add a few pointers. First flatbed requires a skill set. You have to be able to get your load specs figure the weight of the item or items you are loading and place the items on the deck in a way you are legal on your axle weights. IE your center light is the center of the trailer normally.Not always. this gives you a guide to where you loads weight will go. now you need to be able to figure if you place a load just behind that line how much weight will be on the drives and how much on the trailer. Also you need to know what size chains you are using and what the are rated at, same with your straps and binders. there is alot to learn with flatbeds and i dont recommend just hopping in a truck by yourself and learning on the fly. you need to team up with a seasoned flatbeder and run it a while. I say this for your safety and others. Let me give and example of a bad mistake from a driver who had no exp

A driver at kaplan trucking picked up two 20,000lb coils loaded suicide. he used one chain on each coil. (coils need min 2 chains each) he left out made it about 5 miles from the shipper and had a car pull out in front of him. He hit his brakes hard and stopped but not before the first coil snapped the chain ran thru the bulk head and into the bunk. he got lucky in the fact it had more room on the passenger side to move and twisted sideways and was laying in the bed and the passenger seat and not on him. this guy had 30 years driving exp but none was flatbed it was his first day and last day driving he retired.

So in flatbed it can go wrong fast. it is a feel good type of good at the end of the day. It is an easy job to mess up a load when chaining or strapping. the best advise i can give is look for companies that will train you to be a flatbed driver work there for a while get som exp than move on. alot of flatbed fleets these days want 5 years flatbed exp because of the issues. to many like jb hunt turning guys loose who have no clue. and kill someone.

Best of luck alot of the things i talked about you can search and find online to learn them IE chain ratings strap ratings.