Thinking about going flatbed

I agree. If you start off as a company driver, you're at their mercy. O/O, you have quite a bit more bargaining room than a company or lease driver. There are companies that will make a payment deal with you, and put a headache rack on the truck and give you the chains and binders you need. So the only thing you need to learn is securement. You can figure out the very basics in a few hours. That link with the securements, PRINT it out for your notes.

The next time you go to a truckstop, look for a loaded flat or step. Ask the driver to explain why he secured the load the way he did. If he says, "This is way I was taught and I have been doing it this way for years", thank him for his time and walk away. He is an idiot. If he says that the regulations require this and that, he's a flatbedder. A good driver will know the regulations like the back of his hand. It will be like his reciting your securement notes.

"Six, why do you say that the person saying this is how they were taught, is an idiot?"

Because securement regulations change. A driver should be able to tell you the regs, not "I was taught this way."

 

i just leased to mercer had 6 mo.flatbed back in 1991 they took me there was also 1 in orientation who had no flat exp.they will help with fiance on equipment don't park truck and be company driver think you would hate it