Orientation with CRST Malone monday

Just got a couple calls from CRST and theyve already run the paperwork (i'm guessing pulled my dac?) and supposed to get a bus ticket friday.
I'm excited about this (ive never been excited about a trucking job before) and was looking for advice from:
A. experienced flatbedders
B. CRST drivers (not you whiney ######## who sit in truck stops and worked there 2 days before they fired your ###).
c. O/o's with tips on picking up loads (i plan on learning to book outside loads as prep for being an actual oo someday) and maintenance or whatnot. Heck anythign from you guys.
Any areas i should avoid right now? i'm in the southeast and they seem to run a lot of midwest and the center of the country.

I have about 5 years driving experience.. around 700-800k miles dry van and bedbugging (out of 8 years or so). I know Nothing about flatbedding. I only drove a flatbed once in school back in the day. Backing it freaked me out, van was way easier. I ran my own business for 10 years. I know how to watch a penny and run a business. I love my hometime. On the other hand when IM the one deciding my loads thats a different deal. If >I< decided i'd be in kC friday night i'm good with being there. If someone else decided i'm there, not so much if you know what i mean?
I live in nc. Ive run chicago, illinois, ohio, pa and tx a lot. I'm hoping to eventually push towards some dedicated loads with some hometime. And to stay in the south a lot.. cold sucks.
I dont need or plan to get rich. It'd be nice but i aint in truckign to get rich hah. Im not doing t his to buy a truck. Im doing it for independance. I plan on saving money and buying a truck for cash (Per gman) in a year or two or whatever.

ANY advice by nonwhineys is deeply appreciated. (Sorry i just dont wanna hear from the forum cowboys whove nevere done #### but once read something about somebody and "Ur a l3wzer" because yorue doing something they read was bad once in a bathroom stall)

and yes i know i'm a fool

 

Thanks a lot guys. From what i can see with luck on no breakdowns and if i can find and book loads for 1.50+ (including crst's 25% ) i wont starve and can get home quite a bit due to where i live. (lots of freight coming out of here, charlotte, greenesboro , winston, raleigh etc). If i REALLY CAN average $2pm total i can bring in very nice money. All assuming im not a complete idiot at securement/flatbedding.

 

I ran some numbers. This is assuming i book my own loads and run the way i like to run. Running 2800+ a week.
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...75-lease-purchase-contract-3.html#post3124767
I know a lot of people dont like to run those miles but i just cant sit in a truck and the whole point for me is to run my own life so... lets hope.
Love to hear comments.