Flat Beds

I am still new, but what attracted me about flatbedding was the variety of the loads. I thought it might make the job more interesting. You know, not the same old thing. Like I said, i'm new so time will tell if i'm right or crazy, or both!

 

Not to mention better visibility.

 

Theres a lot of Pro's and Con's jsut like with anything. But personlly I like that the majority of the time its one pick / one drop.

 

NO GROCERY WAREHOUSES ,,,,,,,,THATS #1 IN MY BOOK

 

I work at a company that has flat, curtains and van. I pull mostly flats but if flat freight is slow I can still pull a curtain or God help me, a tuna can. If you work for a company that only does vans than you are stuck.
The little bit of exercise is a perk also. Van drivers say flatbed is too much work. It really isn't a lot of work it just that opening and closing doors is no work at all.

 

Most shippers and receivers will load / unload you faster because you don't need a dock. More physical work, tarping / untarping, taking care of your equipment so no one steals your tarps, chains, straps, etc..., and if you're an O/O, I believe the rates are higher with flatbeds than box vans. Be on your guard when you see other O/O loading /unloading next to you, and you notice his straps, chains, etc seems a little worn out. I once made the mistake of lying down for 10 or 15 minutes (in the sleeper) while all my equipment were laying on the flatbed. It was hot, and I had worn myself out folding the tarps to put it away. When I got up to finish putting away the rest of my equipment, thats when I realized someone took my good straps, and left behind his worn, torn-up, old straps. I did recall seeing an O/O with old worn out equipment, but it never occurred to me he'd do this; but I guess I should've realized this may happen, with the price of diesel, and shippers / receivers pressuring you to keep your rates steady while diesel and all operation cost keeps going up. At the risk of being called a racist, the struggling O/O whom I suspect took my good straps was a Latino-Hispanic. In California, they have a reputation for doing the job for lower rates.

 

"ain't Nothin Like Flatbedin"

Flatbeders DO it better