For. New driver best to start van or ok to try flatbed?

Glass division is Maverick.
Yes, go flatbed. Maverick or Melton both good. $50K per year companies.

 

Van is easy lol....I got my start in flatbed with TMC. If you work hard you can make tons of money. I then bought my own truck and switched to van because im lazy lol.

 

It is easier to start with vans and once you learn to drive and hone your skills, switch to flats. There have been some who have started with flats and done well. It is more an individual thing.

 

If you know what you're doing long term, i would start with something similar, just my opinion. If you plan on eventually doing specialty type flatbed stuff, I would think you'd have leg up on a tanker or van driver after a year or two of flat. Energy, cryogenic, etc, start with tanker.

While 1-2 years of any type of tractor-trailer exp is usually all that's required to move to the next level, I can't help but think you'd settle in much more comfortably at the next job if you already have basic exp in a certain area.

personally, I started with tanker, so if I went to van I'd be a bit leery of the tandem sliding stuff, making sure things are loaded right and all that. Same goes for flat, I'd be like ok - so what do I do with this strap? Etc. But for another tanker job, I'm perfectly comfortable learning what needs to be learned and wouldn't feel out of place .

I doubt it really matters for the most part as long as you get the TT exp, but for me, it feels like an advantage to be familiar with the basics when starting something new.

good luck!

 

In chinese accent.. (with all due respect to others)

...be a man, do the right thing.. you save $.02 cent here and then you save two more cent over there then you got .04 cent!! .04 cent is a lotta money!

Now seriously.. if you're in it for the money, go for the money. Pull a flatbed.

 

I started out doing flat for about 6 months. It's a lot of physical work for a newbie because of the learning curve of securing and tarping different size loads. I fortunately had help, so the physical labor wasn't anything I couldn't handle. You'll need to tarp and secure a load despite the weather conditions so a cold rainy day could test your nerves. If you're fit and capable flatbedding is a good choice.

As for van. The flatbed company I was with had me sitting with less miles and my tractor broke down on me. So now I'm pulling a van/reefer. The loads are no touch and the physical labor involved is virtually zero compared to the flat. I also do a lot more difficult backing into small docks.

My opinion is that I could've easily started with either. The money will differ by company. TMC and Maverick will be the best options to to choose for flatbed for those with less experience.

 

Do any of the flatbed or tanker companies hire teams?

 

Yes. Tarping is considered "accessorial pay"