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Flat bed haulers / need your advise

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Desperado, Feb 24, 2008.

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  1. Feb 24, 2008 #1
    Desperado

    Desperado <strong>The Bandit</strong>

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    Feb 16, 2008
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    Well a small 3 truck operation called me today and wants to meet with me Monday .

    It has been a long time since I hauled a flat bed . What are some good questions to ask him ?

    What should I expect ?

    The runs are all 500 mile trips and home weekends .

    Thanx in advance .
     
    Desperado, Feb 24, 2008
    Desperado, Feb 24, 2008
    #1
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  3. Feb 25, 2008 #2
    Desperado

    Desperado <strong>The Bandit</strong>

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    Good Morning

    Any flat bed drivers out here this morning ? :biggrin_2552:
     
    Desperado, Feb 25, 2008
    Desperado, Feb 25, 2008
    #2
  4. Feb 25, 2008 #3
    rreynold6

    rreynold6 Bobtail Member

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    Feb 24, 2008
    Southern Indiana
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    "Flatbed" can mean a number of things nowadays. First thing you want to do is find out what he usually hauls: Steel, building materials, heavy equipment, etc. Next, you find out what kind of equipment he has: flat, flat with side kit (covered wagon), lowboy or conestoga. If you have a bare flat, plan on lots of tarping and untarping. Personally I understand many owner operators running bare flats due to the costs and restrictions of side kits or a conestoga. That said, I would not mess with tarps again unless the pay was really good. Steel hauling is good in certain parts of the country, not so good in others. Covered wagons and conestogas are pretty much geared toward steel hauling. Hope this helps!
     
    rreynold6, Feb 25, 2008
    rreynold6, Feb 25, 2008
    #3
  5. Feb 25, 2008 #4
    Desperado

    Desperado <strong>The Bandit</strong>

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    Well first of all thank you for the reply . :biggrin_25514:

    I drove over today to meet with them and it was raining freezing rain and he wanted to road test me right then . We went outside to the garage and I see a big ole Classic with all the O/O goodies . He starts it up and let's it warm up a little then he pulls it out and attemps to get under the "East" brand aluminum spread axle flat trailer . The tractor did not want to hook up to the pin .

    We dug the tractor out of the snow , chained up , got under the trailer and spun , and got stuck ...etc , etc .

    After an 1 hour adventure trying to get the trailer out of the snow and ice we both said we'll have to wait a couple days till a loaded trailer comes thru the yard to pull it out of the snow .

    When I asked what I'd be hauling he did say steel and tarps will be used alot . We did not discuss driver pay as of yet . I think being cold from the freezing rain has a way of getting ya back home where it is dry .

    I will say he was a nice guy that takes pride in his equipment . We will keep ya posted as weather allows .

    Another 4 - 8 falling tonite and tomorrow .

    :biggrin_25510:
     
    Desperado, Feb 25, 2008
    Desperado, Feb 25, 2008
    #4
  7. Feb 25, 2008 #5
    jeff1200

    jeff1200 Light Load Member

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    Feb 23, 2008
    spokane wash
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    He's either a really nice guy trying to accomodate you being there for the test drive or stupid. I wouldn't take any driver for a road test in those conditions. With short haul flatbed freight it's not always money per mile as steel mills can keep you waiting a while to load.
     
    jeff1200, Feb 25, 2008
    jeff1200, Feb 25, 2008
    #5
  8. Feb 25, 2008 #6
    Desperado

    Desperado <strong>The Bandit</strong>

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    Feb 16, 2008
    Long Way Home .......
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    Hi Jeff and thanx for the input . The weather didn't start getting bad until we got started . If I would have been him I would have put the tractor back in the garage and said we'll do it after weather get's better . I am with you there .
    After meeting him today I am going to have to say that he was a nice guy trying to get some business done in the Midwest .

    I will keep ya posted here as time goes on .

    Be Safe :biggrin_25525:
     
    Desperado, Feb 25, 2008
    Desperado, Feb 25, 2008
    #6
  9. Mar 2, 2008 #7
    LeadfootSlider

    LeadfootSlider <strong>Queen of the Confused</strong>

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    Crystal Spring, PA
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    I don't find it foolhardy that he wanted to test you that day-he needs to know you can handle a truck and load in all weather.

    Ask about retention and/or layover pay, how much to tarp, if you get paid percentage or mileage or per load pulled. Find out if he supplies all the required equipment, if not will he reimburse you for purchasing the required equipment. Find out if he will pay overweight tickets if you are requested or required to haul over legal limmit for truck.

    And find out how often general maintenance is performed, and how they handle over the road breakdowns.

    We usually pull flatbed but won't any more with our company because they only pay their flatbed drivers .30cpm but I would rather tarp any day of the week then continue pulling this billboard. I'm in love with flatbedding. I think that was part of my husband's diabolical plan to keep me in truck driving. AH....
     
    LeadfootSlider, Mar 2, 2008
    LeadfootSlider, Mar 2, 2008
    #7
  10. Mar 2, 2008 #8
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Soon to be a yr since my last flatbed load. :biggrin_2557: :biggrin_2557: I still miss it, and look with jealousy at the other flat rigs going by.
     
    Brickman, Mar 2, 2008
    Brickman, Mar 2, 2008
    #8
  11. Mar 2, 2008 #9
    LeadfootSlider

    LeadfootSlider <strong>Queen of the Confused</strong>

    170
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    Jul 15, 2006
    Crystal Spring, PA
    0

    I know the feeling intimately and it has only been 4 months for us.

    :biggrin_2553:
     
    LeadfootSlider, Mar 2, 2008
    LeadfootSlider, Mar 2, 2008
    #9
  12. Mar 2, 2008 #10
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    I thought you guys were going to switch carriers. Or did that fall thru?
     
    Brickman, Mar 2, 2008
    Brickman, Mar 2, 2008
    #10
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