Help with flatbed decision

Try Howard Transportation; one of their terminals is in Kenly, NC

 

Find a local flatbed company that will treat you like you should be and pay you based on your performance. Its a huge myth that you have to start out with any of the bottom feeders or "training companies" as some call them that are always brought up on this site.

I'll give the TMC's, Mavericks, Meltons, etc... credit. They have done an awesome job of convincing people you have to start with companies like them to do this job.

It amazes me to read weekly how many guys are headed to orientation with those companies. What percentage of the guys that are headed to them are actually on this site? Its probably small. Does that not tell everyone something??

 

So MJ1657,I'm not seeing any company recommendations coming from you,where do you suggest a person fresh out of driving school goes too find this wonderful driving job that is so much better than these so called,bottom feeders?.

 

First off skip that driving school junk and have some ambition and get a cdl on your own. Its really not that hard to do.... Look at my profile and how long I've been driving and how long i've been on this site then search some of my posts and take a look at the job I have.

My advice to anyone that does not want to run with the bottom feeders or the companies that I mentioned in the post above yours is to knock on some doors, make some calls and prove yourself. It takes a little more ambition then sitting in front of a keyboard but it can easily be done. I have no recommendations as I had none to start with so I went out and found a job on my own.

If you have any more questions I would be willing to answer them.

 

MJ1657 I like this comment you made and I think you have a nice truck.

 

MJ1657. He's a good kid. He's on the right track, you can find O/O. Companies just get out and beat the pavement.

If your looking, you can also jump into class B trucks, cab with out trailer, cement, stake bed, propane, hell. Even contact penski, or Ryder. As a transfer driver moving from one location to another.

Like MJ said. Its all in how much effort you put into looking for employment.

 

well I would put Maverick as first on your list you will make ok money and be home on most weekend,

 

I don't care what company you work for the grass is always going to look greener on the other side of the fence. And all companies are going to try to get you to sign up. All will run you well the first few months and give you a decent pay check. Then there true colors come out. They will slow down the loads, leave you hanging in a truck stop over the weekend somewhere, and even short your pay. I've seen it all. If you want to work flatbed that pays more than van then you want to select a company that has contracts for loads In the area you want to run. Some companies get most of their loads off load boards. If so your pay will be at the bottom of the scale. PGT purchases terminals that have contracts for loads in their vicinity. Look at PGT terminal locations and you will see where most of their loads Are. You can live anywhere and work for PGT. Just remember if you want to go home and you live away from one of their terminals then a load board load will have to be found to get you home. PGT is good. Like all companies its up and down based of the economy. However PGT has connections in the steel industry so it will keep you rolling. Just don't expect a great pay check. Remember as a company driver and Lease purchase you have an electronic log on board. So you will get 3 to 4 good loads a week. If you chose not to go home every weekend on average your pay check will be higher than if you went home each weekend. PGT will attempt to get you home each weekend. All companies watch your revenue. PGT likes each truck to make x amount of revenue each week. They will run you to get it. That is good for you. But like any company you have to establish a relationship with your driver manager. You have to RUN. Don't mess around in truck stops etc. When you get a load get over and get it on board and get down the road. If not you will have a low pay check. All companies are fighting for similar loads. The sooner you get unloaded the sooner you get on the board list for the next load. Many companies will not look for your next load until you are empty. Even though they know where you are going. They don't want to get a load and find out you can't deliver. Most cases they still have to deliver that load. That is frustrating to you. If you work for the big flatbed companies chances are you will get loads and home. Stay away from swift Hunt Schneider and small companies unless you have worked for them previously. All companies are looking out for their best interest, their bottom line and profit. They will take more money off loads to boost their profits. Remember their are four basic ways companies increase profits: Savings at pumps...slowing trucks down anything to save fuel cost, getting contracts with lots of money on them...rarely, cut maintenance cost, or cut driver pay. Unfortunately the easiest is to save money on drivers pay. Keep that in mind no matter what company you work for... What ever you do...do not least a truck. Save your money and purchase one out side from any carrier. If you don't like the company for what ever the reason you can take the truck with you. The company doesn't have a hold on you. Freedom is everything!

 

Since I live here in Kansas I know a lot of the kiem guys out of the sabetha area mr kiem leases his trucks so you get a upgrade every few years and it ain't in the website but they have lone stars as well they use to do percentage but I think it's milage now trucks are faster than tmc if that matters unless things have changed they don't hire but a few newbies at a time with either of those companies you mentioned I hopr you like lumber tarps cause you will get your fill

 

I hate to bump a week old thread, but surely Keim doesnt put rookies in T660s with 86" studios? That has to be one of the nicest company trucks around.