Looking to switch over to flatbed

I live in greenville nc as well and very happy with mcelroy flatbed. They have a terminal in pleasant hill mc.

 

You'd be home every weekend

 

They have some flats and steps.

 

How often do you tarp can be a tough question to answer for many flatbed outfits. In the winter season, we do tarp a fair amount (depending on type of freight) to keep the road salt and brine off the cargo. In the summer? It depends on freight and customer requirements. I run for Builders Transportation, and went weeks without tarping during the better weather. Then I'd get a week where I tarped every load I had. Even in the winter I'll occasionally go a week without tarping. Again, it's all about the freight.

If you pull a lot of steel, you'll tarp a lot. Pipe, not so much, unless it it bare pipe in the winter. Lumber seems to be 50/50 ( I haven't seen a lumber load personally in about a year). Machinery, also 50/50. Glass, load I've seen.

I don't worry about tarping too much, personally. If I gotta do it, it gets done. If not, I tie down and get moving. Just part of the job, is all.

 

Not trying to be a jerk, but you really can't "insist" on too many conditions given your situation. More specifically, you have less than a year experience, and none at all with a skateboard, yet you seem to have a problem tarping. Not to mention you need "good" hometime as well as a pet policy. You're going to come off as sounding too "needy" or high maintenance to many prospective employers IMO. If you are really that interested in getting into open deck, you may have to make some concessions/sacrifices to make it happen, at least at first. Once/if you get some good time under your belt, then more opportunities will likely open up for you.

If not willing to do what need be to make the switch happen, then maybe you would be better off continuing to pull boxes behind your rig. Just sayin'.

 

You and me both, sir. The more I learn, the dumber I feel sometimes. Been bouncing around in this field since 1998, and it wasn't until I got into flatbedding that I realized just how ignorant I really was.

Eyes and ears open, questions always asked, mind always open for new information. It's the only was to flatbed. Plus, it's fun!

 

Hornady an Jordan are two that I would look into.

 

Look on Craigs list there is a lot job s near Wilson ,Rocky Mount NC area .good luck