Switching over to flatbed?

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by 59EX, Feb 10, 2016.

  1. 59EX

    59EX Medium Load Member

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    I'm coming up pretty soon on 6 months OTR dryvan experience and would like to switch to flatbed. What is the general training flatbed companies will put me through? Am I going to have to go back out with a trainer? Etc.

    TIA.
     
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  3. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    You'll have securement training then with a trainer; the length of time with a trainer depends on the company. Since you already have 6 mos. driving experience, probably won't be with a trainer very long. Driving is driving so the securement training is the only issue.
    Which company you going with? Which state do you live in?
     
  4. 59EX

    59EX Medium Load Member

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    I'm in GA. Thinking either BTC or PGT.I'm open to suggestions though.
     
  5. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    They're both ok. Shop around though; might find something you like better:
    Rosedale Transport,Inc. in Dalton
    Waggoners Trucking Company ($.50 cpm)
    CT Transportation

    A&R Logistics is dry bulk and pay can run from $62K - $72K per year. Requires 6 mos. driving experience. Take a close look at this company.
     
    59EX Thanks this.
  6. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    Dry bulk flatbed? Please explain.
     
  7. VA CDL Holder

    VA CDL Holder Medium Load Member

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    On my third rehire with Swift I requested the Flatbed division and got it, no surprise, as they always want people to do it because it is harder and more nastier than dry van.

    I attended a 5 day training class in at the Phoenix terminal with about 6 other drivers, some were brand new and a few were just transferring over to the Flatbed division.

    In the class you will learn how to tie down a steel coil, a trailer stack (a flatbed trailer with 2 other flatbed trailers loaded on top of each other), lumber loads and pipe loads. You will learn how to fold steel and lumber tarps and how to use them. You will learn the various rules that go with load securement, axle weights and a bunch of other stuff.

    To pass the course you must be able to lift a tarp from the ground to the rear of a flatbed trailer and be able to secure a steel coil to the satisfaction of the instructor. We had a woman who fought with the tarp for at least 10 minutes until she finally muscled it up onto the trailer, no BS.

    As for the trainer part. Some guys who never drove a truck before were given bus tickets to meet trainers at other places, strange as it sounds. I never went out with a flatbed trainer, but I had 10 months experience in their van division, so they issued me a flatbed tractor and I was off.

    With all that being said, I would never drive flatbed for them again because of other personal reasons.
     
  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    No, dry bulk pneumatic tanker.
    I put that information out there as added info he may not have thought of and might spark an interest. Pay is great and easy money.
     
  9. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    Where are you getting that great pay information from? Actual pay stubs? Sounds exciting! Can't wait to see it.
     
  10. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    My neighbor, former neighbor, works there. He parks his rig at a gas station in our little town and sometimes can chat with him. No, didn't ask to see his pay stubs. I'm in Tennessee right now and if I see him will chat some more. He lives here in my old neighborhood.
     
  11. MJ1657

    MJ1657 Road Train Member

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    So your former neighbor says he makes $62-$72k a year. Seems like quite a spread with no facts to prove it but its a good story anyway. And easy work. Bonus!!!
     
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