Best Flatbed Owner Operator Companies

That's an interesting question. You've certainly got the required experience, but I'm not sure how recent we require the experience to be. We'll get that sorted out in PMs.

F2F is more or less an intermediate step between being a company driver and getting your own numbers. Coming back into it after a few years it's probably less risky than getting your own authority, and less patronizing than starting out at the bottom again as a company driver. I'll get you some contacts to discuss that better with you.

I'm curious as to what's leading you to go with a curtainside over a Conestoga or flat/sidekit? Curtainsides always struck me as something one would get once they'd secured enough regular customers to rule out the possibility of an overhead load.

 

I thought that would be a good idea to make it easier instead throwing tarps. They slide all the way to the front or rear.Still looking at prices, what's a Conestoga?
Also I sent an email to your contact but haven't heard back.
Thanks again brother,
Shameless

 

Curtain side has a hard roof and swinging doors . You are describing a conastoga.

 

Here's a curtain side and a Conestoga to compare. There was a lot of arguing about what to call which a few years ago so I guess they're pretty new.

I'll PM you a new contact. I think they may have moved the guy I told you about to marketing.

 

Ahh I see the difference! Yes I was referring to the Conestoga. Thank you for your help. I was looking at some Mercer reviews and boy they got some real angry ex drivers! And it appears that LandStar is one big company now.

 

It's a tricky business getting these things named. The original manufacture was Conestoga, but they're made by a few more and known by names like Roll Tite, Merlot Vango, Quickdraw, etc, but they're listed as "conestoga" on load board equipment types, so that's what I call them.

Mercer and Landstar drivers are the two biggest competitors for my favorite freight, but I tend to get along with the Mercer drivers a bit more since they all seem a bit more old school and laid back.

Keep seeing a really cool green Mercer cabover around Michigan that has old fuel tanks chained under the flatbed as toolboxes. Talked to the guy a few years ago while we were tarping in Benton Harbor, but I'd love to bump into him again since my sideboxes are worn out, and so are my fuel tanks, so that could work out pretty well.

 

Are you guys still there?

 

Looks like a no go with your company, insurance company won't take me . Alex suggested Scheider.

 

That's too bad. The bigger O/O companies will probably have the same issue with the gap.

I'd give Art Pape Transfer a shot. Give them a call or email and explain what you're looking to do, and they might have a reasonable option for you other than slumming a fresh 2 years experience as a company driver at a mega.

 

Thanks Barroll, I do appreciate your help