Am I out of my mind for wanting to do this ?

I have a lot of thoughts here (hang around you'll see) a little background first. There's a "core" group of guys here that are super guys, help all they can even in person. However we have a new guy show up here every few weeks wanting to know about driving and flatbeds. Most of them are a joke. The single biggest problem with this industry is people in it that don't really care, they just want a check.

You however might maybe be different we'll see. The best drivers are "drawn" to it in my opinion. Trucks interest them, they think about trucks they ask about trucks they learn about trucks. There are so many that don't care we need a few they do. Hang around we'll see.

 

Beat of luck, brother. You'll be able to make the same pay rather quickly.

Also, check to see if any of you MGI bill remains. The timeframe to use it is now 15 years, so you might get a few dollars in an apprenticeship program.

As I researched companies, Melton did look better than TMC. I went the tanker route though and am just getting to test for my first company.

Again, best of luck. No regerts....lol

 

It isn't easy to get in with a good company right out of the gates. Once you get some experience, look for the small guys that have nice clean trucks and good well kept equipment. DO NOT NEVER EVER DRIVE A VOLVO. If you are truly set on going flatbed, definitely do your research. DO NOT LEASE A TRUCK!!! Learn all there is about securement of everything. A secure load is the most important thing and if you think you need another chain, strap or binder, put 2 more on just to be safe. No one ever told me I had too many chains/binders on any load. Do some research on D.O.T. those guys hate truckers. There is a big difference between a trucker and a steering wheel holder, put a study on that too. Do not ever be afraid to ask questions when it comes to anything trucking related. And if nothing else be a anti-elog advocate. I'm sure I left out a truck ton of stuff but you have the basics.

 

Not sure how long you been driving or what you do in the trucking industry, but I'd like you to explain what driving a Volvo has to do with any of this?

Also, there's alot of DOT pricks out there no doubt, but there's some good ones as well that are fair and are doing their jobs that do not "hate truckers". Sometimes they catch people doing stupid #### that might get your family killed. There are just as many stupid, ####y and ignorant truckers as there are stupid DOT pricks.

I hate Elogs, but if he's a newbie, more than likely he's gonna be running an ELD weather he likes it or not....i doubt being an "advocate " against Elogs is gonna do him a dam bit of good.

 

You got a bug up your ash because I tell people to never drive a volvo and watch out for DOT I take it. All of my trucking experience has been flatbed, stepdeck, conestoga and some very limited van work. Mostly regional North West PA, Western NY, Eastern OH. Volvos ain't made for flatbed trucking period! I have certainly had some run ins with DOT who are pissed before they even get to work and it's mostly because they have to work. They chose their career I made my opinion. Non english speaking drivers get a slap on the wrist for violations because they don't understand yet I'm subject as well as many other truckers who want to do their job and can't because we "should know". elogs and flatbed trucking don't go hand in hand in my opinion and I simply shared the ideal that elogs are not well liked. You just simply took it as an insult from what I gather.

 

Melton's new trucks are going away from the APU's.

 

Lol...nah. all I Did was ask you to explain why a Volvo isn't "made" for flatbed. You still haven't done that. Is a Mack good enough to pull a flatbed with then in your opinion?

With a know it all attitude like yours, it's pretty obvious why a DOT would rake your ### over the coals.

 

I was told by a TMC driver they can idle as much as needed since they don't have APUs... I'd personally go with them. I've never seen a bad TMC tarp job, nor a dirty TMC truck, to me that says a lot.

 

LOL, every large company has professionals & steering wheel holders. I've seen poor tarp & securement jobs from lots of companies & wanna be owner ops. If you want to have more freedom, go all 48 states & Canada, Melton is the place to go. Also, although many can't comprehend it, the money is better.