Bidding a fond farewell to flatbedding

Just got the official word I’ll be starting a new job tomorrow. I’ve enjoyed flatbedding and this forum, learned a lot from many of you. The kid is moving on from flatbedding as well. I’m moving to food grade bulk tanker and the kid is going to work for a local co op hauling grain, working applicators, etc. the kid was supposed to be going with me but he had a brake violation and though he has three years experience he’s only 21 and the insurance wouldn’t approve him unless he’s 23. I’ll still check in

 

Close. Guy that owned company has changed a lot in the last 10 months or so. Maintenance getting really bad. He has a few wannabe outlaws running for him that got nailed on several occasions. The scores on FMCSA Safer Stat have been climbing. The kid went to Texas for the first time and hit the first scale, not even close on weight and before he even got to the actual scales, DOT was out waving him to the back. He got a clean inspection out of it but I don’t want him or I running for a carrier that’s starting to get that kind of attention. He really wanted to come on with me, had a beautiful 379 all decked out owner op style for him. Company is dedicated to a mill here so it’s all out and back as the pneumatic tankers are all dedicated and mill owned. Nice 6 digit DOT number starting with 7, good safety numbers, etc. So no, flatbed outfit didn’t go out of business but DOT showed up at the office to do an audit one week before we left so they may not be in business long. The audit showed one driver had 127 miles of PC in one day between central Ohio and Cincinnati then 660 miles to South Georgia. One other guy had not logged a pre or post trip or done a DVIRsince he was hired 6 months ago and another driver was on his way home from Florida on an expired license for a five month old speeding ticket he had nether informed the owner about or paid. So yeah it was good for the first 18-24 months but man it has taken a nose dive