Diary of a current Swift flatbed driver

YBBMIKE · Nov 10, 2010

bodiej said: ↑

Prime will hire a new flatbed driver with no experience, DO NOT LISTEN to the recruiters THEY LIE, contact the Prime building and ask for the flatbed division and talk with the man in charge of flatbed. IM speaking from experience, the recruiter told me the same thing, I went and was going to do refer but stumbled into the flatbed divisions office and that was that.
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Thanks Bodiej!!!! I am going to call the flatbed division tomorrow morning. I am supposed to start with Swift next week. Waiting on the recruiter to call me back with definite start date and bus ticket. My first choice is Prime so I will contact them. I will PM you if I get the job with Prime. Once again thanks!!!!!

cpape · Nov 10, 2010

Stickbow said: ↑

Schmud0811
This has been a great thread for newbie flatbedders to read through. As posted above, I just finished orientation last Friday. I'm looking forward to getting on a truck with a trainer and getting my hrs in. I've been around flatbeds for the last 30 yrs but just have never driven them. It's still gonna be a learning experience. Strapping and chaining unusual shaped loads will be a challenge but I feel I'm up to the task. I guess time will tell. I'll do another thread like this when I get into my own truck so folks will get more than 1 flatbedder's opinion and veiws.
I hope i see you on the road or in a terminal somewhere.
Thanks for your efforts on the thread!!
Stickbow
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I am fully aware I am splitting hairs...just one of my pet peeves. Sorry about the OCD moment.

schmud0811 · Nov 10, 2010

I picked these up by salt lake city this morning i deliver them in san diego on the morning of the 12th. They are for the Court House. I guess their building a new one or something.
I put 12 chains on this load, didnt take to long at all actually, im starting to get a rythem at this.
Side note- i live in Las Vegas, sitting at the Petro and on have a 1/2 hr on the books, can't swing by the house....bummer

schmud0811 · Nov 10, 2010

I get asked once in a while to be a mentor, just got asked again today, kinda pondering the thought. The problem is i take 2 classes a semester and they are accelerated, i am a little behind now, I'm not to sure if i will have enough time to study being a mentor.
Also i don't think i should do it this soon into driving, granted December i have a year of driving, I don't know. Plus i have OCD and my truck is allways super clean inside and out, I'm not sure if i could have someone in my truck dirtying it up!!

Scrumdog · Nov 10, 2010

Stickbow said: ↑

cpape
I just re-read my post, didn't see anywhere where i stated that I was driving them.
I think you are splitting hairs here. I didn't just fall off the turnip truck.
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Stickbow said: ↑

... I've been around flatbeds for the last 30 yrs but just have never driven them. ...
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Maybe you did fall off the turnip truck!

Schmud, big thanks for the thread. I'll be starting my first driving job on Monday pulling flats and I love finding blogs/threads like this one to see things from another's point of view. Sorry to hear things aren't working out the way you were hoping with miles and wait times. If you don't mind me asking, what are you studying?

schmud0811 · Nov 10, 2010

miles are comming along it seems,as soon as i pick up my course load here comes the miles!! Oh well keeps me busy. i'm just finishing my AA in general studies, i still have to figure out a major, i plan on doing that in a sit down school not online.

cpape · Nov 10, 2010

What about Transportation and Logistics? Then you could see what things look like on the other side of the qualcomm.

crackhead · Nov 12, 2010

schmud0811 said: ↑

I get asked once in a while to be a mentor, just got asked again today, kinda pondering the thought. The problem is i take 2 classes a semester and they are accelerated, i am a little behind now, I'm not to sure if i will have enough time to study being a mentor.
Also i don't think i should do it this soon into driving, granted December i have a year of driving, I don't know. Plus i have OCD and my truck is allways super clean inside and out, I'm not sure if i could have someone in my truck dirtying it up!!
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How much extra do they pay you for that?

bodiej · Nov 14, 2010

Can you post some interior pictures of your tractor?

drivin' my life away · Nov 17, 2010

Just finishing training school and would like to flatbed. I'm 58, in okay shape. Can I handle it?

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