Has anyone here switched to the flatbed division at swift? I've found myself getting more and more interested in flatbed, and I'm trying to explore a few different options. I'm on the dry van side right now, with a year and 2 months experience, and have a few questions about the logistics of switching divisions. I would have to take the week long securement class, so I'm wondering, would they route me in my current truck to Gary, Greer, or Phoenix for the class? Or would they have me turn my truck in at the Decatur terminal (my current "home" terminal), and then travel to one of those terminals? How did you go about making the switch? Call up the 800-800-flat number and talk to a recruiter? Or is there someone else I should talk to being that I'm already a current employee? Overall, how does the flatbed division compare with the dry van as far as miles, fleet operations, equipment, etc.? I searched and read a couple of the most recent threads on here, but would love to hear from someone who's done the division switch, rather than a new hire going to flatbed. Thanks!
It wasn’t long ago that I was in Greer and they had several flatbedders pulling dry vans because Swift had very little flatbed freight. I’d definitely ask if the situation has improved.
Flatbed starts .42 a mile ...45dollar if u tarp...what makes u want to switch to flatbed from dry van... Dry van is so easy... Everybody wants to be a flatbedder until u have to throw tarps and break ur chains and binders out of the ice... Frozen straps n bungees.. List go on n on... I average like 2k miles a week. To much extra work with flatbed to get 3k a week...if u run out of east coast terminals get used to running chassis and coils... I run out west so i get a lot of lumber and rebar and liftgates...
Yes we do get dry van loads if theres no flatbed freight but u still get paid flatbed mileage rate and u dont have a to tarp a dry van
I have been running flatbed out of Gary Indiana for almost a year now. I've only been out west once since then and hated it. I average 2800 a week. 3000 miles on the east coast is not hard to do at all. Much better than dealing with the west coast.
Switch to flatbed. The you can ##### and moan with All the other flatbeders about having To tarp a load.
Yeah all the good runs are out east... Its so hard to get a run over 1k miles on the west.. Im sitting on some frame rails headed to portland right now
Tarping aint that bad, yea it sucks sometimes but most driver ##### about everything, if it wasnt tarping it would be something else
