"Do not ever drive flatbed"

If you wanna work for free not a problem then do it.Ask your company how much of a profit they're making off you and how much of that profit you're receiving.Drivers make 30 some cents per mile and many even less then that an you think thats a good wage for drivers?I have never unloaded or loaded trls an never will unless theirs another pay pkg involved.Our economy has gone to hell and getting worse.Today ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY.Drivers are making below min wage.I will NOT unld unless I get paid an attactive amt for it.Oh and it's not at all about being lazy,i'm far from that.It's about not getting taken advantage of.

 

I pulled a box for a year, then went to reefer for a year and then switched to flatbed. I will be doing this until it is physically not possible. I enjoy the varied freight, the customers treat us better and flat bedder generally look out for each other. Sometimes the weather is an inconvenience, but the challenge of overcoming the weather can be exciting. Overall, pulling a flatbed is just more enjoyable than bumping docks.

 

I just received my CDL and jumping on the road to AZ tomorrow flatbedding with my father owner operator.
Its new too me, in the past I was a student driver with permit, helping my father haul cars for 2 years as part-time.
He just got into faltbedding as well, I assisted him last week delivering coils. It was awesome and a hell of a good work out un tarping that....

 

Hopefully you'll be able to get some experience riding with your dad. If he'll pay you to help, then you could use that as verifiable experience if you go to a different company in the future.

 

I have been flatbedding a long time. All told, about 19 years. It is more work than van and reefer typically are, but it is not as bad as many of you seem to think. Yea, I remember a few really miserable loads, really cold, windy, raining or whatever. But many times you are out in beautiful weather enjoying some fresh air and sunshine. And tarping, once you get used to it isnt that hard either. Simple things make it easier. Like always roll your tarps the same way. Always put your equipment away in the same places the same way. Get your system worked out and tarping typically averages about 30-45 minutes to tarp. And a bit less to untarp. Of course, I am not counting securement in that. It is required on every load. With my company's slow trucks, and my tarping skills, I make more per hour tarping than driving, sometimes. I have been giving some thought to trying something different lately, but I am not at all sure what it would be.

 

flatbed is a whole diff ballgame....more relaxed....diff atmosphere....usually not much waiting involved...nicer shippers/receivers (for the most part).....

take pride in it tho....if you tarp..do it RIGHT. not flappin in the breeze....and for petes sake..SECURE your load PROPERLY...

 

i miss flatbed..it's fun making a load fit and securing it.... I did mostly farm machinery.

 

How we all missed it ??? Thank you ! You made my day.

 

i saw it.....but i am used to most of the guys nowadays saying that....

 

Having a tarp drag me off a load, and catching a flat hook to the head years back, and no more pay... Got a cat scan out of it , thou. Then on I decided explosives would be enough if I needed a thrill. Got a good one on that one day. FAA load for export. Sealed trailer, sealed paper work. Only info was weight , origin city , and departure city.As most loads were. Printed below seal. Got in to JFK at the customs building, nd back in. First couple of fork loads was general freight. Rest of the box was stinger missiles , arms shipment to Israel . Not what I was expecting.