Flatbed Needs

Rates have still been excellent for me on a step deck too.

@geaux34, as for what you need for flatbed, the number one thing you need is your common sense. Do your due diligence and know what you are hauling. Understand the dynamics of open deck. Pay attention to how tall your load is going to be. Let your mind and your gut guide you. If you feel uncomfortable about a load, ask questions. Ask another flatbed driver. Do a Google search for pics. Take notes in a notebook about what you haul and use it as a reference for future loads. Keep track of heights, widths and weights.

 

...they just think all the money is here !

 

There's two of the Landstarve super trolls on their page with a dozen posts each already telling me we will face CERTAIN DOOM.

 

If you switch to open deck, I might need to borrow that Van trailer you got just for a month or two...

I hear they got a secret honey hole up there in Central Point, you make so much money pulling van loads around town you only need to work a couple months out of the year...

I'm gonna seek and find out!!!

 

Well it's my understanding Phoenix is a dead spot for deck. California has really dried up. It's just over satcherated with trucks ( vans ) now.

Might try it. There are some things that look very, very good. Some are the same agents I deal with now, so we'll see.

The loads I have now are really good. Just good to have some options.

I don't think my little Cascadia would do it long term for deck though.

 

What would you suggest someone do them? Sit in a bad sector. Or seek better opportunities

 

It's going to catch up with open deck, no doubt about it

 

Tarps, you need tarps, bungees for them.
Rain jacket, you will be working in rain when it falls.

 

A good health insurance plan, flatbed has the most on the job injuries of any aspect of trucking. Reason "everybody" is running to flatbed, in these troubled times, the rich bastxxds are still building their subdivisions, and "mega archery/hunting" stores and flatbed is the only thing I see here. Company trucks have taken all the box freight, and don't dabble in flatbed or tanker much, and for good reason. Can you imagine the claims a mega would have to pay out with the help they get if they had flatbeds? Pigs aren't flying yet, but if I did another trucking gig, it would most certainly be flatbed,,,WITH A 1962 KWHOPPER!!!
The real money here would be hauling fresh water in a tanker to the dope houses. Go ahead and laugh, but get with the times. You should see the grow house "just outside" of my little town. It's as big as a warehouse and use a TON of water. You'd make more than any pixxy flatbed, I almost guarantee it.

 

I jumped on a few months back, unfortunately had to go back to reefer for awhile to get my two years for my old company. I would say what @Dave_in_AZ said and @Catmando too! I think people are realizing though all the BS with reefer. How much waiting you do. With the stuff I usually haul right now doing reefer the wait times aren't bad at all, but when I get sent to them stupid food DC's, all I do it wait! I hate them. Why I loved when I went into flatbed, plus I like the physical work and the customers were better for the most part (just more respectful towards drivers that are respecting them as well). Just my .02