Flatbed or tanker or reefer or van

First a bit about me. 29 years old, been driving for 3 months class A and a few years class B earlier in life. I've no endorsements on this license yet, but would have no problem getting them. I just haven't been home in VA yet since starting to drive back in early April.

So, I've been pulling a van with Schneider for about 3 months. And it's ok. Really not a lot to complain about. I have a decent truck (2015 cascadia), money isn't awful and my dispatcher is mostly good. Sometimes great.

Problem is, it's getting boring. The driving part is fine. Awesome actually. Love it. But the whole "come to big box building and back into door, drive to big box building and back into door" or it changes to drop here pick up there. Too easy. And boring. And I'm getting fatter every day not doing anything else but sit. So...

I'm really contemplating flatbed. I'm in good enough shape for it, plenty young and don't mind getting dirty. Plus it seems like a stepping stone for more specialized freight later on in life. Also, it seems the kind of job that if one day I wanted to go O/O and own my own trailer, it would be really easy to own a flatbed or a step deck. And I'd get to go to some places that are a lot more fun than the big box warehouse.

But then there's tanker. From what I've read here it's better money. More exciting places to see and a whole lot of miles usually. Probably go into Canada (I'd very much enjoy this part). More of a challenge.

Reefer.. Not sure. I've heard good things but seems very similar to dry van with worse hours. Better pay though.

Anyhow. Like I said I'm at Schneider now. I know they have a bulk division and that's an option. But here's what would be a perfect company that I could hope for:

1- this is by far most important. Any company that doesn't qualify here is immediately out of the running. No driver facing cameras or forward facing cameras that record audio.

2- not as important but would be awesome. Nicer truck. Cascadia is good and all, but having an inverter, fridge, microwave and apu would make life out here a lot better. Would be really awesome if it was governed at anything higher than 60mph as well, but I don't really mind being a turtle. I'd love to drive a t680 or a 379/579 around. Nothing against the big fat Volvo either. Cascadia.. It's bouncy.

3- pay - it's gotta be north of $1k a week or it's not worth switching. I'd be ok with making less during whatever training period, but once that's done.. Yeah.

4- would be great if there were long runs. Canada, coast to coast, etc. not necessarily even long runs but one of the biggest problems with Schneider is that I seem to run regional and once in a while switch regions. 300 mile loads do not make OTR.

5- Home time. Not important at all actually. But I'd be taking a couple days every month or two. Potentially in different locations. I very much enjoy being out for a month + and running hard while I'm at it.

6- and finally - pet policy. This would be a cherry on top of a beautiful cake if all the previous conditions were met. Or something that would tip the scales in favor of a company that was pretty close.

Anyhow. That's my dream list there. I'm pretty sure I'm being unrealistic, but ...

Currently I'm contemplating TMC for flatbed. Meets almost all my criteria above. Not all, but most.

 

Awesome. I'll look into them!

As far as food service or pop/beer, that'd require me to be home. I don't want to be at home. That would require paying rent or a mortgage to someone and interfere in my money saving plans

 

I looked at system. They look very solid. Pole division would be awesome but I'm so far away from the hiring areas... VA or CT. I might just give them a call..