Flatbed VS Van : What are some of the pro's and cons?

I'm not sure. I work for Roehl. Also not all companies pay extra for tarping. Some "build it into" your mileage pay.

I'm on national fleet, we operate differently than swift. I live in Florida and my fleet manager is out of Wisconsin. I choose to stay out 20+ days at a time and take a week off.

Ethan

 

I've done van, flatbed, reefer, tanker.
If you choosing between van & flatbed, go flatbed. You will make more money. Securing the load and tarping is not that bad once you get used to it in a couple of weeks. One big plus, flatbeds don't deliver groceries to grocery warehouses; I know, I know those onion haulers sometimes do.

 

Out of all 4 what is your pic? What made the best money?

 

I hate pulling a van, everyone has to learn what works for them.

 

LOL

He's only got a year give him some time..

I look back at some of the jobsites I've done over the years and the places they ask those flats to back into are pretty darn tight..

 

melons on covered wagons do also..

 

We (flatbedders) generally have banker's hours: morning deliveries, pick up afternoons. Weekend and night deliveries are rare, although the big box hardware stores usually have night deliveries. For weekends, you pick up a load on Friday and deliver on Monday, while also getting your recharge in. Makes for an easy weekend but it's very important to get a load out on Friday so you're not sitting empty all weekend. In 9 years of flatbedding, I've delivered or picked up on a weekend maybe 4-5 times.

 

The worst day tarping is better than getting worked over at a grocery warehouse. And it gets worse. Go to Laredo in the summer and you will see the box jockeys and doorslammers all sitting in the Pilot and Flying J parkinglots in 118 degree weather with their windows down, bobtailing, running teams,2 grown men sitting in underwear trying to be good employees and not idle their trucks. I'd rather tarp than run team.

See, thats what they dont tell you. Quite a few of the doorslammer bottomfeeder outfits require you to run team. Even your bottom end flatbed outfits dont require teams.
Plus, you can advance in the flatbed industry, from a stick and brick hauler to steelhauler, specialized, wind, and heavyhaul (options, dude!)

 

Don't forget, once you pull OD loads, it's daylight to dark. Period, 30 minutes after sunset, I'm done for (this time of year) 13 hours or so. Plenty of time to eat, shower, relax, and still get plenty of rest. Having pulled box trailers (dry and reefer) and now doing any and all things open deck, I can honestly say that at then end of my day, I feel like I accomplished something. Quite often, shippers and receivers are actually glad to see you, and are in my experience, quite a bit more friendly and accommodating than any van/reefer customer. It is hands on, and I do get dirty. Luckily, I don't have to wrestle tarps too often. That's the worst thing about flatbed, and its not all that bad. What I quoted above is the truth. Prime example...I'm sitting here typing this, relaxing in my bunk while one of my good friends who is a tanker yanker is running all night to try and make it to VA for a delivery in the morning.

Nt to take away from the van guys, but if you don't mind working and getting a little dirty in order to feel like what you're doing is worth it, then swingin' doors ain't even an option.

 

Drivers! You've forgotten the main arguments, here!

Van = 400lb. dirty sweat pants and flipflop wearing, trucker bomb leaving, using the restroom without washing your hands and bellying up to the buffett wannabes.

Flatbed = Lean, mean, sexy machine that all the wimmins want!

'nough said.