Flatbed Wages

So over a year and a half has come and gone since I originally posted this thread, and I decided to finally revisit it. I spent 11 months as a Flatbedder for System Transport, hauling all manner of freight both OTR and Regional Heavy-haul. After taking the plunge, getting my hands dirty, all the ups and downs and many nights exhausted and dirty, I will post what all the drivers here would not. The results.

Keep in mind that this profession is very much Performance Based, and income may vary substantially by your willingness to work hard, be reliable, and have a great attitude. That said, having done it for a year and looking back, I hold to the same opinion I had when I started this thread. This is useful info to anyone with enough sense to understand the variable nature and draw their own conclusions.

I sincerely hope that some rookies looking to get into Flatbedding like I was all those months ago will find in this thread what I was looking for.

This is a breakdown of my pay with System Transport from 9/1/2017 - 7/27/2018.
(I can only post 10 images per post, so it seems I will have to do this in several replies.)

My Gross total for the period was: $53,136.21

My Net total for the period was: $36,188.36

Total of 12 weeks training @ $700/wk included.

My mileage pay rate was 43/CPM.

I also received Tuition Reimbursement once per month in $396 chunks. I believe the total amount was $3500.

Pay was HHG.

Tarping pay was $25 to tarp, $15 to untarp.

I ran hard OTR and my average weekly miles were around 3000.

My hometime OTR was generally 4 days per month. Regional I was home weekends.

 

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So there it is! I hope this helps give some prospective drivers out there an idea for the kind of money you can make in your first year. Keep in mind, I screwed up a lot early, and as a result spent an extra long time in training (almost 3 months!). I also switched Fleets which came with more downtime and training.

All in all I could have done better in several categories, but my research prepared me well, and as a result I got some awesome miles and fantastic treatment from my company. By the time I hit my stride I was on pace to make easily 65k + for my second year, and if you run hard, be safe, and keep a good attitude you can expect the same!

In conclusion I hope this is helpful, and if you have any questions I'll be happy to try to answer them!

 

That's odd, when I click on them it opens a new tab with a pretty clear view. But I'm on a PC so maybe it is the phone.

Every company has a slightly different pay structure but it is a hyper-competitive industry, so unless you are starting with a company in a very different category (like somewhere with only a few trucks, or with unusual home-time, etc.) then pay is pretty much even across the board. For example, one company might be 2 or 3 more CPM, but have worse tarping/accessory/stop pay, or many other bonuses.

This thread is specifically focusing on Flatbedding, because that's where I have experience. From what I understand we are compensated a bit better for all the physical work, but I also know dry-van/reefer drivers who have made excellent money starting out as well. And that is because in the end, your own willingness to bust butt, stay out, do what you are asked without complaining, consistently be on time and have a good attitude are what will determine your pay in this industry.

I know a driver who makes awesome money (upward of 80k) working for a much maligned mega-carrier, making the same CPM as drivers there who pull in around 55k. That is the difference it can make. It is either the big upside, or the big downside of the work - it is all on you. So no, this is not false hope. Absolutely 100% you can make this kind of money with any comparable Flatbed company IF you are willing to put in the work.