For. New driver best to start van or ok to try flatbed?

I am going by what other drivers have told me. Some carriers will pay a lower mileage rate and then pay tarp pay which makes the driver feel that he is making more money. Sometimes, he can make more money. It depends on the company. Most carriers pay tarp pay if they receive it from the shipper. Frankly, I think that any shipper who wants something tarped should be willing to pay extra for the service.

 

I don't know of any carriers that require company drivers to pay for tarps. Owner operators and lease operators usually have to buy their own tarps. Most will take an inventory of all assigned equipment. If you leave the company and are missing some of the assigned equipment, then they may charge you back for anything that is missing.

 

Dealing with a dump valve is just one more think that an inexperienced driver will have to deal with along with learning how to drive. If a driver forgets to re inflate his air bags, he could have problems and damage his equipment. Some flat bed carriers who run spread axles have taken the dump valves off their trailers or never had them installed due to damage.

 

with a 53 foot flatbed you get much more business,

 

the werner, Schneider, and JB hunt recruiters all told me today that their drivers do not get paid extra for tarping.