Hello from Lakeland, FL.

Just want to point out that switching jobs just to get away from stupid isn’t going to work. In fact you’re just replacing the scenery but the stupid stays.

sure it will be refreshing at first, but you’ll come back to the realization that it’s the same crap, different toilet.


Wish you the best, but what I would do with that experience is become a big rig mechanic road calls.

$200 an hour if not more.

 

If flatbed duty is of interest to you--then this one is probably THE flatbed carrier for you to look at, first....terminals located in Tampa, & Jacksonville--& elsewhere:

Driver FAQ - Cypress Truck Lines

They can get you home, weekly.

--Lual

 

You recommend them? I sure wouldn’t. They’ve been crap, since I first knew of them in the 90’s. They’ve always ran stripped, crappy equipment. They haul cheap loads, like mulch (cypress mulch). Their trucks are not properly equipped for a flatbedder to properly do their job, like one set of tarps (lumber tarps) fits everything. From their drivers’ appearances, I’d say they don’t pay well. This place is a hard pass, for me.

A flatbed in FL has always been a struggle. It’s why Maverick doesn’t run their flatbeds down there. It’s hard to get back out and the rates are cheap.

 

Thanks much for that info/feedback.....

--Lual

 

Check this one in Jacksonville.
Heavy Equipment Transport
Hires new cdl school grads and trucks run 70 mph.

 

@DRandi --

In post #35 above, you asked about TMC.

That carrier was originally started by a Marine officer.

If you're ex-military (Marines, or Army)....you might just like it there.

Otherwise--the military style thinking and "DNA" there will likely be a turn-off for you.

With a recession already underway--my "vote" here sez.....stack the deck in your favor.....to maximize your later chances of real success.

What do I really mean by that?

Start off in trucking (if you finally decide to do that) by pulling freight that is more recession-resistant.

In central Florida--that's super-easy to do!!!

Start out by pulling freight that is either food--or food-related.

Central Florida is a super "hot bed" of BOTH reefer loads--& food-grade tanker.

Either of those will basically allow you to pretty much bypass most recession problems.

Easy examples--see post #4, in this same thread.

Also--Chinatown-vetted and approved: Join The Family - Leonards (leonardsexpress.com)

Leonard's takes new CDL grads....and (from the website) apparently does regional freight, too.

Thus--you should be able to get home every week or so with them.

--Lual

 

You might rethink the 3-letter company. I’m a combat veteran and was pretty hardcore, at the time. Those guys are just plain jerks. I won’t allow people to disrespect me, as they don’t own me. Furthermore, flatbed freight OUT of FL is difficult. Again, drive around the distribution centers and see what all is there. Go that route, so you’re not having to deal with parking a truck and trailer.

 

"TMC" = "Too Much Chrome"



--Lual