How much experience is needed for heavy haul?

ElmerFudpucker · Apr 26, 2026

Rontonio said: ↑

I beg your pardon, there is definitely room for whining
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You can do it, but nobody cares. So it’s really pointless

MACK E-6 · Apr 26, 2026

ElmerFudpucker said: ↑

No real heavy haul company hires fresh grads. First let’s define heavy haul
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The outfit I did it for in Baltimore took me on with only about 2 years experience. Of course they paid peanuts, were DOT magnets, and use 50 year old trailers.

I’m sure there has to be a bettter way for a newer driver who really wants to make a go at this and learn how to do things the right way. They threw me right to the wolves and left me to figure everything out myself.

lual · Apr 26, 2026

ElmerFudpucker said: ↑

I personally think you can’t even begin to say you do “heavy haul” until to get to multi component trailers. So very minimum 8axle 3+1. But there needs to be clarification. People use the term as a catch all. It’s not a catch all. Oversize and heavy haul are not the same. Oversize has a 100 different sub-niches.

But more importantly the OP isn’t ready for any of it. Not because of experience, although that’s a huge hurdle. I can tell from his post that his mentality and maturity level aren’t there. He’s blaming swift and blaming his trainer for the reasons why he’s where he’s at. The reason he is where is his is because of his choices.

In the specialized world of moving over size freight you are faced with a thousand hurdles and a thousand setbacks every day. You succeed or you fail depending on the choices YOU make. There is no blaming others. So, the state ##’s your route. So, the pilot car is a no show. So, it weighs 15k more. So, it’s 10” wider. So, you missed a turn because reading a permit is like deciphering old English.

There is 10,000 ways to fail everyday. No one wants to hear why you didn’t get the job done. They don’t even want to hear how hard it was to get the job done. They just want the job done. And if you can’t do that then you are no good to anyone.

There is no room for whiners and there is no room for people who don’t accept responsibility in this segment. If that’s you, you will not last long.
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FAN - TAS - TIC POST!!!!

Truckloads of wisdom & insight there -- wish still more posts were such a good read, & as instructive.

-- L

lual · Apr 26, 2026

ElmerFudpucker said: ↑

No, it’s truth.
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The real truth is all-too-often rather harsh....

-- L

AModelCat · Apr 26, 2026

TripleSix said: ↑

Years ago, to hire on off the street as a heavy hauler, everyone wanted to see 10 years driving experience and they’d specifically asked for 9 axles or more. I am sure that you could hire on and work up to the big trailers quicker than 10 years, but off the street, that was the standard I saw.

Northern Alberta and Saskatchewan, 6 axle rigs are quite common. It seems like they haul everything imaginable on those 3 axle oilfield lowboys. Crazy stuff too. It isn’t uncommon to see loads that have to be 25 ft tall or taller.
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A lot of those floats are 24 wheel as well because of the seasonal road bans.

crzyjarmans · Apr 30, 2026

SmooveSailinBmt59 said: ↑

Basically I'm a few months from getting my CDL back I basically got ####ed by Swift because when I went in initially I wanted to be on a flatbed division so they stuck me in a reefer division with a rookie and the guy only had like 2 years of experience and he was always tired and he was always talking about how he stood stayed up with his baby mama at the time who was pregnant with their second child and he had me over driving and I don't want to go back to Swift
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Not bashing you, but what you’v posted is not Swift fault!, you allowed that to happen, but… to start with heavy haul, you’d be better off starting with a flatbed company that will train you, like Melton, then work your way up to doing heavy haul, Need to learn to crawl before you walk, and walk before you run, best of luck

SmooveSailinBmt59 · May 3, 2026

ElmerFudpucker said: ↑

You’re not heavy haul ready
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I respect it but worked along side some guys that did they all told me just get at least 5 years of flatbed experience I should be i already know how to strap,chain and everything else not to mention I can go back to Swift and 6 other companies so u telling me this doesn't mean it's the end of the world homie

SmooveSailinBmt59 · May 3, 2026

Chinatown said: ↑

Where is your location? Some heavy haul hires new cdl grads if you live in the hiring area.
Also, go with a flatbed either way; heavy haul or general flatbed freight, then later some heavy haul outfit will hire you.
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I'm located in Texas sir I got a 1 year down down driving end dump truck and trailer

SmooveSailinBmt59 · May 3, 2026

Big Road Skateboard said: ↑

@AFC can punctuate, and still wasn't ready.

But he was still a hundred times more ready than you.
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I don't give #### what u talking dude u don't know me at all why the #### would u comment stay in your lane mind the business that pays u

SmooveSailinBmt59 · May 3, 2026

AModelCat said: ↑

A lot of those floats are 24 wheel as well because of the seasonal road bans.
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Okay overstood

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