I Have options between 2 companies

I'd go back to WE and go flatbed. Learn the trade and move on. In a van your a driver. In flatbed your driver and you know how to secure loads. One extra thing to put on the resume. It will set you apart from just backing into a dock.

 

Go with western express flatbed. Trans Am won't do anything but try and push their crappy lease purchase on you

 

I'm so glad you chimed in. I'd quit tanks, or learn flats at 54 before slamming doors or freezing arses, myself. He needs to hear this. If all he has is Western atm, so be it. A foot in the door, IMHO. You read my stuff, I suppose.

I respect the HELL out of you Fb guys. Wish I'd've learned it younger.

 

a.) you are 2 weeks in with Western, no matter what.

b.) yeah, Cypress is supposedly 'decent' out of FL, I told you that earlier....but but BUT....

c.) Western Express will open more doors for you, trust me. Even tho i'm not a skateboarder, I know a many. I'd bet my BOTTOM dollar... i've already told ya. Doesn't matter they are a "starter company" for someone with a checkered past... IT'S A DOOR THAT HAS OPENED FOR YOU AND HASN'T CLOSED YET! A lot of us guys on here offering help, have been here for a min or many.

d.) Did you look at some of those posts/threads, the 'big guys?' @Short Fuse EOD I'm sorry I left you out of my short-list. If you've read my posts, you know I have UTMOST respect for you guys.

Again, Were I you, or Were you MY son.... there you have it.

e.) In a tank, yes, I worry (or shall I say, "comprehend" ) the surge.... There's a member on here, @Bud A. who went from flats to tanks, because of a medical situation. BOTH have their fear-factors, conundrums, whatnot.

f.) I would NOT EVER consider reefer........ they are below the vans list in my book.

 

Oh ####.....yeah~~!!! I forgot THAT part~! A friend of my wife's left them recently....over the same issues...... YEP YEP YEP...... they sure do... as soon as they get your feet wet, they'll be up your orifice to L/P.

 

Just joining in here, OP. I would say stick with Western Express. Learning flatbed will get in your blood, if you don't mind working. I'd still be doing it but I decided to slow down a bit after having major surgery, so I went with a tanker company.

I know a couple of guys who started with WE, and have talked to a few of their drivers at flatbed places. You'll read a lot of crap about them here and elsewhere, but it is what you make of it. You can make a good living there if you work hard and have a good attitude.

Really, I would say stick it out with them. If you can last a year there, you'll have a ton more options this time next year. If you last two years there, you'll be in real demand at a lot of places. The first part is the toughest, a lot of people don't like that and wash out.

 

Just say no to reefer, maaan.

 

You going flat this time?