I want to drive flatbed

If you switch from basketball to football, you have to go where the rookies go. When they see you as a number instead of a person, you see them as a toehold so you can climb higher. Nothing personal. None of us are here to win a popularity contest.

You want to be an owner op? Cool. Way to have your own agenda and avoid drinking the mega company kool-aid. Be sure to pay special attention to location and the picture threads. Notice that these guys have serious talent. Your goal is to be able to rub elbows with them. Coming to play football? Bring that A-Game every time you play. Dont lose sight of your goal (like getting talked into a lease or being a trainer)...stay on point. Work hard, reward yourself, and be sure to post pics of good food and adult beverages.

Welcome to the Cool Kids.

 

Good advice there.

Getting put OOS for something stupid like a slack adjuster or getting your permit yanked for being off route is a good way to miss a crane appointment. Missing crane appointments is NOT cool. That's a quick way to go from hauling construction equipment to hauling construction paper.

 

That is literally the best piece of advice I have ever read/heard in my life. I've been thinking of switching from reefer to flatbed myself.

 

^^^^

Earlier this year, I got in on a crane move from southeast Iowa to Atlanta,GA. Nothing really big, slightly overheight. Had one of our guys up front, an Admiral driver, then me. By the time they got me loaded, I knew that I wouldnt make the St Louis county curfew. So, I stopped 45 miles north of St Louis county line, at the last truck stop on US 61 (I think it's Troy,MO). The guy that loaded first pulls in behind me, oversized. I dont exactly remember the curfew times now, but there was just enough time to hit the county line, get on I64, hit the 270 loop southeast, then 255 into Illinois, common OSOW route and have 15 minutes to spare before evening curfew. What would you do?

Driver: I'm staying here. That's too tight. I dont like to run that tight of a schedule.
Six: But if you dont move, you will catch the morning curfew tomorrow and wont get unloaded until the following day.
Driver: I dont like to run that hard.

It takes an hour to go from the north side of the St Louis county line to the Flying J in Alorton,IL. You have 15 minutes to the good before evening curfew. You do not have any scales to cross.

So, I hammer down the road, hit the county line right on time, 61 turns into I64 and the race begins. There are 2 other OSOW in front of me. I see quite a few going the opposite way. A little backup before we get to 270. 270 is slow, but it's moving. One of the OSOWs in front of me peels off and goes south on I55. The other stays on I255. We hit the J at 10 minutes before evening curfew.

Next morning, 45 minutes before sunrise, I fuel up. Read all the permits, signed my Georgia. Show time! Hammer out, get back on 64, got greenlight at the scale, greenlight at the scale on 57, greenlight in Kentucky, Manchester was out of the ground. One more scale, the Ringgold GA. Pull in, ignore the arrows and pull around back.

Scalemaster: Got your permit? Signed?
Six: Yes
Scalemaster: Hold it up so I can see it. Go ahead driver, have a good day.

I had called the receiver earlier to see how long he would be there, and also got directions. Went straight down 75 in Atlanta, right to the south of I20. It looked like a gauntlet of Diesel Bears. Hadnt been through there in decades, stayed in the right lane and did the double nickel. Made it to the crane behind the Admiral driver (he had a legal load), got unloaded and was out before the evening gridlock. The driver that loaded first finally got unloaded the following day.

15 minutes. It will amaze you how more important time saved is to money saved.

 

The worst thing I see about is that they are ashamed of most of their loads and cover them up. Lots of tarping.
Maverick loads are always secured properly and covering up steel bars is easy compared to a load of foam board.

 

Did you miss the part on your permits/provision sheets about ignoring the prepass?

 

Sorry. Meant to say the scales were closed.

 

I would say System but I don't believe they will hire out of MI... but if they do they are a great company to work for. they will train you but also still feel like a small company. When you call in they know you as a name and you can talk to anyone at anytime

 

yes 15 minutes can mean making the appointment or bring a day late. Can you imagine the consignee having to call the crane back the next day for one truck when the other three made it the day before? Ouch. That can cost you your job.

A few years ago I dispatched two of our trucks on wide loads. It's ~4:30 pm and the GPS tracker tells me they stopped at the hook in Gibson, PA....1/2 hr south of Binghamton, NY. I called to see how things were going. "Good. We have to stop for the Binghamton curfew so we're just staying here tonight". I said ummmm, no can do. You have to get north of Binghamton tonight or else you'll get delayed by the AM curfew and can't leave until 8:30 tomorrow. You need to get your pilots and leave Gibson at 6:30 tonight or you'll miss your crane appointment.

I wasn't popular that day but jeez, OD will test some people's ability to trip plan.