I'm gonna be a flatbeder

Melton called once I finish school I will be on my way to Tulsa OK! I'm stoked ready for challenge but really determined and ready to rock n' roll!!

 

Congrats!! I'm sure you are excited and ready to get started.

Be safe!

 

Doesn't gypsum express run a decent sized outfit out of baldwinsville?

 

Welcome aboard. Not a bad start to skateboarding. I guess you have to do the trainer thing for 6 weeks before you get your own rig. Thats fine. You can learn from everything and everyone. First off, you need to get your winter gear. Insulated leather gloves (multiple pair as they will get wet) a hoodie, a Carhardt coat, steel toe boots, and double up the wool socks. Your hands and feet will freeze if you dont protect them (you actually will get used to the cold, if you arent already) pulling chains and walking through deep snow in steel toes. Until you get your own rig, you have to travel as light as you possibly can, but you dont really need that much. Take care to make sure your gloves and shoes dry at night. Got it? Got it.

Melton is going to give you your own copy of the DOT regs book and have you go over the securement section. All companies give all drivers a book, but flatbed companies will make you open it up and read the flatbed section. Its not an exciting read, but in our line of work, you want to know the regs like you know your last name. Want to be at the top of the game? Study the rules.

When you get into the trainer's truck, he will have his truck set up a certain way (all drivers set their trucks up differently). Pay attention to the differences between his setup, and others. Ask him why he does it that way, and if he says, "Well, I was taught...", odds are he's an idiot. Dont tell him that he's an idiot, just check the 'Trainer May Be an Idiot' box in your brain. Speaking of trainers, you're not in his truck to be buddies or win a popularity contest. So dont let differences in politics, religion, sports.,..etc get you into a heated argument to where you guys dislike each other. Do your time, get it done ASAP and get your own rig. That's the mission.

I need you to be first out the truck when it's time to work. Dont be in the truck trying to put shoes on as he's pulling into a customer's yard. You are here to learn, remember? Walk with him and watch how he deals with security, shippers and receivers. Even if he's an idiot, you can learn from him what not to do. Whenever you get out of the truck, have your gloves with you. You cant be ready to work if you dont have your gloves.

When it's time to sleep, you need to be asleep. No video games. No phone calls to mama. No porn. If you get to a shipper at 0700 and the shipper says that your product wont be ready until 10am, thank him, let him know that you will be waiting in your truck. Let the company know, the go back to the truck and catch a nap. If you got up at 0500, rolled into a shipper at 0700, load at 10am, and got 550 miles to your destination, you dont want to be weary at 1700, because you still have some driving to do. Our world isnt 9-5. You can make the receiver and unload first thing the following morning. Drive when it's time to drive and sleep when it's time to sleep. Talk to mama while you're on the open road. Do your porn and video games on your 34.

Reward yourself for a hard days work. Get a shower. Get a hot meal in a restaurant. Eat your food in the restaurant and RELAX. Get 1 adult beverage. Tell mama to stretch and warm up, and chase her around the bedroom when you get home.

1 more thing. You will hear the negative driver with the negative talk. Knows everything, and is always negative and unhappy. He's seeking an audience and will be drawn to you because you are a rookie. Ignore him. Tell him, "Sorry Hand. TripleSix told me to never give an idiot an audience." Avoid the negative talk, avoid the negative crowds. Trucking is what you make it, and we are going to try to line our pockets, right?

Welcome to the Cool Kids and luck in battle.

 

Right on Tripple Six

 

TripleSix is right. Get your sleep when you can get it.... Flatbedding is hurry up and wait, then truck all night. Good luck.

 

Hey I really do appreciate this advice, Some great stuff here and I will use everything you said here. Thank You!

 

Yes Gypsum runs right out my area. But I really want to run all 48 states. I also know the owner of the company pretty well I actually raced dirt modified at the dirt tracks he owns. Nothing against John but we are not the best of friends!

 

Hey Triplesix is Spanky still at Melton? He trained me back in 2000.

 

i dunno. Never worked at Melton. Try the Melton forum.