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Inexperienced Driver needs advice about flatbeds...

Discussion in 'Flatbed Trucking Forum' started by Gearhead5406, Apr 22, 2012.

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  1. Apr 22, 2012 #1
    Gearhead5406

    Gearhead5406 Bobtail Member

    10
    2
    Apr 12, 2012
    Genoa, Ohio
    0
    I've worked for the same employer for almost 13 years in a non driving job and nobody will hire me without recently graduating or going through a refresher course. I'm getting ready to start round # 2 of truck driving school. Can anyone help me with advice on companies to work for and who to stay away from. Like the option of flatbed work for ratio of hometime to pay. I've heard plenty of horror stories from from most of the companies out there though and am sure most of it is B.S. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I'm from the Northwestern Ohio/Southeastern Michigan area. I've been doing plenty of research. I have a few blems in my background(Disorderly Conduct charge and fired from my last non driving job), so the companies that were my first choices won't hire me. It's like comparing apples and oranges to me. Some promise good hometime and some promise good pay. I'm trying to keep in mind that the recruiters are getting paid to sell their company to me as well. I realize that I'm not going to get a top dollar job in the first year, but I don't want to be treated like a prisoner/slave driving my rear off for just the companies benefit either. I've looked into Roehl, PGT, TransAm, Valley Transportation(out of Ashland, Ohio), Falcon Transportation(out of Youngstown, Ohio),Stevens, Navajo, Boyd Bros., and Conway. This way I have covered both Van and Flatbed options. Van work seems easier(hook up and go until you drop off), with more miles and less per mile pay. While flatbed work pays better with less miles, but is more physical and requires more work in the elements(bad weather). Still not sure what to do. Seems like when get closer to making my decision, I run across some dirt that seems to scare me away from a choice.
     
    Gearhead5406, Apr 22, 2012
    Gearhead5406, Apr 22, 2012
    #1
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  3. Apr 22, 2012 #2
    BlackLions

    BlackLions Road Train Member

    1,002
    217
    Feb 4, 2012
    Everywhere...Midwest and South
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    Check out Schneider... good starting company. As long as you have a good dispatcher, you'll get good home time and where you're at there's lots of loads. There's also choices, OTR/Dedicated/local/regional, van/tanker. I use to run dedicated for home depot, I stopped by the house everyday for 30mins-1hr and home every weekend. Lots of choices, good luck.
     
    BlackLions, Apr 22, 2012
    BlackLions, Apr 22, 2012
    #2
  4. Apr 22, 2012 #3
    Shaggy

    Shaggy Road Train Member

    3,116
    2,595
    Sep 21, 2006
    FIGMO
    0
    Find a local company, Not the big fleets. you will be surprised.

    I can't say who i work for, but 5 years later surprised to learn. could have worked for my current local employer directly out of CDL school. joined the company 9 months ago. making top dollar industrial non union. I was shocked to learn could of been hired 5 years ago. not a cdl hiring mill either.

    live and learn. I am still shocked at my paychecks. the dang company is 3 miles from my home.
     
    Shaggy, Apr 22, 2012
    Shaggy, Apr 22, 2012
    #3
  5. Apr 22, 2012 #4
    lastgoodusername

    lastgoodusername Medium Load Member

    444
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    Dec 18, 2008
    central NC
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    what he said. if you have to be a Indentured servant to one of the driver mills , get the time under your belt, medication will probably help and just be on the lookout for the small local deal. you will be far happier. johnny
     
    lastgoodusername, Apr 22, 2012
    lastgoodusername, Apr 22, 2012
    #4
    AZS Thanks this.
  7. Apr 22, 2012 #5
    Nitelite

    Nitelite Bobtail Member

    8
    0
    Apr 18, 2012
    Vickery, ohio
    0
    One of your big driver mill companies will get you the miles needed to write your own ticket. But to be honest I lived in North West Ohio for 19 years (Toledo area) & that's flatbed country. There are a lot of small companies in that region running flatbeds that will take a person with limited experience or fresh from school.. personally I wouldn't pull anything but a flat or stepdeck but that's just my preference
     
    Nitelite, Apr 22, 2012
    Nitelite, Apr 22, 2012
    #5
  8. Apr 22, 2012 #6
    BlackLions

    BlackLions Road Train Member

    1,002
    217
    Feb 4, 2012
    Everywhere...Midwest and South
    0
    Like the other guys said, if you can find a local company, go with it. It's hard but look around. If you can't do ALOT of research about big companies, talk to drivers.
     
    BlackLions, Apr 22, 2012
    BlackLions, Apr 22, 2012
    #6
  9. Apr 22, 2012 #7
    Logan76

    Logan76 Crusty In Training

    4,528
    17,698
    Jul 12, 2009
    kittanning, PA
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    Weird Shaggy your right around the corner for me, I live slightly north of pittsburgh.
     
    Logan76, Apr 22, 2012
    Logan76, Apr 22, 2012
    #7
  10. Apr 22, 2012 #8
    AZS

    AZS Honk if anything falls off

    2,912
    1,303
    Sep 30, 2010
    PHX, AZ
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    this is what I did and seems to have worked out good so far, as far as pay goes its really worked out.
     
    AZS, Apr 22, 2012
    AZS, Apr 22, 2012
    #8
  11. Apr 22, 2012 #9
    bigjoel

    bigjoel Road Train Member

    1,573
    1,835
    Jan 20, 2011
    Houston, Tx
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    Don't let them put you on a bus, going to some God-forsaken place for orientation.
     
    bigjoel, Apr 22, 2012
    bigjoel, Apr 22, 2012
    #9
  12. Apr 22, 2012 #10
    JDP

    JDP Medium Load Member

    377
    404
    Sep 25, 2011
    Dubuque, IA
    0
    I'm obviously partial to smaller outfits as most guys on here know I'm involved in a family trucking company. There are benefits to big and small carriers alike. I like being able to know every driver and their families by name. A smaller outfit is much more likely to look past any blemishes on your record and take the time to train you properly. A large outfit may have an official training school/program but many only teach you on a very surface level how to secure loads to DOT spec. The smaller company is going to give you hands-on advice telling you from their past driving experience, not what a DOT book says to do.

    If you don't mind the added work and exercise, I'd strongly recommend going with an open deck operation. I'm not sure if you can get a TWIC card with any blemishes on your record or not but they are also helpful and give you a lot more options for which open deck companies will take you. You live in a perfect area for open deck freight. Sounds like home time is important to you, I'm sure there are a dozen small carriers close to you hauling steel regionally that can get you home at least 3 or 4 nights a week.
     
    JDP, Apr 22, 2012
    JDP, Apr 22, 2012
    #10
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