looking for a direction flatbed,tanker,or van

Welcome to the board, thanks for your service!

Seems like you want something local, you might have luck finding a concrete block company around town that uses flatbed, or go to your local Home depot they have flatbeds with day cabs and see who's running them. Heavy haul/OD is usually for the veteran drivers, there are some companies that hire newbies for this but you will be gone from home for some weeks. Personally I'd go with tanker, depending on what you haul its usually drop and hook (no waiting to load/unload), and if you do have to load/unload its usually hooking up some hoses and pumping away (tankers chime in on this if I am wrong). Tank work might get you by the house more often, if its gas hauling though thats a 24/7 365 deal so you might be working third shift and weekends a lot...buuuut you don't have to be pulling a balancing act on top of freight trying to tarp something down in 10 degree weather. Van of course is the most common and starting out you will probably have the best chances of finding something local, chicago/gary area has lots of intermodal work (containers), try to jump in on that, should get you home nightly. Good luck!

 

You have to climb on top of a Tanker and flatbed, more physical work. You have to do this in sunshine, rain and snow. 100 degrees or - 10 degrees. Work does not usually stop because of weather. Think putting on a Tarp for a 40' trailer or hooking and standing next to a Tanker hose in the rain at either 100 or -10 degrees. Just giving you some challenging facts. I have done all three. It is easier on the driver that just opens cargo doors of van and backs into the dock. I started as a tanker, I do van now. For some one 43 and round that is what I recommend. Less likely to slip and fall too. Accidents do happen out here. I was in the military too. Been challenged already. Just trying to safely, bring home some revenue for the house. If I can do it without frostbite, heatstroke or getting soaking wet, good. But I will also add, one of the best paying local jobs I had was delivering gas and fuel as a Tanker driver. Good Luck...

 

I'm 38 and I love to pull a tanker. I have just purchased a truck and I plan to put it on somewhere hauling chemicals. I've hauled fuel and the smooth bore tanks. Believe me there is a difference. I'm of the opinion that a greenhorn (no offense), should not be pulling a smooth bore tank. The first time you get one, it's like learning to drive all over again. You do everything slower except upshift. However, at your age, I think you might have settled down enough to pull a smooth bore. Try Ruan or Indian River. As many dairies as there are in Indiana, I'd say one of them would put you to work. Good luck and if you get hooked up with a food grade tank just remember to try and be the turtle not the hare!!!

 

vans a great place to start. get the program down with that and u can pic and choose.

 

You seem like a fun guy.Welcome to the forum.

 

A close friend of mine weighs about 300 lbs. and is a tanker yanker; dry bulk and liquid. He has no problems with tanker climbing on top or any other phase of it. Start a list of companies now so you can start the applications as soon as you're in school. Here's some tanker companies that hire new CDL grads:

Schneider Bulk
Ferrellgas
Trimac
SVTN
Superior Carriers
CTL Transportation