My boyd experience

Just thought I'd relate my 2 cents worth for anyone going to, or contemplating Boyd Bros. Overall, they are a pretty strong company. Good benefits, decent folks for the most part. I really believe their heart is in the right place.
When you are accepted, you will be told about hometime. In most cases, depending on your home location, you will be guaranteed 24-36 hours home weekly, unless ASKED to stay out. I think this is dependent on your fleet manager, and the areas he sends you most. Personally, I have fussed for months, to make this happen, to little or no avail. It does seem to work for most of the drivers I run across, though. Even one, that lives within 30 miles of me, so I know it IS possible.
In orientation we were told fleet managers were placed on straight salary. Evidently, this has changed, as my FM has admitted they are receiving bonuses again. This may be the cause of being pushed to stay gone. It was 2 weeks at first, then 3, then tried to push to 4. The hometime was a huge deciding factor in my decision to go to Boyd. Never was I asked to stay out, just ran through the list of common excuses why..... slow freight, no freight going that way, etc. Load swap searches were offered, but only late on Friday, when I was 5-700 miles from home.
As for basic equipment, you will receive just that. Tarps, chains, binders, etc. Straps are left with the trailers, and some you will pick up, will be missing, or unservicable, in the field. But this is to be expected. As for padding material, you're pretty much on your own. Some of the steel and crated loads, will resemble a porcupine, so you need to find your own padding material. Most of these loads will have the paperwork stamped with, MUST BE KEPT DRY, so you see a slice from sharp steel edges are a real problem.
A word about tarps, and tarping here. The vast majority of products you load, will be tarped. Most of the tarps you'll see, are, in my opinion, well past their useful lifespan. Most are a mass of patches and repairs. Alot of which are so old, they are coming loose, so be aware, and have duct tape ready. Mostly, the combo tarps, which will JUST cover a 5' high, 8' wide load. Anything over 5', you'll need the 9' drop lumber tarps, or 4 combos, turned sideways. The lumber tarps, are solid, no flaps, so their heavy, bulky, and did I say heavy? Just part of the job, seriously.
Customer base.... So far, in several months, I have been to only a handful, where we might be considered the "premier" carrier. For the most part, you will be just another truck, treated with little or no respect. If you find a shipper that you're out of in 2 1/2 hours or less, remember it fondly. There is so much competition nowadays, they no longer have to "cater" to truckers. 4 hours is a good norm.... If you are sent to Claymont steel, Claymont, DE, bring a lunch.... and dinner. 17-24+ hours is not uncommon. And chances are, you won't receive any compensation for your wait. "Good customer"....... The flatbed industry has gone the way of van freight now, APPOINTMENTS...... You will show up on time or early, then wait in line behind several others, all with the same "appointment". Be prepared for it, and be happy if it is better than expected.
The trucks...... decent company-type trucks. Mostly snap together plastic interiors. Int'ls are famous for very little storage, so be prepared to move stuff back and forth from your bunk. In referrence to some other posts, NO BOYD DOES NOT HAVE BEDBUGS. You'll get a new mattress, about 3 inches of foam, sleeps like plywood, if you have any size. It's new, but with so much turnover, they aren't buying expensive "premium" mattresses. You will be passed by every other flatbed company, uphill, or flat ground. Swift, Maverick, Western Express, etc. If you are lucky enough to get a unit with no APU, even every other Boyd truck. They are cut back further, to make up for your idle time, which you will be chastised for, during hot months, with short dispatches. Opt for a truckstop with a lounge, as you'll be told to use it, instead of privacy with your truck idling during those 34 hour resets.
This company has approx. 1/3 of the fleet in the million mile, or more club, so there must be a reason. Not every company works for every driver. Ms. Betty Nix is the sweetest, nicest person, and truly cares. She is the head of recruitment, and she will try to help. On her direction, I took my problems to the Ops manager. He was perhaps, the most dis-interested individual I have spoken with there. Before all the words were out of my lips, Wade started reciting the same excuses I have heard for months. I could go higher up the chain, but to what end? Being branded a problem, or whiner, doesn't fare well in the trucking industry. Sooner or later, it WILL come back to bite you.
I sooo, hate to change jobs. But as evidenced by my screen name, I have years of other talents that are marketable. If I am forced to be gone longer than promised, I can apply them, toward a larger paycheck. Please, don't hesitate to give them a try. Boyd is really the best "flatbed" carrier. Just be aware, and don't let things get too far out of hand, before working the chain of command. If you try to hustle, and let your merits speak for you, undoubtedly, you will fall in the same trap.