Please advise - I'm being terribly indecisive

Flatbeds serve regional best. I haul aluminum out of central Ky to Williamsburg VA for Busch brewery there regularly in my time. The best haul for distance is houston to Jax. Oil rig for sea pipe one way and chains back the other. You are not going to find too much coast to coast flatbedding, that stuff is pays very good and is RESERVED for senior drivers in great favor in the eyes of dispatchers who worship and love on them.

 

You are welcome. There IS a awful lot of flatbed local. You will put in 16 hour days running 3 or 4 loads usually secured and tarps. DM Bowman of Frederick comes to mind. Wonderful company. Just too many suits and tattletales.

Cannot even sit somewhere for breakfast without your name being put into a special folder with intent to use against you on the day they have enough of you. But all in all it's a good company. Get up at 2, in engine start by 2::45 out at 3 arrive at 8 250 miles away maybe... regardless of ice or summer.

Work until sunset and beyond, drop off on top of the deck for a sleep a few hours, wake up (Daycab) wake up at 2:45 start over for engine start, pretrip. Good money. Something like 2400 net each month and then additional few hundred bonus cash payout for not idling engine, overrev etc.

 

People will talk #### but I recommend Swift. They have treated me very well, I'm making great money and I don't have much if any trouble getting home when I say I need to be home. I honestly came here because I had no options. Now I have a lot more options and I'm not going anywhere else unless it's with my own truck and picking loads off of a load board.

Depending on where you live, Swift also has what they call "shuttle drivers" where you hop in a day cab, pull a trailer maybe 300 miles one way, swap with another shuttle driver and drive 300 back.

4 days on, 2 days off... About 3000 miles a week and home every night. I would hate that but if being home is a consideration, maybe ask about it.

 

I wouldn't want a passenger with me when just starting out. They would just distract me, and I would learn better without them there, unless they are an experienced driver who can help.

 

Jones Bros. Trucking based in Missoula,Montana is flatbed and does a lot of west coast and Pacific Northwest. Wife can ride along.
"Jones Brothers Trucking is a company that will deliver on its commitments. Located in Missoula, Montana, we operate as an irregular route, 48 state, and Canadian flatbed carrier."

 

Hold off on the wife or passenger just yet. Get your solid in that trucking first. It WILL be one of the absolute worst distractions with certain hard rules you need to lay down with a pax. Make Pax understand that certain rules being taught is not a power trip but a absolute necessary if you two will get along for any length of time in that tiny cab.

The 300 miles out swap and 300 back is gravy Go for it. I would. No loading docks etc.

 

Right now it's all 48, with a mix of all types of freight. If there's no flatbed load I haul a van or reefer load. Lately I have been caught in a loop bouncing back and forth hauling beer loads though; beer from Denver to California, Ohio or California and empty cans or kegs back. Haven't really complained because the trips are all long. I would possibly jump on a shuttle position if one was available out of Lancaster though.