Recommendation for starting your career

You will do more physical work with a flatbed with load securement etc... I first drove in the Army and we not only had that, but sideboards to deal with too LOL.

Tankers, especially food grade that don't have baffles is a different type of driving with the surge.

My suggestion.of the two options would.be flatbed for a Beginner, but others may feel different.

 

My boyfriend said flatbed then you know what work really is,lol.You build muscle you lose weight.You learn more about securing a load in flatbed then anything else.Tanker comes the slush factor unless you haul dry bulk.

 

I started out pulling milk, pulling a tanker has very unique challenges to it. You really have to be able to visualize what that liquid is doing behind you. I've watched more than one new driver blow a driveline or rear end from timing the slosh wrong and hitting the gear right when the wave hits one end of the trailer. Unless you are very confident in your driving I would go flatbed first. There are a lot more variables to think about when pulling liquids.

 

I haul tanker as well as swinging meat and with tanker I do get nervous.You can really feel the trl sway if you don't drive smooth enough.

 

All good advice...to the OP, if you can get your 1st tier of experience in a van or reefer. That will give the basics of the equipment, , keeping a good line going down the road, passing, descending a grade , parking , backing, the feel of a heavy load , shifting , (double clutching), turning, all the things you need to get down pat to be a safe productive driver. Then after a couple of years, move on to the tanker or flatbed areas if you want. Each one of those has its own set of variables and dos and don't s.....best to learn to walk, then trot, then run...Good Luck