Starting flatbed or reefer Company for New driver in Phoenix/Tucson AZ

I don't mean to be the wet blanket, but new drivers generally don't get hired by flatbed outfits, unless specifically trained for it, like Rohel. Flatbed presents many challenges that sometimes takes years. Not much can go wrong with a load of diapers and where most new drivers start. Flatbed has the highest incidence of injuries, because just the nature of what is hauled on flatbeds, makes it tough, you have to think, it can't fall off with the chains and straps you have, but for some, beats the diapers to Walmart. Flatbed is a LOT of extra work, work you may or may not get paid for, tarping in the wind, load shifts, constantly tightening chains and straps, and the loss of teeth involved, many just stick to the diapers to Walmart. Good luck.

 

Prime is a good starter company if you want to go reefer. I was on the company side for a little over a year and once you figure out the trip planning game and get more efficient, they keep you moving. It was pretty good money for a rookie.

The only thing is they do team training, which some people don't want to deal with. It wasn't fun but it worked out fine for me personally...I happened to luck out and get a good trainer.

 

Melton pays $100.00 to tarp a load.

 

Starting out in flatbed in wintertime might be more than you care to bite off....

More OTR/regional reefer options:

Knight Transportation -- Phoenix, AZ -- paid training for new drivers -- reefer and other freight types

Roehl Transport -- Phoenix, AZ -- paid training for new drivers -- flatbed and other freight types

-- L

 

I did flatbed in the winter with snow and wind blowing. But, I've never been afraid of hard work or challenging conditions.
I just did what was required and didn't complain. Dispatchers knew when they called me they wouldn't have to listen to a bunch of crying and whining. I got the good loads. Even if I got a crappy load, I'd just take the information and get the job done.
Yeah, I was a new driver then also.

 

My neighbor here in Las Vegas went with Roehl flatbed and likes it.

 

Pulling flatbed, one time I was at the terminal and the drivers were griping about a load and they all refused it.
The dispatcher saw me and said I have a load and no one will take it. I said, without knowing what the load is "OK, I'll take it." It was a huge gear for a ski lift on top of a mountain in Upstate New York. It was a great run and enjoyed the change of scenery. The dispatcher asked me how it went and I told him, "If you get any more loads like that, give em' to me."

 

C'mon now, be positive!

 

I started out as a rookie at Prime on their flatbed fleet. My first solo run was a load of Caterpillar parts that went to West Fargo in early December. If I can do it, you can do it. Frozen tarps and frozen straps are annoying, but sitting in a dock for ten hours waiting for a reefer to be loaded or unloaded would be far more annoying, at least in my book.

Melton is a good outfit. I almost went there when I left Prime. I don't recommend starting as a flatbedder at Prime btw. They will charge you at least $3500 for your equipment, which is ridiculous.

Incidentally, did you know that the bridges in Fargo have little holes in the deck that pump salt onto the roadway when it's snowing? I didn't until I ran that load.