Swift Flatbed?

You can go to flat bed right out of orientation but there are not as many mentors for flatbed, and those that are there would rather spend the time teaching you the flatbed techniques and securement. They prefer that if you are a new driver you do your mentoring with a van driver to learn the basics of Swift operations.

 

So a good idea would be after orientation run with your trainer, then go solo for a while to learn the ropes then start asking about flatbed?? I think that is what I want to do, my "plan".

 

This would be interesting to know.

Edit: Just saw some replies, looks like going to the academy, mentor and then driving solo for six months before asking for FB division is a good idea then?

 

Does anyone know who I would need to contact about switching over as a L/O I know there is a 5 day class or so for us just don't know who to get ahold of. Thanks

 

There is a flatbed recruitter in PHX, but do not remember his name. Are you sure you want to get the headache rack installed on your truck?

 

Well the current t660 doesn't have enough room for equipment, if you ask me to make the switch with it to flatbedding. So I am if it works out bring in another truck and while my brother continues in this truck and I will have one set up for flatbedding. Well next time I make it to PHX I'll talk to one, but seeing how I only get down there when I request it it might take awhile lol.

 

I did see one time a T660 studio that was converted for flatbed. What did not make sense, they took the top of the cab off so that it almost looked like a mid roof.

 

yeah pretty common I have a truck in mind just working out the final price that does not have the areo cap on it. There isn't a need for a full height cap if 95% of what you haul is under 5 feet tall on the deck of the trailer.

 

Hell, just call the recruiter...he or she will get you routed there.

 

The only way to go out with a flatbed mentor is if you are a new driver. Experienced drivers take the 5 day class. 6 months exp is not written in stone. Plenty of 660 o/o FB trucks you just can't haul overlong loads, you'll be planned accordingly. There are longer frame trucks for lease as well used columbias and new cascadias. The man to talk to about switching to FB as an exp driver or o/o is ray pederson in Phoenix. New drivers who want to do FB should have already worked that out by the time they go to orientation. Think that covers the last few posts.