Switched from flatbed to dry van at Swift, thoughts?

Reason being is flatbed pays 42 cents a mile, dry van 40. Dry van friend of mine averages 2500 miles a week, I average 1800 because I lose time securing loads. We get paid 45 for tarping only, no pay for untarping or anything. I said I've finally had enough. I figured it was nowhere worth it..always looking in my mirrors all paranoid to see if my load is still there. It was a pain in the ### strapping and tarping a lumber load. Took me 3 hours in 95 degree heat with 90% humidity. I don't even want to know what the winter would have in store for me. Thought it would be better to work smarter, not harder.

 

I'm sure you made a great decision for you. The $45 tarp pay is nothing compared to all the detention pay you'll get for waiting 9 hours to load and 15 to unload.

 

Most of the time they're preloaded and just drop & hook

 

I did the swift flatbed deal 4 months ago. The whole triangle from Gary, to Laredo , to Greer SC, that flatbed division is a joke . Terrible equipment no idle policy and poor pay. You'd do better off in dry van or reefer. Keep in mind the miles are a bit lower due to the recession and number of swift drivers but the holidays are coming up.

 

That's what I did, the triangle. When you say the miles are a bit lower, is that for all divisions or one in particular? I already didnt get very good miles with flatbed.

 

Try an OTR reefer outfit. Even during a recession you'll keep the wheels turning.
Try Magnum Ltd. Many of those drivers are knocking down $1000 - $1500 weekly.

 

The whole trucking industry. Look up DAT it'll tell you all the info. I'm running reefer and doing fine 2500 miles a week on average

 

Does magnum do long haul ? High mile runs?

 

China, is that net or gross?

 

@ncmickey worked there; I think he said net.