Switching to Flatbed (Possibly)

Good for you! Every time a reefer driver switches to flatbed, an angel gets its wings. LOL... Whereabouts in WI? Pretty sure Mansur Trucking hires flatbed newbies, they are in Janesville which is where I’m from originally. I’ve heard good things about them.

Mansur Trucking

 

All of the COTC guys I've met have been pretty cool. They've got some videos online to demonstrate how they do their tarping and how to fold them up. When we started flatbedding, we got a lot of advice from one of their drivers who used to stop by his old company periodically.

 

I have a reefer
I have a flat
I have a dump
my cousin has a low bed I occasionally pull
Pulled walking floors and belts on top of dumps at former company jobs,

Just another day the honey moon period eventually wears off no matter what you are looking at in your mirrors, follow the money

 

Right now, I would not recommend moving to flatbed. It has maybe another month of good freight, then will drop off, both rates and freight for the winter months. When it’s slows down, so does your income. Add this to a slow economy, this is going to be a tough winter. March would be a better time to make the change. Freight will be picking up. That will give you a few months to get into the work and the weather is not as bad.

 

I did some interline stuff with Combined Transport in Central Point, Or. it’s years ago now but I found the company and their operators to be finest kind for the most part. No doubt there would be some riggin’ slingers there you could learn from, and probably be more than happy to guide you if they’re approached right. Worth a call if nothing else. Just be up front, you’re an experienced driver, that’s a big plus, but green as grass on trailers with no walls. That driving experience with the right attitude might get you on with a carrier that has the kind of operators around you want to learn from. I started with chillys to get away from the bed and deck work I grew up around. After 7 years of that bs I went back to decks. That was in ‘86. If you’re suited to the work you’ll love it. Lots of luck.

 

It gonna be hard to find a good company if u have no experience. But ur in the right place for it. Dont be afraid to call companies that list 1 or 2 years experience. Some might just be willing to help u get going, if they like you

 

I think Long HAUL out of Mn hires and will train if you have 2 years OTR exp
I was there as an O/O doubt I’d ever go back for personal reasons but I think the company guys seem to like it ??


America's Premier Trucking & Shipping Company - LHT Long Haul Trucking

 

Givin my present situation I can highly recommend them.

And can confirm that while we do not hire with less than a year of driving experience we will hire someone with no flatbed experience.

Or at least we were last year I'm assuming we still are this year.

I don't know how it is over in the flatbed division/ FAK or anything I have never worked for that side.

But the heavy haul division has definitely been a breath of fresh air to work with. They pretty much just give us the info we need and stay out of our way. And the support when it comes to maintenance and permits and escorts and all of that is as good as it gets.

I mean I've been as happy as I can be with em.

Also we do have a way internally for someone to go Flat to step to RGN to Multi.