Time to start applying?

Three good flatbed starter companies are TMC, Cypress/Sunbelt, and Melton. The first two are regional. The latter is OTR. All three pay pretty good considering you're brand new and don't know anything. TMC and Melton have newer equipment for noobs. Cypress won't give you a newer truck until you prove yourself. Probably will start off in a 6 year old truck.

I paid for my own CDL, so I didn't look into company training, but I know for sure that Cypress has its own school. Not sure about TMC or Melton.

Melton is currently in a hiring freeze for new drivers who need to be with a trainer, but I'll bet that will change as the other end of their driver pipeline spills out experienced drivers looking for greener pastures.

I would say avoid Western Express and Swift flatbed divisions, just based on what I've read on this forum for the past year.

 

Paul Transportation Inc. Tulsa OK - Flatbed Trucking Company
https://paulinc.com
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Melton Truck Lines Flatbed Driving Jobs and Flatbed ...
https://meltontruck.com

 

Here's two that have their own cdl school in Alabama:
How We Train | McElroy Truck Lines Inc.
McElroy Truck Lines Inc. | Flatbed Truck Driving Jobshow-we-train
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Driving Jobs at Boyd Bros - Students - CDL Job Now
https://cdljobnow.com/company/1820/boyd-bros---students
Boyd Bros. also offers paid training, or tuition reimbursement –

 

Here's one headquartered in Tennessee:
Freight Transportation | Huff & Puff Trucking
https://huffpufftrucking.com

 

Look at getting cdl through 3rd party tester. Save you ton money and not obligated to a company

 

Swift flatbed is the easist flatbed job u could get . It really dont get any easier than their division. Because they service the same customers over n over again so ur gonna be hauling the same stuff over n over again. Tmc and melton is gonna give u a full flatbed experience where u gonna haul whatever can Be loaded on that trailer. Me i would go towards tmc if u wanna get home more often . Melton if u wanna go otr

 

Also decker has a flatbed division as well

 

TMC might work out good for you. They do ALOT of hauling for Logan in Russellville KY