Understanding Flatbed

Sorry, but it all depends on the company. Some people start blowing gaskets if the are at a shipper for more than an hour. Some show up and get comfortable.

If you are running CA you won't see a lot of 53' spread axles, because the rear has to be 40 or less from the kingpin. Outside of CA I see a lot more of it. Personally I don't see the point, I've never hauled anything that might cause an issue on a 48. Others do.

 

Why do you hate California?

 

Get a local, hourly pay job if you want proper pay for sitting. Not many companies compensate drivers, flatbed or not, for sitting/work for more than an hour.

My company is industry standard, and they pay $15 (CAD) for first pick/drop, $25 additional with a tarp and $25 for second picks/drops. If you can get into a shipper, loaded and tarped and out within an hour and a half to two hours, you made good money. If it takes longer (which it usually does) then you make less than you would as a regional driver who makes an hourly wage (which is one major reason why I became a regional driver).

But hey, I'm going on a trip this next week with over 20 drops in three days and each drop involves rolling open a roll-tite trailer, pulling off a few doors or other parts, sometimes literally lifting them off myself and walking them into the business, then driving away, and making $25 bucks a pop plus mileage.

I get to sit at the shipper on Tuesday while they load the trailer, then go off and run for three days. Should be a clean grand for three days of work. If the weather cooperates and I can run hard, might even end up being two days.

It's possible to make a LOT of money running flat deck and have a lot of fun doing it, but you've got to find the right company to work for.

 

Further proof of it all being different is my current situation. I loaded on Friday but can't move until Monday because I'm almost 15' wide and don't have all the permits yet. My chase car won't show until tomorrow afternoon either. I'm sitting here for 2 days unpaid. Can't charge the customer as its not their fault the state permit office decided not to work last Friday and won't be open until Monday.

 

How is your fuel Mr Waitaminute? Doing ok on food too?

 

Do you live in Arizona? It's really hard to avoid California if you live west of El Paso and Denver.

I'm like @Razororange....I pull OSOW. On rig moves and crane moves, you may sit there a couple days. That's fine. I get detention pay. Normally between $750-1000/day. For $1000/day, I am the most patient, the most pleasant person on the planet. "Oh please sir, take your time. Take all the time you need. I am NOT in a hurry."

My time is important to me. Even as a company driver, I wouldn't sit anywhere for free. Pulling the bigger loads and or specialty trailers, you don't worry about it too much as detention and reposition is usually bidded in with the contract. If you're not getting paid to sit, your travel agent is stealing from you. No company, not even a bottom feeder is going to have a bunch of trucks sitting around for free. Raise Hell until they pay you. If you're the go to guy, they will automatically pay you.

And that's another reason why you guys should always bring that A Game. Especially you company drivers. Build the reputation as the 'go to guy' and when there's a problem, the companies will pay you to solve it. On big moves, there's almost always problems. The riggers don't care, they will just load the trucks. They don't necessarily know the regs. If you tell them that a load is divisible, they will look at you like you're speaking a foreign language.

If you want to pull open deck trailers, make sure you want to do it because chains and straps excite you. It's not hard, but it's a thinking man's trucking job. Constantly thinking and planning on how to become more efficient. Every load is the opportunity to get better. I didn't say faster, I said better. There's a difference. No one likes to tarp (except @Dye Guardian), but if you do tarp, it's a matter of pride.

Everything should be a matter of pride. Your truck, your appearance, your behavior, your performance.

Luck in battle.

 

You at the TA?