"Van or flatbed...which one?"

^^^ gonna sign up for QA tomorrow.. the guys in AA wouldn't understand! Thanks, guys. Sorry~!

 

Here's the thing, I was raised old school if you will. Trained by some serious old time drivers, and now some of my best freinds. I could'nt get away with yesterdays paper with them. If my rig was not squared-up and right, I got phone calls from some of them, just giving me sheeeeet about my load, tarp or what ever. Now days, I am considered a solid driver by the old crew, and occasionally get calls from them on securement of stuff they have not seen before. to me that says it all right there.

 

I'm a third generation driver that tried to get an education, everyone was proud of me. Hated every moment of it, it was interesting, but at the same time I felt like I was standing still, and knew a career in my field would not fufill my personality.

For the entirety of my final semester I looked into companies, and I inquired into several, and even checked out a local school which turned out to be nothing but a recruiter for Werner. A recruiter from Swift/Central Ref got back to me, and thier program was agreeable. We agreed on a date and the week after I graduated I started training. (I tried to get all the info I could, to learn my new profession, much of that came from here, well before I participated in the disscussion.)

Soon I was out slamming reefers. But I was always staring at flatbeds, and I was getting restless. I needed more to do, and needed a way to not feel so much like seat meat. So after a year and a half slamming reefers. I dialed up saftey in Phoenix and two weeks later finally got into flatbed training. (Considered jumping to Melton, but decided it better too keep a solid job history, wouldn't have been gaining much anyway.)

To my relife, it was exactly as expected. My first load I secured in that 100 degree heat, two lumber tarps, I got filthy and sweaty, the tarp job was good enough to fair the wind. It took forever, but when all was done I was satisfied with my work. I wasn't going through the motions anymore, I was really involved with what I was doing.

I'm addicted, I'm still addicted. I should have done this from day one. And for now I'm content with rolling up and refining my skills against whatever gets thrown on deck. But I do have my plans.

 

Oh and thanks to all of you that I have silently learned from!

 

One thing about flatbed/open deck types. we are a bit off center.....of questionable mental health as some may say.

 

You have listened to too much Oprah. It's everyone else that is off center and abnormal.

 

Way to many people here that have been sheltered their whole life if they think open deck work is something unusual...............

 

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Not really into Oprah, tend to be more of a rock n roll type. classics to modern

 

Oprah not opera..lol