What trucking typically pays better: flatbed, refrigerated, bulk, etc

Get @ job with a major LTL carrier. Currently both SAIA and Conway are hiring "apprentices" where you start on the dock and work your way up. That's where the real money and benefits are in trucking.

 

What you haul has a direct bearing on what you make. Hauling cheap commodities don't expect to get rich. If you can plan your career towards hauling high value freight your chances of becoming financially successful are better.

 

Don't you have to start out with an LTL on the call board? Never knowing how many hours you are going to get until you get something regular?

Please correct me if I have it wrong.

 

I jumped into oversize hauling almost four years ago and I honestly dont think I could go back to anything else unless it is something else specialized like hauling aircraft engines or some plum job like Walmart private fleet.

 

Best paying jobs are;
1st; over size and heavy haul.
2nd; government contracts hauling military equipment
3rd; hazmat haulers
4th; Ltl linehaul jobs.
5th Private carriers such as; Frito Lay, Walmart, Sherwin Williams.
6th; Car haulers.
7th; Tanker yankers
8th; Flatbedders
9th; Reefer drivers
10th; Dry Vans.
11th; Local gigs with straight trucks.


Just my observations over the years based on the comparisons and conversations I have had with other drivers. No "scientific" study or publication to support any of this.

 

Remember that "most enjoyable" and best pay might not be compatible. In most circumstances there will have to be some compromises between the two. If I was starting out again I would probably lean more towards:

Tankers then graduating into chemical tankers, local if possible
Heavy Haul
Ltl
Flatbed/Curtain van

 

Hamadown the answer to your question is. It depends on the driver. The Jikklj777 provided is a good one. The only thing is the companies that do the first 5 often required 2+ years before you can even apply, especially heavy haul and heavy duty hazmat. What I mean by heavy duty hazmat are loads like radioactive material and such. I prefer Reefer loads and have pulled normal hazmat loads like fertilizer and such. What a lot of people and some drivers don't know is many of the household products we use have indegrients(sp) when shipped separtately are considered to be hazmat. I prefer reefer work due people have to eat I don't sit as much as someone who pulls a dry van. I've heard flatbeds can sometimes sit for 2 or 3 days depending where they unload. Also having hazmat is a good thing because the of the possilibilty the only loads going out are hazmat loads,otherwise you might be sitting a couple of days while your DM looks for a non hazmat load for you.