Comments By Allan Burden

So very true. I have been through the training/mentoring process twice with two different companies. I did not know anything then amd I am still learning every mile I roll. Excellent post.

Good luck with Prime! I wish I would have went flatbed when I was with them, as I now drive flatbed for Swift and I love it. The great thing about buying your equipment is that it's yours when you pay it off, if you become an O/O you are set and ready. You guys haul a ton of stuff into the Caterpillar plant in Clayton NC so maybe I'll bump into you one of these days. Be safe!

Yes it is very possible. We have a driver here at Roehl that has 4.5 million miles and not one ticket or preventable accident. He was also name the Professional Trucker Association trucker of the year. That was huge because they gave him a brand new Ford pick up with the honor. I, also know of another driver that has 2.5 million safe miles. It is possible but hard to achieve. We all have moments where we become distracted or make a bad decision. Sometimes nothing bad happens. Be safe and strive to be one of these guys or gals that have achieved greatness.

Great post and so very true! Sure, luck is a part of it but one's driving habits are the biggest factor in having a blemish free career.

Please do! I am wanna get any and all info on Swift. I will be going to school there in a couple of months. Thank You!

Good luck on your quest. I will give any information I have, good and bad. Will post as I have a chance to do longer posts, it's hard on my iphone LOL. I trained with a van mentor due to being a non-smoker and after completing my 240 hours with him went to flatbed as I was hired for. They have flatbed mentors, just not many. Swift is a large company with something around 15,000 van drivers I think...there are only 250 of us flatbedders. Where are you located at? Swift has a large number of terminals, but only a few that dispatch for flatbed...Phoenix, Gary, and Greer is doing a few dedicated accounts once more. Any questions, ask away...I will be glad to help.

I have been on and off TT since 2010ish I think...hehehe...and originally started with Prime and documented that experience here. I chose to leave before fully completing my training, but had my CDL A already, due to my wife having pregnancy complications. After things settled down it was time to come back out on the road. Prime would not hire me back but I found an job I like even better, I have been driving in the flatbed division for Swift since February of this year and am on a great dedicated account now. Thought I would start a topic for anybody looking for information on Swift Flatbed as there's not a lot out there...be safe!

You seem to have a steady and solid head on your shoulders and should do very well with Prime. I obtained my CDL by going through Prime's training and documented my experience here as well, right up to the point I went home due to my wife having some complications with her pregnancy. I was out of trucking for nearly a year and when I tried to return I tried to return to Prime, but they said no :(. I still think Prime is a great place to get your start, it's not the easiest carrier to work for as they expect you to be a grown adult and make the right decisions but they do not treat you unfairly. I am now driving a flatbed for Swift and enjoy it here just as much. Good luck to you and be safe on the road!

Well, I got back to Springfield two days ago. Was gone about two weeks and accumulated about 85 hours of drive time. Spent two days on the pad polishing up my backing and took my tests for my CDL A today. The result...I trifecta'd! Get a $250 bonus for passing everything on the first try! Leaving out for a load to California in the morning.

That's awesome! Congratulations :)

Brett, thanks for the kind words. Roadkill, I will post as much as I can. If you have any specific questions feel free to ask. To update everyone, I am currently sitting in MS waiting on a load of sweet potatoes to haul to Wisconsin. This will be my longest haul so far. Have done a couple of 250 milers with a good bit of city driving to make sure I am good and broke in...glad I don't have any heart problems hahaha. Really enjoying life right now. It's not been all sunshine and cupcakes though, there have been some very tough moments of missing home and being out of my comfort zone and dealing wih others attitude issues. But I just try to keep my head held high and be nice to anyone and everyone. Kill 'em with kindness, it's always worked for me. Ya'll stay safe out there.

I have seen a lot of Celadon trucks in the Tennessee and Mississippi area. Probably had 15 or more go by today. Keep up the good work and you will be on the road in no time.