Flatbed Variety

That sounds like a great set-up! I am attracted to flatbedding because of the physical work and the great variety of loads that you describe. However, for my first year, I wonder if going dry van would be the best bet in order to developing solid tractor skills. What do you think?

You want tractor skills? Try taking an over sized load down a goat trail because someone wants to build a house down there. Why be miserable for a year before getting to do what you want?

It's not all that hard of work... SHHHHHH don't tell anyone.

The hardest thing I have had to do in one day is drag out and put away 6 half inch x 20 foot chains for 3 different loads. The worst part is the waiting but I get paid by the hour so who cares. The photo with the concrete blocks and all the trucks lined up was taken at 11 am and we had already been there for an hour. They were still setting up the crane. The last guy in line did not get out of there until 4 pm. I got unloaded at 2 pm and there were 2 trucks ahead of me. My ride is the first one in line.

Now for tarping, I think the boss is allergic. If a load needs a tarp the customer either tarps the load or takes the load off and we go pick up another or go home. Tarping leaves you open to injury from a fall and it can be quite high. It is especially bad in the winter. I can never get over tarping a load that is sitting outside when you pick it up and sits outside when you deliver. Or the lumber loads that are wrapped in plastic anyhow. 20-60 dollars as a tarp fee is a joke. The boss said it would have to be 250-300 dollars for him to tarp.

Now you will get a lot of walking, dragging, throwing heavy objects, falling off your truck (bouncing), stepping off your truck (stretching), climbing, cursing, smashed fingers, cursing, bruises, scrapes and did I mention cursing.... LOL

Here's one of my first loads on my new job. It is aluminum pipe. I've never even seen aluminum pipe before, but they tell me it is used in some mining operations. I picked this up at the SAPA mill in Cressona, PA. This load went Bluefield WV. My first load was about 1,700 miles - my total miles first week were 3,198. So far this is looking like an ideal situation. I never would have even heard about it if it weren't for Sand Man - a friend through this very site. Thanks again Sand Man!

Thanks awesome Old School!

That sounds like a great set-up! I am attracted to flatbedding because of the physical work and the great variety of loads that you describe. However, for my first year, I wonder if going dry van would be the best bet in order to developing solid tractor skills. What do you think?

You want tractor skills? Try taking an over sized load down a goat trail because someone wants to build a house down there. Why be miserable for a year before getting to do what you want?

It's not all that hard of work... SHHHHHH don't tell anyone.

The hardest thing I have had to do in one day is drag out and put away 6 half inch x 20 foot chains for 3 different loads. The worst part is the waiting but I get paid by the hour so who cares. The photo with the concrete blocks and all the trucks lined up was taken at 11 am and we had already been there for an hour. They were still setting up the crane. The last guy in line did not get out of there until 4 pm. I got unloaded at 2 pm and there were 2 trucks ahead of me. My ride is the first one in line.

Now for tarping, I think the boss is allergic. If a load needs a tarp the customer either tarps the load or takes the load off and we go pick up another or go home. Tarping leaves you open to injury from a fall and it can be quite high. It is especially bad in the winter. I can never get over tarping a load that is sitting outside when you pick it up and sits outside when you deliver. Or the lumber loads that are wrapped in plastic anyhow. 20-60 dollars as a tarp fee is a joke. The boss said it would have to be 250-300 dollars for him to tarp.

Now you will get a lot of walking, dragging, throwing heavy objects, falling off your truck (bouncing), stepping off your truck (stretching), climbing, cursing, smashed fingers, cursing, bruises, scrapes and did I mention cursing.... LOL

Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to giving Flatbedding a shot right out of the gate!

This is a great thread. I love the pictures and you guys really bring out all the cool things about flatbedding.

To really be in that upper 5-10% of the drivers out there when it comes to the sheer volume of work you get done safely you have to be motivated and disciplined. You can't cut corners. You can't make bad decisions. You certainly can't make many mistakes...or any big ones. But running flatbed raises that to a whole new level. You guys don't settle for just having one of the toughest and riskiest jobs out there. You want the toughest of all. That's the attitude and character my parents instilled in us being from a small town, blue collar, sports-oriented family. You took challenges head on and you put your best into everything you did. You do everything with pride and you stamped your name on it when it was done. You owned everything you did....it better be worthy of your name.

So keep the pictures and the stories coming because I'm diggin it. There is a certain percentage of people out there who would absolutely love pulling a flatbed and this thread is going to be the way they'll learn about it. Very cool stuff.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to giving Flatbedding a shot right out of the gate!

I'm just starting out and chose flatbed. yesterday I drove a flat bed with a load of steel parts through Dallas. It's a lot of fun! I haven't gotten to the part that makes you cuss yet since we've had nice weather and I haven't smashed my fingers, but I'm sure that's a possibility. I don't know what it is about flatbedding that appeals to me so much, but you definitely can start there if you want to.

Thanks for the feedback. I'm looking forward to giving Flatbedding a shot right out of the gate!

I'm just starting out and chose flatbed. yesterday I drove a flat bed with a load of steel parts through Dallas. It's a lot of fun! I haven't gotten to the part that makes you cuss yet since we've had nice weather and I haven't smashed my fingers, but I'm sure that's a possibility. I don't know what it is about flatbedding that appeals to me so much, but you definitely can start there if you want to.

That sounds great. Battling the elements, figuring out the correct securement configuration, and hauling some really cool stuff will be awesome. I'm haven't even started my trucking career yet and I'm very drawn to Flatbed operations.

Here's a good example of running regional but still kind of big over the road. I hold a twenty four thousand pound roller 200 miles then I went back hundred and forty miles to pick up a loader and bring it back to the same location.now I am in a hotel 250 miles from home waiting to pick up a bridge beam tomorrow morning that will deliver on Wednesday. The fun part is that I get to operate all this equipment to load and unload boy this new fangled stuff is confusing was only joystick controls

Well since I did not get photos of the roller or loader that I moved yesterday, I thought I would get a photo of the bridge beam that I picked up today for delivery tomorrow. Sometimes you just have to make the trailer fit the load.

I hauled this the other day.... Hint, look in the mirror. I did not even know it until I looked at it on the computer.

And here is another one of the Bison.

Delivered these this morning... 30k each... yeah we can go with more weight in MT

Then I drove 60 miles to pick this up and deliver on the way home. Third time I have moved this same machine.