Do Any Starter Companies Run Flatbed Teams?
Topic 14460 | Page 2
I know roehl has some teams but they aren't really a team company from what I have seen. And not all of crst's teams are lease ops I know of 2 trucks one solo and one team that I have talked to because they park in the same place as me for home time and they are both company drivers. The solo is on a dedicated account and the team is an otr. The otr team comes home about every other or every 3rd weekend.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Sorry for the double post, but this is something I found on the prime FAQ page that helps me and maybe other people who might have this same question:
Flatbed: 13 to 15% of Prime's Flatbed operation is two person teams, with a 1600 mile average length of haul in the Flatbed division.
Not a huge percentage of their flatbeds are team, but that is a cushy length of haul, considering their reefer team average length of haul is only 1200 miles in comparison. That combined with the generally (not always) quicker load and unload times in the flatbed world plus the added speed securing loads with an extra person seems like a good fit to me.
Some part of that team work percentage at Prime may be trainers with trainees, but I have met a couple of flatbed teams from there that were not training.
I will also say, though, that when I ran TNT with a student there, I didn't get a whole lot of what I would call team loads (i.e., 1000+ miles). I agree that reefer is probably a better bet for running team.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
Sorry for the double post, but this is something I found on the prime FAQ page that helps me and maybe other people who might have this same question:
Flatbed: 13 to 15% of Prime's Flatbed operation is two person teams, with a 1600 mile average length of haul in the Flatbed division.
Not a huge percentage of their flatbeds are team, but that is a cushy length of haul, considering their reefer team average length of haul is only 1200 miles in comparison. That combined with the generally (not always) quicker load and unload times in the flatbed world plus the added speed securing loads with an extra person seems like a good fit to me.
Some part of that team work percentage at Prime may be trainers with trainees, but I have met a couple of flatbed teams from there that were not training.
I will also say, though, that when I ran TNT with a student there, I didn't get a whole lot of what I would call team loads (i.e., 1000+ miles). I agree that reefer is probably a better bet for running team.
Hmmm, It seems odd they'd claim that 1600 mile average length of haul for flatbed teams if they couldn't provide it, but some times that's just the way it is.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
TNT:
Trainer-N-Trainee
Prime Inc has their own CDL training program and it's divided into two phases - PSD and TNT.
The PSD (Prime Student Driver) phase is where you'll get your permit and then go on the road for 10,000 miles with a trainer. When you come back you'll get your CDL license and enter the TNT phase.
The TNT phase is the second phase of training where you'll go on the road with an experienced driver for 30,000 miles of team driving. You'll receive 14¢ per mile ($700 per week guaranteed) during this phase. Once you're finished with TNT training you will be assigned a truck to run solo.
Melton is starting team driving which is optional but you get to choose your teammate
OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Foolishly, I let my CDL expire (didn't renew my medical card so it was downgraded), so I will effectively be starting from square zero
This right here is why I am having to restart instead of just goin back on the road. I understand the medical certification is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to be able to drive however if you want to KEEP your CDL but you had to come off the road for a little bit due to an unforseen reason, all you should have to do is go back to your company or to a company of YOUR CHOOSING, go through orientation and then get a new medical certification and then test out and drive. This self certification bs that the FMCSA is making us do is NUTS. Downgrading your CDL should be YOUR choice in this matter, not DOTs.
Anyway for FLATBED TEAMS go with Malone powered by CRST. They would be the BEST option imo especially if you need schooling to re obtain your CDL. Also, if you live in their HIRING AREA and IF they do teams, Maverick Transportation is another option. C.T? If you are here could you please give this driver some insight on Maverick? C.T. has driven for them for quite some time and he knows a lot about them. I THINK their training contract is only 6 mos vs 10 mos for CRST. Again, please correct me if I am wrong please. Thanks.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
CSA:
Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA)
The CSA is a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) initiative to improve large truck and bus safety and ultimately reduce crashes, injuries, and fatalities that are related to commercial motor vehicle
FMCSA:
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
The FMCSA was established within the Department of Transportation on January 1, 2000. Their primary mission is to prevent commercial motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries.
What Does The FMCSA Do?
- Commercial Drivers' Licenses
- Data and Analysis
- Regulatory Compliance and Enforcement
- Research and Technology
- Safety Assistance
- Support and Information Sharing
DOT:
Department Of Transportation
A department of the federal executive branch responsible for the national highways and for railroad and airline safety. It also manages Amtrak, the national railroad system, and the Coast Guard.
State and Federal DOT Officers are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. "The truck police" you could call them.
Fm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.OOS:
When a violation by either a driver or company is confirmed, an out-of-service order removes either the driver or the vehicle from the roadway until the violation is corrected.
Im attending school at Celadon and from what I'm hearing there is a flatbed fleet but I'm not sure how soon you could get aboard
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Sorry for the double post, but this is something I found on the prime FAQ page that helps me and maybe other people who might have this same question:
Prime Inc FAQ
Not a huge percentage of their flatbeds are team, but that is a cushy length of haul, considering their reefer team average length of haul is only 1200 miles in comparison. That combined with the generally (not always) quicker load and unload times in the flatbed world plus the added speed securing loads with an extra person seems like a good fit to me.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.