Suggestions On Beginner Flatbed Companies.
Topic 17034 | Page 1
Derrick, if you are looking for a flat-bed operation that helps train for the CDL also you are going to be a little limited, but these come to mind.
Prime, TMC, Roehl, and Swift has a flat-bed division also.
TMC goes to great lengths to get their drivers home on the weekends, and Roehl also does a good job of trying to get people home. Most of your OTR Flat-bed jobs will be one day at home for each seven days out, but they are going to want you on the road for at least three weeks at a time.
Mileage is a subjective conversation, as it will depend greatly on how well your friend catches on to all the little nuances that help a driver be more productive.
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.
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.
Averitt also has a flatbed division and will provide company training to new grads, but doesn't operate a company cdl school.
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.
Maverick has their own school and are primarily flatbed.
Celadon has a flatbed division (also dry-van and refrigerated) and operates their own school.
However you need to have a minimum of one year experience before you can transfer to the flatbed division.
Also, if you attend their school you will be obligated to run team for 120K team miles. After that you can run solo and of course you'll likely have your one year in and be eligible to transfer to flatbed.
I plan to go to Celadon in January - after I finish CDL training at Tidewater Community College (TCC). New CDL holders attend one week of evaluation (safety, skill range and road course) followed by a skill and road test. After testing there is a three day orientation, and then 10K miles with your trainer at $0.25 per mile.
If your friend is able to attend a training program at a private school, trade school, or community college, he or she will likely have many more options for starting a career in trucking. Also, if your local community college has a CDL program, you may find that it is not only much cheaper than any private school or company program, but probably has access to better resources, equipment and trainers.
For example:
TCC has an eight week program that runs five days a week from 7am until 2:30pm (and another class that runs M-F in the evenings). There are five instructors and classes are limited to 25 students (but are often much smaller). They have four tractors and trailers dedicated to the skill range and the skill range is large enough that all four trucks are used simultaneously to practice the backing maneuvers. There are also three more trucks and trailers dedicated as road trucks and all three are used - with only two students in the cab with an instructor. There are many more reasons that I choose TCC, but I'll got right to the bottom line: the cost for this school is only $2800!
Also: There are all kinds of grants, awards, and student loans available to fund most if not all of the costs involved in training for your CDL. Many of my classmates have not spent a single dollar out of their own pocket for the program - and have no obligation to pay anything back!
When exploring your options remember to not leave any stone unturned. Good luck!
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.
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.
I am in CDL school, and honestly I agree with Old School, the companies that I just found out through my school CDS ( Contracted Driver Service) a school that is located at my college in Middletown, Virginia is extremely thorough in their training and they recommend companies that are good to start out at once out of school and one of their suggestions is McElroy Truck Lines. They are a flatbed company that they recommend and I see quite a bit of good reports on them. They are Christian based and they have really high standards. Their pay is decent for green horns, they start out at $0.44 a mile for Local runs and $0.46 a mile for regional. I thats one I have specifically looked into.
Best of Luck to your friend, I hope he finds a great beginning company!
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.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Local for McElroy just went to .45/mile for local and .48/mile regional.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Local for McElroy just went to .45/ mile for local and .48/for regional.
So how many miles do you get with them or do you work there? I am pretty interested in them.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
Sorry I ment to quote that and must have done it wrong. My bad.
Yes I do work for them. Regional driving is a bit different from the OTR companies as far as the miles you'll get. I'll probably only avg 1800-2000 miles a week but your paid a minimum on the shorter runs. For example we have some runs that are only 150 miles but pay around 135-145$$. I do know we have many 1st yr drivers that will make about 50,000 and they do get you home every weekend....unless you've volunteered to go run a different region because of a driver shortage, but you are also compensated extra for that.
Regional:
Regional Route
Usually refers to a driver hauling freight within one particular region of the country. You might be in the "Southeast Regional Division" or "Midwest Regional". Regional route drivers often get home on the weekends which is one of the main appeals for this type of route.
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.
New Reply:
New! Check out our help videos for a better understanding of our forum features
Preview:
This topic has the following tags:
Maverick Transport McElroy Choosing A Trucking Company Flatbed
Why Join Trucking Truth?
- The High Road Training Program
- The High Road Article Series
- The Friendliest Trucker's Forum Ever!
- Email Updates When New Articles Are Posted
Apply For Paid CDL Training Through TruckingTruth
Did you know you can fill out one quick form here on TruckingTruth and apply to several companies at once for paid CDL training? Seriously! The application only takes one minute. You will speak with recruiters today. There is no obligation whatsoever. Learn more and apply here:
TT On Facebook
I have a friend that is wondering about a company that will train him. He wants to go flatbed so I am wondering if you guys have any information on some beginner flatbed companies. If so can you give me some insight on their home time, mileage range, do they train to get your CDL , ETC. Thanks Y'all..
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles: