Don't Do It!

Went to Wal-Mart and got to chatting with and come to find out he's been driving flatbed for 25 years. Naturally, since I'm heading off in a week to learn to be a flat-bedder, I asked him if he had any advice. Only advice he would give me is don't do it. I understand it's a rough job and what-not but this makes me want to be a truck driver even more. Why is " don't do it" such a common response?

Was his "don't do it" with regards to flatbed in particular - or trucking in general?

And the difference between "you can't do it" - or "don't do it" - why do you take that as a challenge that makes you want to do it MORE?

FB is physically strenuous, more high risk for injury, exposes the driver to the elements (securing and tarping rain/snow/shine).

We have a number of skateboard guys on here - they love it. But it's not for everybody (and certainly wouldn't be for me).

Rick

More-so the flatbed part. Told me everyone should just do Dry Van because it's easy. My first question was why he still drove flatbed after 25 years of it for which he basically said he was used to it. The reason I say it makes me want to do it more is because people have such a subversion to it. It's like being told I can't do it etc. Maybe I'm just naive or something.

Couple Of flags

1 Do dry van because it's easy?? Driving any big truck isn't "easy". If dry van is so easy why hasn't he switched yet. Anyone that goes into this business just looking for the easy way out is going to fail. That attitude will doom you.

2 You'll find that a lot of guys just are complainers and full of negative attitudes. They're usually easy to spot after just a few minutes. He sounds like one. Avoid them and stay away.

I have noticed that a few guys I had always looked to for advice always said don't do it! Usually it was in regards to trucking itself. Than once they retired or started an alternative career they realized how much they actually enjoyed it. Almost seems to me like the saying you don't know what you have until you don't have it anymore.

See - you'll never see me telling someone "don't do it" - I just apprise them of the fact that it is way more physically strenuous, more risk of injury (falling off loads, etc.), has to be done rain/shine/cold/hot. While you do get tarp pay and it may (or may not be) slightly higher in the CPM pay.

There's nothing "wrong" with flatbed per se'. Just whether or not you're into physical work. I am not - therefore, I simply state that. I just hate to see folks jump into it - without being aware of what they're getting themselves into.

Go for it Jeremy, if that's the segment of the industry you want to get into. But doing it simply for "the challenge" because someone told you not to - I dunno. If you get into a company that does more than just FB - you can transfer into box hauling - if the FB turns out not to be your cup of tea.

Rick

Sorta reminds me of the ex-military men I have met. When they're in all I hear is that they can't wait until they get out; then after they've been out just a little while will call themselves stupid for leaving. Since I don't have that experience (the closest I ever came to getting in the military was Army Military Affiliated Radio Service or M.A.R.S. and that's mostly made up of civilians) I can't pass judgement, but considering you only have to serve twenty years in the military to retire with benefits I could see where one could kick one's self for not toughing it out.

I have noticed that a few guys I had always looked to for advice always said don't do it!

The only "don't do it" advice I can recall on this board are some that have suggested that it may not be the best way to go right out of school. The idea being get some experience under your belt before trying something more demanding. Nobody ever said there was anything wrong with flat.

The only "don't do it" advice I can recall on this board are some that have suggested that it may not be the best way to go right out of school. The idea being get some experience under your belt before trying something more demanding. Nobody ever said there was anything wrong with flat.

Actually - the only true DON'T DO IT advice you'll see here - is about leasing.

While doing specialized stuff - such as learning securement and tarping, adds some additional "learning curve" to the newbie equation, nothing that hasn't been overcome (obviously), since a number of the training companies either do only flatbed - or have an FB division you can get into right away.

Same thing would apply to tanker - while we advise getting some miles under your belt, without the added learning curve of 35K lbs of liquid slamming you in the back, or trying to flip you on curves - the companies that train and are dedicated tank or have tank divisions - put folks into it right away.

Rick

The only "don't do it" advice I can recall on this board are some that have suggested that it may not be the best way to go right out of school. The idea being get some experience under your belt before trying something more demanding. Nobody ever said there was anything wrong with flat.

Actually - the only true DON'T DO IT advice you'll see here - is about leasing.

While doing specialized stuff - such as learning securement and tarping, adds some additional "learning curve" to the newbie equation, nothing that hasn't been overcome (obviously), since a number of the training companies either do only flatbed - or have an FB division you can get into right away.

Same thing would apply to tanker - while we advise getting some miles under your belt, without the added learning curve of 35K lbs of liquid slamming you in the back, or trying to flip you on curves - the companies that train and are dedicated tank or have tank divisions - put folks into it right away.

Rick

Completely agree with Rick on this...