What To Do If I Dont Think I Would Like Flatbed

By no means did I mean for it to sound like it would be easier then other types of trailers. What I meant was while I'm still learning to drive it would be nice to get some nice days to just be able to get a handle more of the truck. Drving on snow everyday is stressing me out to the point I wanna rip my hair out. I would just feel a little more comfertable on snow if I felt more comfertable driving if that makes sense lol.

Troy, I actually was thinking about you last night. I know that seems a little odd but here's why. I spent almost two hours (from about 10pm to midnight) in ten inch deep snow, at my delivery removing frozen stiff tarps in 5 below zero temp. The tarps actually kept the shape of the load after I finally got them off the trailer. Then I had to get them flattened out and put away while the goofy little fork lift driver sat in a heated portable building watching me through his window impatiently waiting for me to get finished.

That dry van trucking was starting to look very appealing... but eventually I felt so proud of myself for "getting er done" that I came back to my senses.

Want to know another benefit to flat-bedding? I sure do sleep well at night when I hit the sleeper!

Troy....I kinda knew that you were "weather stressin"...and I don't blame you. I think I'm the only veteran driver on here who thinks that new drivers should start their schooling in Feb, so they hit the road after all the winter nasty is gone....Then they have alot of days to drive dry and wet roads, to get used to the truck, the roads, and the 4 wheelers...It must be the "mom" in me...but I want the new drivers as safe as they can be, while they learn"the ropes" of trucking. But I will tell you how I learned to handle road stress, because the first few months that I was OTR with TSB, I suffered in abject terror everytime I got behind the wheel. Then, when I didn't think I could take anymore...a funny thing happened...my "don't give a sh*** attitude" kicked in!!!! I quit worrying about the "What Ifs"...what if that car coming down the on ramp doesn't see me...what if I miss my turn...what if I take that exit ramp to fast ( I did that...mowed the grass in TX...cured myself of that one)...we all have a list of What If's, when we are unsure of ourselves...BUt once that kicked in, I quit worrying...I figured, Bring It On...I'm a trucker, and I can handle it. And ya know what ??? It came, I dealt with it, and I lived thru it !!! And I learned to love trucking in the process. So I'll tell you these things to do...you already know them, I'm sure.....BREATHE....RELAX.....BELIEVE IN YOURSELF !! You've been well trained, You've learned all thats been offered...YOU CAN DO THIS !!!

When I started school, it was February. Eaton Roadranger Training Institute. Then by the time I finished, and started with an all flatbed company, the roads were good for a new driver. And I had all summer to get the load securement, tarping and un-tarping etc down. But don't give up on Modular just because of the weather, you'll get it down. And like Starcar said, there's nothing better than a nice low, heavy load. I've driven through winds and rain when all the vans were parked trying not to blow over, but 40,000 lbs of rebar from Kankakee let me drive instead of park and wait. Believe me, the securing, tarping, cold, rain, etc is worth not waiting at a grocery warehouse for hours on end.

Sounds like its just the winter driving that is getting to you. If you change companies to haul a different type of freight...guess what? The winter roads will still be there. They come around every year no matter what type of truck you are driving.

Sounds like its just the winter driving that is getting to you. If you change companies to haul a different type of freight...guess what? The winter roads will still be there. They come around every year no matter what type of truck you are driving.

Its not just that. My main thing was trying to get use to driving in this crappy weather while also trying to learn the flatbed side of things as well. Was stressing me out beyond belief. Had me wondering if it would of been easier to start out in a dry van first to learn the driving aspect without the stress of the flatbed aspect if that makes sense.