Flatbed Variety

Careful about the mind set that pay is "much better". While the CPM (cents/mile) is usually higher to start, you may not get the same miles as dry van or refeer drivers. This is because you will spend a period of time both securing and un-securing a load, as well as time to tarp and un-tarp, if required. We get paid for the tarping, but depending on your speed (which comes with experience) and the load, it can take some significant time. Now if you are able to get into some of the specialized areas of flatbed, that is an entirely different world and takes a certain amount of experience first.

That is not to say that you won't make pretty good money, but it probably won't be that much different than other types of trucking. However, if you enjoy being outside, a little physical work and frequent stops for load checks, then it is a great way to earn a living.

I want to get into flatbed but images like this scare me a little. Seems like making those kind of mistakes could get really expensive fast.

I wouldn't pick pulling a particular trailer based on money. I would choose it on what fits you best. I'm a flatbedder for Prime and the lightweight reefer drivers make more per mile than I do. But I will keep flatbedding because I enjoy it.

I wouldn't pick pulling a particular trailer based on money. I would choose it on what fits you best. I'm a flatbedder for Prime and the lightweight reefer drivers make more per mile than I do. But I will keep flatbedding because I enjoy it.

I appreciate the great advice. I was always under the impression that flatbed got paid sort of a "flat rate" or fee to haul something from point a to point b. Depeding on what it is that your hauling and how far was what you charged some one. Guess I was way off tarck and tracking on that one. I would like to make money just like everyone does, but if you dont like what your doing then theres no amount of money thats worth it. Lifes too short to be unhappy.

I would like to make money just like everyone does, but if you dont like what your doing then theres no amount of money thats worth it. Lifes too short to be unhappy.

That is precisely why I do what I do, no amount of money is worth it if you aren't happy with your job/career. I spent the last year of my military career watching & thinking about what I wanted when I retired.

Ernie

Exactly why I pull a flatbed. Dropped some prebuilt log looking house walls and Monday picking up a dozer blade and ripper for a total of 55k. Yeah they are heavy. Dozer has to move on a 9 axle trailer.

here is the load from today

I would like to make money just like everyone does, but if you dont like what your doing then theres no amount of money thats worth it. Lifes too short to be unhappy.

That is precisely why I do what I do, no amount of money is worth it if you aren't happy with your job/career. I spent the last year of my military career watching & thinking about what I wanted when I retired.

Ernie

I concur. Calling it quits after 23.5 and when I started looking at after service jobs, every place I looked either in the paper or online there is a huge amount of opportunities. Here in Maine you can husl pretty much what you want when you want. That is if you buy into all the propaganda. Just excited to get going on next phase of school and our lives. Thanks for your service.

here is the load from today

Thats awesome. I used to do construction before the service and there was no prefab. It was just starting to be the next big thing. Prettty cool.

First day of driving at school. Great day. Kinda frustrated at times but its all gonna ne worth it.