Flatbeds or Vans?

[K9]

I get different messages about both.

Flatebeds
I'm told they are best for OTR Drivers because they call for less stops (deliveries). "Less stops means less work," said an old driver. But he advised me against vans because I'm short. (5'8") So I'm told that flatbeds would be more difficult for me. Bull?

Vans
The ride just the same as flatbeds. Pay is worst. (More trucking companies take advantage of young van drivers.) More work getting into small, urban spaces/stores. Dispatchers are more likely to send you to downtown New York City. True?

Your opinion and why you like vans or flatbeds? (You can say something about Refers and tankers too.)

[mack fan]

im only 5 7" and i work in a lunber yard so we get lots of flat beds and im just as tall as most of the drivers if not a little taller so no problem there.As for which one can't help you because everyone will jump all over me for not having any exp so maybe some else will help you more.

[csramsey640]

Its not that easy to compare the two. Pay for Vans is usually lower, because in addition to skill, they can usually clock more miles, especially if its a lot of drop and hook stuff.

Running a flat is not as easy as saying, "im gonna run a flat" There is much more driving skill required, because of the odd shaped, sometimes top heavy loads, and there is also more skill required in knowing how to LEGALLY bind down a load, its not just keep it on the trailer, DOT laws state a minimum requirement for tying down a load. Plus if you have to slam on the brakes, or do hit something head on, the chances of a flatbed load coming through the truck are much greater.

Besides tying down a load, you also must know how to properly protect the load, yes that means dragging 100lb tarps all over the place, and doing your best to seal your load up. There is no worse feeling than having a receiver refuse your load because you didnt tarp it properly.

You have to WANT to drive a flatbed. Its 10x more hardwork than a van driver. You will be filthy sometimes, you will be p-o'ed because those frozen tarps will not co-operate, and now its raining out.

And there is no guarantee that youll have less stops. I took a load of bobcats one time that had 5 stops on the same trailer. You still have partial loads with a flat.

All in all there is alot more responsibility and skill needed to run a flat, you may or may not have that level of skill and patience-I dont know. It can be dangerous work. It can be rewarding, but usually the rewards come because its a lot harder work.

Oh and BTW, a flat does not pull the same as a Van.

[K9]

Thanks ... and no, I don't have ... any skill right now. I'm just entering school and they want me to give them the names of 10 companies I'd like to work for. A friend I grew up with used to drive before tried playing the Good Samaritan and walked out onto a highway to remove heavy objects someone dropped --- and got hit.

He loved driving flatbeds and the advice to go flatbed came from him. He's the one that said it was less work. But looking over the comments on this site, he's wrong. (Still my buddy ... just wrong.)

What about Refers?
Any good companies that you drivers wish to recommend?

More.... What about Car Hauling Companies?
Comments?

And what about Moving Vans?
I'm told that diving for them is actually good. They have different people who are hired to load and unload ... all the driver does is drive from Point A, to Point B. True?

Van or "Dry Van"?
One last one ... is there any difference between a Van and a Dry Van?

[Mackman]

Tankers

[mowman]

If you're just starting out, you ought to consider sticking with vans. Get the base knowledge and skill sets - then move on.

Maybe find a company that has different divisions (van, flatbed, refer) so you can switch around without having to go to a new company.

Moving autos is where the money is, but you have to have quite a bit of experience to get into that gig.

[redsfan]

You're asking the same question that a lot of newbies ask. I asked the same thing myself. Then I went straight into flatbeds and did just fine. I'm only 5'10" 185# so not a big guy at all. As a matter of fact, I see more "big" guys pulling vans than flats.

Everyone will be different and, IMO, there is no reason to start with vans and move on to flatbeds. I'll agree with csramsey, they do not pull the same and they definitely do not back the same (if the flatbed is a spread axle as most are).

If flats are where your interest lies, go with a good company with a reputable training program (ie: Maverick, TMC). Then you won't have to worry so much about securing the load while your honing your driving skills. They will make sure you have a good grasp on the securement practices before they ever put you behind the wheel. The work is not that hard. I sound like a broken record, but I equate it to a halfway decent 20 minute gym workout.

The list of 10 companies is a good start. Personally, I would take it a step further and make a standard sheet with questions and print several copies. Things to ask (pay, hometime, regions, running lanes, benefits, etc...). You can find a very good list of questions here http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles...ons_To_Ask.htm and then add to it. Call on 50 or so companies and ask the same questions, fill in the blanks and take notes. Then you start narrowing it down until you have a handful of carriers and make your choice from there. Find the best fit for you as far as what you're looking for regardless of whether they're flatbed, van or reefer.

Just my 2 cents... Good luck!

[ssoutlaw]

You're asking the same question that a lot of newbies ask. I asked the same thing myself. Then I went straight into flatbeds and did just fine. I'm only 5'10" 185# so not a big guy at all. As a matter of fact, I see more "big" guys pulling vans than flats.

Everyone will be different and, IMO, there is no reason to start with vans and move on to flatbeds. I'll agree with csramsey, they do not pull the same and they definitely do not back the same (if the flatbed is a spread axle as most are).

If flats are where your interest lies, go with a good company with a reputable training program (ie: Maverick, TMC). Then you won't have to worry so much about securing the load while your honing your driving skills. They will make sure you have a good grasp on the securement practices before they ever put you behind the wheel. The work is not that hard. I sound like a broken record, but I equate it to a halfway decent 20 minute gym workout.

The list of 10 companies is a good start. Personally, I would take it a step further and make a standard sheet with questions and print several copies. Things to ask (pay, hometime, regions, running lanes, benefits, etc...). You can find a very good list of questions here http://www.newbiedriver.com/articles...ons_To_Ask.htm and then add to it. Call on 50 or so companies and ask the same questions, fill in the blanks and take notes. Then you start narrowing it down until you have a handful of carriers and make your choice from there. Find the best fit for you as far as what you're looking for regardless of whether they're flatbed, van or reefer.

Just my 2 cents... Good luck!

This was good advice redsfan

[GoldiesPlating]

For my experience with TMC learning and pulling flatbed, see my website below. If I can answer any questions for you, please feel free to call me any afternoon or evening or weekend at the number below.
Good Luck whatever you pick and be safe!

[Charkar]

I started driving back in the early 80's, I have not been out here as long as some but have been out here longer that others.
I remember back when I started, I pulled a van for a few companies, I had a few friends that did flatbed and it just appealed to me more.
I'm not going to sit here and tell you it's easy, and yea, there will be a number of times you will want to quit.
Being a flatbed driver is not for everyone, and tarping is very tedious at times. You might have a few loads that are simple, just roll out the tarps, lumber, sheet rock, even get lucky enough to throw a smoke tarp on a load of pvc pipe, all of these loads don't take long at all to finish up, but then you get a load of machinery, or some other crud that can rip a tarp. This is where you start earning that money. Pad, pad, pad, and pad some more. When you get to the end of your run, you may and you may not find that you padded enough. If not, time to pull out the glue and patch material.

I love being a flatbed driver, it helps keep me in shape, though I am not in the best of shape, I am in better shape then a lot of folks out here.
There is a lot to learn in flatbedding, not only about how to secure your loads, or how to tarp them, but also how to stay alive.
In the summer, I have known about a few drivers that have died due to the heat. Tarping in 100+ degree weather is deadly if you do not take heed of what your body is telling you.
And in the winter, the extreme cold can be just as dangerous, frostbite, colds, flu, and more.
The wind is a danger as well, a good wind while on top of a load, 10 - 13 feet off the ground, tarp comes blowing up and you go falling down.
You learn there are times to CRAWL!

Oh, I am not trying to talk anyone out of flatbedding, I just like to let people know up front what they are getting into, yes, the money is great, the driving is nice, and most of the people I have meet in the flatbedding side of trucking are really nice, and a lot of times we help out each other. But then, there are always a few out there that have better things to do then help others.

I left Melton last March and went to work for Barr-Nunn, I worked there for about 4 months, and there is such a large difference in attitudes between van haulers and flatbedders. It didn't take too long to get a bitter taste and get back where I felt great about the work I was doing. Melton welcomed me back with no problem. And even started me back at the same pay as when I left.

Oh, I forgot to mention, this is the slow time of year for flatbedders, the freight slows around the end of November and picks back up around the end of January.

Another thing I did was pull crude oil down in Texas for about 6 months, that was pretty interesting. Go out in the field, pull up next to tanks, go up and pull a sample, measure the depth of the tank, write down the numbers, hook up the hose, turn on the pump, of course open some items, check in the trailer top hole to see when full, turn off pump, close things, unhook hose and put them away, climb tank , remeasure, write more numbers, leave, lock gate, go to dump station, climb tank, measure depth, hook up hose, you get the point right?

I love flatbedding, the pay is good, the people are great, it's not for everyone but it might be for you...
Got any questions? drop me a line