Ex-Flatbedder considering dry van. Opinions Wanted ASAP

[headborg]

go with Reefer

(1) it's recession proof- no matter how bad the economy gets...people have got to eat.
(2) anything you can load in a dry box- you can load in a reefer.
(3) since so many people refuse to even consider it- they usually won't fuss about the girlfriend or rodent....hell I knew a couple that had a pet pig in their cab, another with a Panther, and another with a snake.

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Shaffer#83996

Goldies I pulled dry van flats and reefers and a few loads in tankers. Of all of them the most sable miles I had were with reefers yes the produce warehouses sucked but Ilooked at itlike a flatbed load. Everyload is differant and interesting. Look at it this way you have a load of Ice cream and it is the summer and it is 120 outside called fun every load is a challenge getting it there.

[buckshot150]

I have flatbedded for the past 2 years, recently got back into dry van and am Very BORED! Am thinking very seriously about going back. That is just me though. Give it a try, you may like it.

[GoldiesPlating]

Lots of food for thought.
Question, if I sign on with a company who has MULTIPLE divisions, for example, dry-van, flats, reefer, is it a problem to switch divisions if I don't like vans or reefer?
Another question, is there such a thing as working for a company that let's you pull different types of freight regularily? (Probably not I guess but...)
For example, haul a load of produce in a reefer to a warehouse, drop it, then go grab a trailer full of merchandise (dry van), deliver it, unload, drop the trailer of somewhere they want it and pick up a flatbed trailer to get another load? Or some combination of the above?

[madii'swife]

Did you say ferrets? Most companies dont allow them little critters for some reason. Most pet policies are retricted to a cat or a small dog.

Hmmm, I never thought about that. I'll have to make sure and specify FERRET when talking to a recruiter I guess. Thanks for the tip!

Your catch is going to be that last I knew ferrets were illegal at least in a few of the states. Why is beyond me, but hey, I don't write the rules. Seems to me it would be hard to run OTR with ferts though, without running into that. A lot of mis-information abounds regarding them.

[GoldiesPlating]

I have to find out if the legalities of ferret ownership extend beyond ones own home state. For example, would just passing thru a state or delivering in one that outlaws ferrets be a crime? Or does that just pertain to where one lives.
I'm sure Ferrets come in via air shipments at Kennedy Airport which is in NYC where ferrets are illegal to be shipped to Long Island, where I now live, and owning ferrets is legal.

[MommaKay]

Did you say ferrets? Most companies dont allow them little critters for some reason. Most pet policies are retricted to a cat or a small dog.

Hmmm, I never thought about that. I'll have to make sure and specify FERRET when talking to a recruiter I guess. Thanks for the tip!

"No sir, that is not a ferret. It's a long skinny cat." :wink:

[GoldiesPlating]

"No sir, that is not a ferret. It's a long skinny cat." :wink:

OMFG!!!! I'm LMAO!!!!

[headborg]

Lots of food for thought.
Question, if I sign on with a company who has MULTIPLE divisions, for example, dry-van, flats, reefer, is it a problem to switch divisions if I don't like vans or reefer?
Another question, is there such a thing as working for a company that let's you pull different types of freight regularily? (Probably not I guess but...)
For example, haul a load of produce in a reefer to a warehouse, drop it, then go grab a trailer full of merchandise (dry van), deliver it, unload, drop the trailer of somewhere they want it and pick up a flatbed trailer to get another load? Or some combination of the above?

Well I don't pull flatbed...but I did back in the days when JBHunt still had a flatbed division & haz-mat division...
they usually don't want you leaving those flatbeds with all the chains, tarps, kits just setting here...there may have changed since then.

Most companies that have both dry van and reefer want to pay you one rate while pulling reefer and a lesser rate when hooked to a dry van. And
would probably want you to stick with the reefer if they found you willing to
hook to one in the first place.

[GoldiesPlating]

Lots of food for thought.
Question, if I sign on with a company who has MULTIPLE divisions, for example, dry-van, flats, reefer, is it a problem to switch divisions if I don't like vans or reefer?
Another question, is there such a thing as working for a company that let's you pull different types of freight regularily? (Probably not I guess but...)
For example, haul a load of produce in a reefer to a warehouse, drop it, then go grab a trailer full of merchandise (dry van), deliver it, unload, drop the trailer of somewhere they want it and pick up a flatbed trailer to get another load? Or some combination of the above?

Well I don't pull flatbed...but I did back in the days when JBHunt still had a flatbed division & haz-mat division...
they usually don't want you leaving those flatbeds with all the chains, tarps, kits just setting here...there may have changed since then.

Most companies that have both dry van and reefer want to pay you one rate while pulling reefer and a lesser rate when hooked to a dry van. And
would probably want you to stick with the reefer if they found you willing to
hook to one in the first place.

True. But with TMC all my securement devices came with me inside the headache rack/cabinet mounted to my tractor. Trailer was left empty. I know what you mean though since a lot of companies store their stuff in the trailer side boxes.

[scania]

I have one question while we're on the subject,when the economy slows who takes the biggest hit flatbeds or vans??

[Snowman7]

My daughter took care of her friends ferret for a week and that thing stunck up the house. :evil:
If they're all like that I could never have one in a truck with me.

[GMAN]

I have one question while we're on the subject,when the economy slows who takes the biggest hit flatbeds or vans??

I don't know that one will be better or worse than the other. If I had to choose, then I would probably say flats would take the hardest hit. The main reason is that so many rely on construction and hard goods. Those are two of the largest segments of flatbeds. Those two segments are the first to get hit during a slow down. It also would depend on the time of year. Flats seem to slow more in winter. If a slow down occurred in the summer months, then it may not have as great an impact. Lately, I have noticed some good paying van freight. Part of that could be due to the time of year. Retailers need freight up until Christmas. There is also more mail during this time and the Post Office contracts more mail runs out. This takes some capacity out of the market which raises prices. During any slow down the entire industry will suffer.

[GoldiesPlating]

My daughter took care of her friends ferret for a week and that thing stunck up the house. :evil:
If they're all like that I could never have one in a truck with me.

LOL nope, our ferrets have been descented and "fixed".

That is why I loved pulling REEFERS yes at times it is a pain but hey we all have to eat.

[Snowman7]

LOL nope, our ferrets have been descented and "fixed".

I've seen some drivers that should have all that done!

Actually I didn't know they could 'descent" them. :shock:

[Double R]

This is way I love foodservice. NO SLOW DOWNS. Especially when you drive for one customer and the trucks have thier name on it .

[Goin Fer It]

My daughter took care of her friends ferret for a week and that thing stunck up the house. :evil:
If they're all like that I could never have one in a truck with me.

LOL nope, our ferrets have been descented and "fixed".

It may be tough to find a company that will allow ferrets. In some states it is illegal to have ferrets as pets so maybe you will have to find out which states allow ferrets as pets and attempt to find a company that will not run the states where they are illegal to own.

BOL

Goin Fer It's Wife

[GoldiesPlating]

Thanks goinferit!

LOL nope, our ferrets have been descented and "fixed".

I've seen some drivers that should have all that done!

Actually I didn't know they could 'descent" them. :shock:

LOL yep you can!