Question for everyone

[MikeC]

Would I get more miles driving flatbed, refrigerated, van, or curtainside? home time aside, I'm going with Roehl and would like to get into the area were I would get the most miles. Thanks

[Uturn2001]

Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead.

[mbadriver]

In flatbed miles don't mean much since you will be running percent of load. Maybe Roehl pays by miles for flatbed, but the norm is % of load, and no pay for deadhead. I started flatbed in february. It's a good gig especially when you get into the oversize stuff.

The way to flatbed is with a smaller carrier that does a lot of oversize. If you are hauling shingles, bricks, and lumber you may as well go van. Same money and less work.

Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead.

[RottsATruckin]

I always liked hauling shingles/brick, the loads were low, I could strap just as fast as they could load and IF I had to tarp I could get by using one tarp due to the load only being 25 feet long. (I did get paid by the mile not %)
That being said, I just applied to haul haz-mat tankers locally for about 50K per year and home nightly. :wink:

[dle]

I'm assuming that you have your cdl and you are going to your first driving job. That's a guess, If I'm wrong tell me.

I have not pulled a flat or curtainside before, so I have no idea. A dry van can only haul non-refrigerated dry-goods. A reefer can haul refrigerated and non-refrigerated loads. Which means that if reefer loads are short they could assign a dry van load.

Talk to the recruiter, find out how many miles you can supposed make in each of those areas. Find out what your pay would be. Do the math to come up with your expected gross. From that take 30-40% off for taxes and insurance, etc etc etc. From the remainder multiply that by 4 to get your expected monthly take home. Can you live on that?

Ok, now for the acid test. Take those miles and reduce them by 40%. Can you live on that?

[MikeC]

Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead.

More opportunity for miles, more opportunity for money. It looks great to get .30 mile as opposed to .26. But what if at .26 you get 2500 miles and 900 at .30 which opportunity would you pursue??

It was actually my wife who brought this up. I'm getting ready to start with Roehl and they have all those opportunities. Was just looking for everyones' opinion.

[coalregion]

Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead.

More opportunity for miles, more opportunity for money. It looks great to get .30 mile as opposed to .26. But what if at .26 you get 2500 miles and 900 at .30 which opportunity would you pursue??

It was actually my wife who brought this up. I'm getting ready to start with Roehl and they have all those opportunities. Was just looking for everyones' opinion.

Trust me on this. The "most miles" are gonna go to the guy making the least per mile each and every time. They'll run the cheapest earning driver into the ground, if that's what your into..... Kinda like if company A pays you $10 hr but gives you 50 hrs/wk, company b pays $15 hr but only gives 40 hours.Which would you rather work for? Work smarter bro, not harder... :wink:

[MikeC]

Wow, I didn't realize that. I have exactly zero experience in the business and I am trying to learn what choices would be best so as to make a good living for my family.

[Geeeeeezer]

Well atleast he didn't ask, "which lease is better?".

That's a few points in his favor right there!!! hehehe

[wsyrob]

Its not always just miles. My last check was about $990 gross. I only had 1600 miles on that check. I pull a tanker for Superior Carriers. There was about 23 hours of demurage pay on that check as well as the sleeper berth pay, loading and unloading pay. I am getting to the point where I hope they are slow loading or unloading me. Chances are I will get the same load despite the delay and I would rather get paid than sit at a terminal a few hours longer.

[Mr. Ford95]

I might be wrong, but I would think running reefer is the best bet right now. No matter what the economy is, people still need food to survive, there will not be a slowdown there like flats and dry van are seeing.