Need some advice.

[BIGDave]

I've been driving for a local concrete company for 6 years and I'm thinking about going OTR. I just wanted to know how the flatbed freight is now? Our work is already slowing down and we will likely be going back to 32hrs a week if things do not pickup and I can't afford to go all winter long on that amount of pay again. I landed this job right out of school almost and I have never driven otr. I have been looking into Mcelroy, TMC, or Grayson Mitchell since these are the trucks I see most in my area and they get you home on weekends. Does anybody know what kind of figures I could expect to make in a year? Never made over 39k where I'm at now. Any advice would be appreciated, just want to make sure I do the right thing before I give up a job being home every night vs being gone all week and lose 6 years seniority. Thanks.

[GMAN]

Flat bed freight has slowed somewhat. Rates are now where they should be, but there is freight to haul. Mitchell pulls a lot out of Sparrows Point (Baltimore). At least they did. I think the problem with freight right now is the unpredictability. I would think that you could stay busy. I have not done much sitting unless I chose to do so. Since I won't haul some of the cheaper freight I may deadhead from a cheap freight area rather than put something on the truck just to say I have a load. Some will throw what they can get on a truck regardless of the rate. I think they are still shipping quite a bit out of Pulaski, VA. I have hauled out of that area, but rates dropped. They still don't seem to have a problem finding trucks. I think that freight has slowed coming our of Roanoke, VA, but they are still shipping. The point is that there is freight, even if there is a little less of it. If you want to pull a flat you should be able to stay busy. Winter will be off as it is every year. I have not kept up with what other carriers pay their drivers, but I would think that you can make as much or probably more than $39,000. An experienced flat bed driver should be in the $40,000+ range with most carriers. You may want to ask drivers with those carriers you mentioned and see how much they are making.

[jordang900L]

im not sure about TMC getting you home every weekend. unless you can get a regional run or dedicated maybe. but far as i know they dont get home every weekend. try WTI transport in alabama, my dad is a O/O with them and they claim they have more freight then they have trucks. and 93% of the company drivers get home every weekend. and as far as i know the company drivers get paid decent. if you wanna be home on weekends you sure aint got much choice in the flatbed area.

[disgruntled]

if you wanna be home on weekends you sure aint got much choice in the flatbed area.

McElroy, TMC, Boyd Bros (WTI is owned by Boyd), Cypress, Maverick, Mitchell and probably some others i cant think of right now, all claim to get you home on weekends and if you live in the right area it might actually happen. Many of these companies are hiring now. Flatbed freight slowed down a little bit, but we stay pretty busy. So... if youre ready to get dirty, work your butt off, then give it a shot. Just a word of advice, flatbedding can be really unpleasant in the winter...

[chain binder]

Pulling a flat is what you make it.It can be a pain at times,but I love it.I have been driving one for several years.Started driving for Carlisle,out of Houston Texas.They are a pretty good company to haul for.Haul alot of pipe from Houston to their yard in Seattle,Wa.From there it is transferred to their Anchorage Alaska yard,and then to Fairbanks.They are the company you see on Ice Road Truckers.Me personally I stay south.The only problem I see with you driving a cement truck for 6 years is the OTR companies may not count that as driving experience.As far as pulling a flat you will have to go through the company's load securement training.Good luck with your decisions.I drove for Maverick,when I started out.They are a good company to drive for.They will try to get you home on weekends,but it doesn't always work out.I stayed out 2 weeks at a time,but that was my decision.I made more money staying out for 2 weeks,than being home every weekend.Talk to Maverick.I saw you are from Virginia,they have a yard in Jarrett.

[BIGDave]

Pulling a flat is what you make it.It can be a pain at times,but I love it.I have been driving one for several years.Started driving for Carlisle,out of Houston Texas.They are a pretty good company to haul for.Haul alot of pipe from Houston to their yard in Seattle,Wa.From there it is transferred to their Anchorage Alaska yard,and then to Fairbanks.They are the company you see on Ice Road Truckers.Me personally I stay south.The only problem I see with you driving a cement truck for 6 years is the OTR companies may not count that as driving experience.As far as pulling a flat you will have to go through the company's load securement training.Good luck with your decisions.I drove for Maverick,when I started out.They are a good company to drive for.They will try to get you home on weekends,but it doesn't always work out.I stayed out 2 weeks at a time,but that was my decision.I made more money staying out for 2 weeks,than being home every weekend.Talk to Maverick.I saw you are from Virginia,they have a yard in Jarrett.

Thanks for the info. I already drive a flatbed tractor trailer hauling concrete block so I know what its like having to work out in the elements. Never drove a concrete truck. But that is what I like about flatbeding is you get to get out of the truck and secure your own load and not have to back up to docks all the time. A little physical labor is good every now and then. I currently have a job offer of pulling logs and chips local or making a run from NC to TX hauling pickles but the jobs has no benefits and with a family I need something with benefits. Although it won't matter too long cause we will all be on the government plan. Don't get me started on that. But I appreciate all the info. Going to start calling around and putting in apps.

[KickStart]

Maverick closed that Jarratt Terminal.

[BIGDave]

Maverick closed that Jarratt Terminal.

Yea I seen that on their website. Looks like there only hiring on the glass division in my area. TMC seems to be the only 1 hiring in my area but I have read so many bad things about them on here.