How many women drive a flatbed?

[redsunrise]

Been pulling flat bed/step deck for 10 years, never learned anything else in the industry.

Hard work....can be, tarping....done by myself, forklifts we usually place the tarps on top but if they don't I can get them up there. :wink:

Rewarding work...you betcha.

It will keep you shape and if you're not one to get dirty it's not going to be your niche.

[4roses]

pronghornracer .... what's the latest? Have you made any decisions on flatbed or van? .... If this is something that your pulled toward ... pulling a flatbed .... then go for it :!: . You won't know until you've tried it - if it's for you or not .... I've met a couple of Ladies that pull flatbed and they do just fine .... they enjoy working hard and the feeling of accomplishment when their rolling down the road .... Me .. I've always pulled a reefer or van ... I'm not physically able to do the tarping and etc that goes with flatbeds. ........... So if you want to try it .... I say .... go for it !! You can always go to vans and reefers later.

[pronghornracer]

Well, here is the latest.....
I thought I would try out for flatbed, so I applied for Maverick.
They sent me a bus ticket, got there Saturday and I showed up for orientation on Sunday.
There were probably about 30 guys there, and I was the only woman.
Orientation on Sunday was really long, we started at 7:30 and didn't get out until 7:30-8:00pm at night.
They discussed the company, and we watched videos, took tests, filled out paperwork, and had a log book assignment for the next day.
Monday we had to be there at 6:30am for drug testing, D.O.T. physical,
interviews, strength/agility tests.
Sooo......I had a drug/dot test, went to an interview, came back to the main building. They had us filling out more paperwork, took our blood pressure ....again...because most of us had drank coffee that morning. I
guess that it raises your blood pressure or something.
Then we had to do all kinds of stretching, they took measurements of everything, they examined your spine, knees, everything. We had to do grip tests, cardio tests, strength tests, weight tests.
Then we had to show them that we could get on /off the trailer safely. We
had to get on a 5 foot something box that was on the trailer, and off of it safely. We had to get in/ out of the cab of a truck safely. We had to walk a plank/ or narrow piece of the trailer that was on the floor....I guess a balance test.
Also, we had to put a rolled up tarp on the back of the trailer.
They said put it up there, any way that you can.


So...we were lined up doing the weight tests; one of them consisted of
a box/crate with handles on the top of the box, and on the bottom.
The lady conducting the tests would put sand bags in this box, and you
would have to lift it, once using the top handle and once using the bottom handle, she said lift as much as you can, you have to be able to lift a certain amount, which was supposed to be the minimum amount of whatever the required amount was, but she couldn't disclose how much it was.
Well, a couple of guys went first in front of me, and they would lift what she had in the box, and she would ask them, do you want 10 or 20 more pounds added, she kept adding weight as they would ask for it, but before it was said and done, you lifted this thing twice each time as weight was added. The guys in front of me had one or two bags left on the table.
Then it was my turn, she put a few bags in, and I squatted down and lifted it twice, she added 20lbs, and I lifted it 2 more times, she added 20
more and I did it again, asked me if I wanted more, and I added a small 10lb one...and that's as far as I went. I still had a few left on the table, a couple of 20's and a couple of 10's.
Then I went out to lift the tarp on the trailer...well I was still a little tired
from lifting the box of weights, but I gave it a try. I lifted the tarp up to
the bumper, but I couldn't get it on the trailer. So, I sat down to take a rest. I asked the other lady if I could unroll it, and she said "any way you can get it up there"
So, I unrolled it half way, and got it up there one section at a time, took it down and did it again.
I did the trailer, and the box test, and the other tests with no problem.
Then that other lady called me back in and said that I could not qualify for the position, because I didn't lift enough weight.
Needless to say, I wasn't real happy.
So, I went out to the lounge, and was talking with a couple of other guys,
who also were disqualified. One guy missed it by 5lbs. According to him,
the qualifing weight that you had to lift was 140lbs. I was like... "Good grief!"...Why would you have to lift that much weight? Couldn't you get the forklift driver to help you with whatever it was?
Another guy, whom was a re-hire, he had worked there for 2 years, quit for a couple of years and came back was also disqualified, because that lady felt something in his knee that didn't feel right. He has to go get checked out by a doctor. He said he never had any knee trouble. He also said that they never this type of testing when he was there before; used to, all you had to take was a drug test, and you made it in. I asked him
if he ever had to lift anything that was 140lbs, and he said he didn't ever remember doing so.
So, after a long bus ride, I am home again trying to figure out what to do next. I need to find another job soon, before I forget what I've learned.
I'm going to research a few more companies. I'm still interested in flat bed, but I'm wondering if they are all going to be that way. I'm going to check into a few of the other types as well.
So....this is where I stand.

pronghornracer

[dquietype]

pronghornracer I am soooooo grateful that you posted your experience with Maverick! I'm female and am interested in learning flatbedding. I don't see why they wanted to see who could lift more weight than necessary. I think that's ridiculous! I could see if they had an actual tarp that weighed that amount but.....Well, seems like I can scratch them off of my list of companies to look at.

[Truckdobe]

These companies... :shock: :x

I do have a tarp that weighs nearly that, but I NEVER lift it. I roll it out of the box and point, someone with a forklift picks it up. When I take it off, I roll it up, roll it to the box and lift one end of it to get it started in the box, then the other end...

I'm 5'4" and doubt that I will ever pull another trailer with doors. I started out with flats 15 years ago and have tried everything else along the way b4 going back to open equipment. Have a stepdeck now, shopping for an RGN just for a change of scenery. My biggest disadvantage is a strong fear of heights that I have to deal with, it's dumb, but I can't convince my mind/body not to react no matter how long I've been doing this. I just take my time.

I think taking your time and having to think to accomplish things makes you safer. I see way too many people with too much testosterone rushing around, picking things up wrong and taking chances I would never take... I've seen a lot of them get hurt too.

[dieselgrl]

I've just started my flatbed career... and bought the truck to boot. I'm with Truckdobe on the tarp issue - I roll it around or drag it to where I need it, then use the forklift operators to lift it where needed. Winches and binders are not hard to deal with if you're working smart - and no, you probably won't even need a cheater pipe over your winch bar. 8) My boyfriend thought I would, and my trainer called him a moron and showed me how to properly secure my binders with very little effort.

I'll never go back to yanking vans - flatbedding is my way of life!

[pronghornracer]

Well,... I think I'm going to give Roehl a try
and see what happens....at least I'll have more options
if nothing else...

pronghornracer

[JBenson2]

Pronghornracer

Thanks for the informative comments on your orientation.

Good luck in your search. Roel seems to get high marks here.

[Flatspot]

You may agree or disagree, as you see fit. BUT, TMC is worth a close look. I've never seen one-piece tarps on their loads. Smaller tarps; easier to handle. Something like half-size, if I recall. 75 lbs tops?

For the ultimate flat-bed, no tarp. Gulf coast states, hauling oil-field equipment.

For the ultimate pucker-factor leaving you with a seat cushion embedded, Gulf coast states. Those 4-wheelin' folks seem to think a big rig can stop on a dime.

If you're hauling pipe, you need a headache rack 3 times normal thickness to save you.

On the bright side, the food in the little Mom 'n' Pop restaurants can't be beat.

'specially in Cajun country!

[pronghornracer]

Actually, I haven't tried TMC. I don't know what TMC would be
like for women, or even how many women work there. I haven't
seen any posts from any women who work for them. Maybe, someone
will chime in with some info.


pronghornracer

[crazyfox]

:shock: I work, for awhile, (2yrs for TMC. I agree with the, bosses at TMC,,"Women have NO place in flatbed." It takes a great deal of streght(?) tarping and straping loads, correctly. Most women cannot do this job, and if the male drivers, that have done flatbed work would, "keep it real, and tell the TRUTH, and STOP just laying down in order to please the women on this site," you, yourselves, would KNOW that women, have NO PLACE in flatbed work. I am not trying to dis-repect any woman. All i'm trying to do is, KEEP IT REAL.

[malaekat]

i once drove flatbed tow truck and let me tell you it is difficult to strap in all weather conditions its always harder as a woman, cheater bars help but it is still harder, tarping can be difficult for anyone especdially if you are alone and i will say that i found to actual driving and manouvering of the bed alot easier than moving one with walls, that clear vision is a blessing. Take a chance though find someone to go on a ride along with and hopefully you can pick a nasty weather day so you can get a taste of what its really like before you make the decision for yourself.

[Rokk]

:shock: I work, for awhile, (2yrs for TMC. I agree with the, bosses at TMC,,"Women have NO place in flatbed." It takes a great deal of streght(?) tarping and straping loads, correctly. Most women cannot do this job, and if the male drivers, that have done flatbed work would, "keep it real, and tell the TRUTH, and STOP just laying down in order to please the women on this site," you, yourselves, would KNOW that women, have NO PLACE in flatbed work. I am not trying to dis-repect any woman. All i'm trying to do is, KEEP IT REAL.

BS!!!

the WOMAN!

that tought me to drive a truck to begin with, was a solo flatbedder for 15 years solid. she was no bigger than 5 feet tall and skinnier than a wire.


woman can flat bed just as easy as a man, i know some flatbedders that are men that are over weight and have no business on a flat.

My girlfriend is on the truck with me day and nght and she lifts lumber tarps up on the deck by herself, can strap, cradle and throw and run a wench bar, and she only been out here with me two months.

so stop beig predjudiced and shovenistic.

[dangwabbit]

I'll stand with Rokk on this.....but geezzzz this thread is two years old and you are still beating the dead horse?

[dieselgrl]

I agree with you on the age of the thread, but I'm going to have to stand with Rokk on this one.

I'm a DRIVER INSTRUCTOR for a flatbed company. I was a lease-operator that did quite well before being asked to come inside the office, thankyouverymuch. I can toss a 90lb lumber tarp better than many of the men that come in - strap, chain and bind as well.

I'm 5'6" tall, and TMC didn't think I was "flatbedding material" because I didn't have a Y chromosome. I'd say I get an average of 2-3 women a month into my classes, and most all of them are more than capable.

Arrow's November '07 Driver of the Month was a woman!

As for cheater pipes -

Cheater pipes are NOT needed - in fact, if you put a cheater pipe on a winch bar, you're asking to get seriously hurt out there. All it takes is 100 lbs of force at the end of a 24" bar to properly tighten your equipment - many men over tighten their load securement causing damage to the product, and premature failure of the load devices.

[kahlana]

Well, as most y'all know i just spent 2 months on a Swift flatbed and i loved it. by the time i got off the truck i could throw the tarps as well as any of the guys i met driving skateboards, and could tie down just as well. So once things get moving for me again i will definitely go flatbed. We hauled a box for 4 days at one point and theres not enough money out there to make me do it again. Flatbed rules!

[RottsATruckin]

:shock: I work, for awhile, (2yrs for TMC. I agree with the, bosses at TMC,,"Women have NO place in flatbed." It takes a great deal of streght(?) tarping and straping loads, correctly. Most women cannot do this job, and if the male drivers, that have done flatbed work would, "keep it real, and tell the TRUTH, and STOP just laying down in order to please the women on this site," you, yourselves, would KNOW that women, have NO PLACE in flatbed work. I am not trying to dis-repect any woman. All i'm trying to do is, KEEP IT REAL.

Geez, next thing you know they'll be wanting to vote.


A woman flatbedder and I pulled into the shipper at the same time, got loaded at the same time, strapped/tarped at the same time and hit the road at the same time.
She was about my age (let’s say 40ish…but I look 30ish :wink: ), 6” shorter and about 40 lbs lighter and she had some heavy vinyl coated tarps.
Both of us agreed it was flatbeds or nothing at all.
When I see a woman flatbedder I think “good for her, don’t take crap from anybody lady”

[cajunspice]

I am a woman and I started out pulling a flat/dropdeck in the oilfield in south Louisiana. I was one of the first females in my area to do so. Right now there are maybe 4/5 women on the big trucks, pulling oilfield equipment.I quickly earned respect from the guys because I got out there , chained/strapped/binded my own loads with out asking for (or expecting) any help from anyone else. In my years as a driver, I have driven local and OTR, pulled reefers, vans ,flats, drops, dumps and bulk tanks. The power units were F-L, Mack,Pete and a W-9L. GIRLS, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO DO!

[thomasz]

We can not count how many guy, just know that it's not so many.