I'm currently in CDL school, I'm good shape physically, but no spring chicken.
So my question to flatbedders is this:

I've read in other posts that most flatbedding deliveries and pickups are done in the daytime and not typically on weekends. So as compared to driving vans, reefer, or tanker (if in fact anyone does hire a newbie for tanker), would flatbedding generally speaking be a better option for home time?

Next question. Is there any advantage to getting prehired besides the fact that you have a tentative start date for orientation?

If you want to talk specifics, I'm considering TMC, Maverick, or Roehl for flatbedding.

 

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you. Start CDL school on Monday. Just wanted to say thanks for your post because I had looked at Maverick's website before but just looked again and their starting pay looks really strong, compairativly speaking. Think I'll be filling out an app with them for a pre-hire.

GL to you.

Dok

 

I see you're in Dayton. You're in a great location for getting home. TMC or Maverick would have no problem getting you home on weekends. If you have any say or choices of loads you may even sneak by the house during the week. I didnt work for them but I know their drivers as I pulled a flatbed for Valley out of Ashland, who by the way got me home every weekend. And with no qualcomm I may have gone oor a little to go by the house during the week once or twice. :wink:

 

Thanks Doktari. It's not only the pay with Maverick, they are supposed to be one of the best flatbed companies. GL to you to.

Snowman, I don't have to go OOR to hit the house, I live about 2 miles from I-70. :wink:

 

Luke, most shippers don't receive or ship on weekends, whether it is flats or vans. Some of us do our best running over the weekend for a Monday morning delivery. Home time is more dependent on where you are running than the type of freight. For instance, if the company where you work has major freight lanes near to where you live, then you will likely be able to get home more frequently than someone who lives farther away. If home time is important to you, then you should discuss it with the recruiter before accepting a position. It is difficult for most carriers to guarantee you to be home at a specific time.

 

Thats assuming you'll be passing thru. You may deliver 30 miles from home and your reload is goes back the other way.

 

Thanks for the input Snowman and GMan.

I think I'm still leaning towards flatbedding for the challange. I what to get back in shape and stay there and flatbedding will require me to keep fit.

 

You will tend to get a bit more physical pulling tarps around than shutting the back doors on a box. Good luck, Luke.

 

I flatbed and I get home every weekend.
The thing you need to keep in mind with weekends is that you generally pick up a load on Friday for a Monday delivery. So depending on where that load delivers you may find yourself leaving Sunday afternoon to get there. Just something to think about if you were expecting your weekend to be two 24-hr days.

That said, this weekend is working out for me. I load Monday at 6am, and I'm heading down to Tennessee.