trying to get in the saddle
 

I was about weeks away from going to trucking to get into the business but after reading so much negative thing s about the industry i changed my mind about the whole trucking idea, now i recently gained interest about driving again and i have some questions.

1. Is the trucking industry really that bad?
2. whats the best company so start off with to flatbed?
3. whats the best way to get into heavy hauling

OTR and the large companies are the best way to go about all three of your questions right now.
Swift(obvious) has a decent flatbed training program and also heavy-haul divisions located in certain areas.
Then of course there's Prime and their flatbed training division I might be looking into within the next several months.
I would stay away from local driving as they usually take in the pick of the litter, and in my case, was the pitts compared to being away from home(not the pitts).

How bad is it? I guess it depends on your expectations. Being brand new, your choices will be limited to those companies willing to hire you. Unfortunately they are also those companies known for not being exactly the best places to work.

Driving is not like in the movies. You have long days, putting up with a variety of weather, traffic and people. A dispatcher who has no clue about distances, customers who won't let you use the bathroom, or expect you the driver to do their job of either loading or unloading their freight.

Driving can be great and it can be bad. You may be gone from home for weeks on time. Which is hard for me, but it may not be for you. The long days wear me down pretty bad at times. When I get home I seem to spend a couple of days just sleeping. In the truck I just don't get the same rest as I get at home. It's hard for me to really relax while on the road.

The best company for you will be one that hires you. Right now it's just not that easy. Everyone will give you a different answer. A lot of people love Maverick and TMC. I would not work there personally, having worked for flatbed companies that treated me and my time much better, but then again, I have experience too, and I can chose to be more picky.

A lot of companies that do the heavy haul want experience. So, get out there, get your experience with a flatbed outfit, and then start looking into the specialized stuff.

Good luck to you.

Trucking has been difficult for the last 1 1/2 years due to the economy. It has been good for me and my family over the years. It is pretty much like anything else. You get out of it what you put into it. If you keep a positive attitude things are likely to run much more smoothly than with a poor attitude. It is challenging and not a standard 9-5 job. We typically work irregular hours. That is one thing that is positive about it from my perspective. No two days are exactly alike. You are pretty much on your own with no one to look over your shoulder, but you are usually tethered to a qualcom, which is like a computer with GPS. It is how many of the major carriers communicate with drivers. It isn't a perfect business. Many come to this business with false expectations and for those it usually ends in disappointment. This is not a glamorous business. It can be a good way to earn a good living.

If you want to get into heavy haul you need to start with flats. From flats you can graduate to steps, double drops or rgn's, etc., It can take years to obtain your goals with a top carrier. Most will take you though baby steps through each stage leading up to heavy haul. Anderson is a company that has flats all the way up to multi axle loads. I don't know if they have a training program, but you can advance up to next level. We hear a lot about TMC and Maverick for flats. There are some carriers who will train you in securement after you have a minimum amount of experience. You may also check out smaller carriers. They will sometimes give you more responsibility in a much shorter time frame. Depending on where you live you could check out Boyd Brothers, Tennessee Steel haulers, Lisa Motor Carriers among others. I don't know what all of them pay, but I was told that Boyd has pretty low pay. But, it would be a start. Many will require a minimum amount of hauling experience before giving you consideration. After a year or two in the business you can pretty much work where you want.

There is a company listings on the top of this page. It lists many of the larger carriers with their minimum requirements. It might help you find some new leads. Good luck.

:lol:

To get into the saddle.

1: Get both reins in your left hand, loosely held.

2: Stab the toe of your left foot into the left stirrup. (If you use the right foot..yer gonna look foolish)

3: Grasp the saddle horn with your right hand, and with a quick bounce on your right toes, swing your body up and your right leg across the seat of the saddle.

4: Stab your right foot into the right side stirrup, and get yourself comfortable for the ride.

5: Stay in the saddle as long as the horse will let you!


:rofl: :rofl:

Trucking takes a beating when the economy is down. With the changes coming with CSA 2010 my advice is to mind your P's and Q's wherever you end up.