I did a search for Besl and all that came up was the few times that GMAN has mentioned them in passing. Same thing for Fikes and Kaplan. Jones is mentioned a few more times, but not much info is given about them. I'll probably talk to the recruiters sometime this week, but I'd like to know what the "word on the street" is for these companies. 8)

Besl Transfer is one of the oldest trucking companies in the U.S. They have been around since the early 1900's. They are based in Cincinnati, OH. A friend of mine has been leased to them for several years. He seems to like them. They are 100% owner operator. www.besl.com is their web address. You won't see them doing a lot of advertising for owner operators. They seem to do well without advertising. Fikes and Kaplan are also very old companies. I know people with both companies. I don't remember the web address for Fikes and Kaplan, but you should be able to find them by doing a search. You won't find inexperienced owner operators running for them. I don't recall the requirements off hand, but I believe they require a couple of years of driving experience.

Thanks, GMAN. I have a couple years of exp. as a company driver, and now I want my own truck. I would like to pull an RGN, and I was just hoping someone would know if these old companies have much RGN business, aside from what the recruiter might tell me. Their websites give me the impression that they are stronger in flat and stepdeck commodities than in heavy equipment, oversize, and other things that are primarily RGN commodities. Regardless of their RGN business, though, they do seem like good companies to lease on with.

there is a lady that posts here by the name of Tootie... i believe her husband pulled RGN for a company in Minnesota

Could you tell me what RGN is ? Thanks.

Graymist, RGN stands for Removable GooseNeck. It is a type of trailer. Some folks also call them lowboys, although I've also heard people give the term lowboy to a double drop that doesn't detach. Anyways, RGNs are produced to handle heavier loads than the average flatbed trailer. They are generally advertised as 35 ton, 50 ton, and so on. So, (I think this means) you can put a hundred thousand pound load on a 50 ton RGN without exceeding the manufacturer's recommended weight limit for the trailer. However, to comply with federal and state axle-weight limits, you will see additional axle configurations, with add ons in the front and in the back.

If I am wrong about any of this, anybody, please correct me.

All of those companies I listed are primarily flat bed carriers. If you want to pull RGN's (Removable Goose Neck) trailers you will need to go with a carrier that primarily does that type of freight. A few who come to mind are ATS (Anderson Trucking), Lone Star, Keene, Green Tree, Keene, Combined. Most of the better heavy haul carriers will want to see a few years of flat bed or step deck experience before they will turn you loose with a multi axle RGN. The way it will usually work is that you start with a flat bed, then go up to a step deck, double drop or RGN then start adding axles, bridge, jeeps, etc., I believe Anderson will graduate an inexperienced driver up to RGN's within a relatively short time frame. I spoke with one of their new drivers not long ago. I was surprised that he would be allowed to haul the over-sized load he had on with so little experience. Doing heavy haul is much different than pulling a flat bed around. It can get a bit complicated.

Ive hauled alot for BESL...THEY pay quick and never had any problems. Ive talked to alot of O/O leased to them seem to be a good company to pull for.

I'd like to stay with an O/O only company. Lonestar and ATS have company drivers, and I'm not sure about Keene.

I pulled overdimensional loads when I drove for Hunt Transportation. It won't be new to me. However, I didn't get any super long or super high loads, which is probably what you are talking about, so that would be new for me.

dteam, that's what I'm hearing. All in all, I'm liking Besl and Fikes the most. I'll speak with recruiters today. If I'm just pulling general commodities with a flatbed or SD, then that's fine. I just want to find a good, solidly established O/O company to lease on with.

Thanks GMAN and dteam for your comments.

Ive hauled alot of loads for MERCER trans..also a good company.