[marcel27208]

If your getting paid percentage pay............do you get to choose your own loads??? Do they do any flatbed training, im an o/o wanting to pull flatbed

[barracuda]

During Orientation they go over how to secure the different loads.

Orientation was like 2-3 days but they will go over it with you till you are sure you know what you are doing.

this was at the Kennedale, Tx location

I can't remember if it is forced dispatch or not.
I'll check with my buddy tonight, she is a load operator for crst.

[marcel27208]

Originally Posted by barracuda

During Orientation they go over how to secure the different loads.

Orientation was like 2-3 days but they will go over it with you till you are sure you know what you are doing.

this was at the Kennedale, Tx location

I can't remember if it is forced dispatch or not.
I'll check with my buddy tonight, she is a load operator for crst.

thanks alot.....about the forced dispatch...is it something like landstar where you pick your own freight? or you just have to bank on them booking high dollar freight.

[sk]

Marcel you might want to do a search on this forum for Malone. I believe that someone was asking about them a while back. Also I think that Gman has had some experience with them. Steve

[GMAN]

Originally Posted by marcel27208

If your getting paid percentage pay............do you get to choose your own loads??? Do they do any flatbed training, im an o/o wanting to pull flatbed

Marcel, CRST Malone is a non-forced dispatch carrier. In other words, you decide when and where you run. They are agent based, similar to Landstar and a couple of other carriers, except that CRST Malone also has assigned dispatchers to their owner operators. Those who do best with them find many of their own loads and hook up with a few agents. Some do better than others. If you rely totally on a dispatcher you will not do as well as when you are more proactive. A friend of mine is doing about $2/mile to the truck including the fsc. But he doesn't sit around waiting for a dispatcher to call. He is doing better than most who lease to them. I am not sure what their fleet average is at this time. It is the same with any agent based carrier. Orientation usually runs about 3 1/2 -4 days. It takes 2 1/2 days to get the drug test back. They will not lease you on without the drug screen being back. You will have about one day of securement training. You can get more if you need it. I know their safety guy in Birmingham. He is a nice guy and very knowledgeable. It is best if you have a flat bed, but you can rent one from them if you cannot get your own. You will need securement equipment which you can buy through them and they will deduct a flat amount weekly out of your settlements. You can get your base plates through them, but will save money by getting your own. If you want to lease on with them you may want to call BJ 800-366-6350. That is the main number in Birmingham. Just ask for BJ or recruiting. She is a hoot. She handles new owner operator leases. I believe you can do orientation in Rockford, IN or Birmingham, AL. At one time you could do orientation in Texas. I am not sure whether they still do that or not.

[One]

I used to drive for/with them too...they charge a lot for trailer rent, so get ur own if you can. They are a good company and will teach you the basics on load securement stressing Steel coil securement above all. They require a lot of chains and straps and tarps. Getting them online or catalogs or whatever will save you $. As Gman said, you will need to be proactive to get the better runs; I didnt- (I was a driver for a fleetowner) so I got a lot of 500 to 600 mile runs (yuck!) and due to my inexperience spent a lot of time securing loads. For an inexperienced flatbedder, getting long runs prolly pays better due to less loading time(?) They haul a lot of coils and other steel, pipe , even some equipment. I did have the displeasure of hauling palletized supersacks of salt (*^%#$) and some sheetrock(argh) but some of that stuff is better than the tall bundles of pipe that have sharp edges and need to be tarped (AARGH)
If you have a LOWBOY trailer you will do well and tarp less! They do get military loads at CRST Malone!!!

[barracuda]

GMAN and One pretty much coverd it;
and like he said about getting your own equipment will be cheaper;
when i leased on it was like 135 $ for a trailer if i remember right.

[GMAN]

They charge $165/week for trailer rental. That is about what most of the other carriers charge. It is still high. You can buy a trailer for less. Starting out, it might be easier to rent a trailer for a couple of months or so until you see whether you like pulling a flat. CRST Malone doesn't have a lot of step deck or low boy freight. There are only a few agents who do much with step deck loads. If you can get hooked up with them, you can do well with a step. Some shippers won't load a step deck. They haul a lot of steel. You will probably do better with a flat or covered wagon if you want to stay in the Midwest and South. Sometimes you can get used equipment from them.

[marcel27208]

Wow....thanks for ALL the great info.....i didnt think id get so much in a short amount of time....thanks again...i look at their website and it really doesnt tell ya much...but i also talked to a driver today also whick helped out alot.

[marcel27208]

do they use a load board like landstar? or how does that work??? thx