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Originally Posted by Random_Facts
wow swift has a Flat bed devision? (I wonder where I have been lately). I don't think I knew that, I thought they were just huge on the 53' vans, and auto haulers. but flat? see learn something new each day =D.
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Yup. I had no idea either! It's kinda neat, actually. They only have around 500 or so rigs pulling flats. They have 53' step decks and 48' skates, all (or mostly all) spread axles. All the tractors have dual 150 gallon fuel tanks, so the headache racks are moved back aways from the back of the cabs. Makes for some interesting gear-storage situations. But, where there's a will, there's a way. No leaving too many goodies on the cat walk either. The nose of the trailer will clean it all off in a jiffy.
What makes it all feel so good is that the flatbed division is, in fact, very small. It just seems to be all out there on its own. And everything just *works* so well. They have so much dedicated freight. Quite literally, tons of steel heads out of Gary for export to Mexico. Then there's all the Freightliner product. Frame rails come up from Mexico and go to the chassis yard in Gaffney, SC. Finished bus, RV, and utility truck chassis go all over the place. Sprinter vans come out of Daimler Chrysler's VPC in Baltimore and go everywhere. I've seen them stuff some of the delivery vans in 53' vans just to get them delivered.
As I mentioned previously, Swift invested a considerable amount of money in my training; much more so than W/S or Arrow. They really "wanted" me to run for them, or so it would seem. And believe me, I work my tail off for them because of it. I log 600+ mile days routinely. Never late, always ahead of schedule, squeaky clean logs and timely QuaalComs. They never once have to wonder about what's up with their freight.
Yes, I am really thrilled. Yes, I get excited about what I am doing. But this time, the work is working. I earned this one. And I am jazzed. And who gives a sh*t about my last job with Arrow. It got me here.... So in that regard, I guess I am grateful.
I never dreamed that I would see the day that I would work for one of the mega-carriers. Never. Yet here I am. Parked at the Gary terminal after a very nice haul from Baltimore. This trip finals in Forest City, IA tomorrow evening for an early am unload on Monday. I'll have 3100 miles for the week by the time I drop on the 5th. I'll bang out the last 350 or so tomorrow afternoon/evening after I do some shopping in the morning.
I would have to say here that this is a *high* recommend for someone wishing to get into flatbedding. In comparison to some of the other companies, the CPM is a little on the low side, but the mileage more than makes up for it. I was told I would start at 27-28 CPM, but in checking my settlement last week, I am getting 30-31 instead. Pleasantly surprised? You betcha!
Yup, Smooth. I know. (sigh) We will see how it goes over time. Forever the optimist. I thought I had game with the last one, but got no miles two weeks into the running. Very much to the contrary here. You can bet I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed on this gig.
I'll keep the updates comin'
:wink:
