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Post by doubleclutch on Jun 30, 2004 6:24:15 GMT -5
Hi to everyone!!! I'm looking for anything I can find on either of these two companies. Past or present drivers can you help me? I don't know much about KLLM but I believe PGT hauls mainly steel and pays a percentage. Is that good or bad? Flatbeds, chaining, tarping, how difficult for some one thats never done it before? Any and all comments will be appreciated. Thank you, to all you seasoned drivers for your words of wisdom and practical experience, from a newbie who just got his CDL and who's about to embark on a new career .
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Post by doubleclutch on Jul 6, 2004 20:03:50 GMT -5
:oWOW!!! Not one response I need help. Any flatbed drivers willing to offer help??? I have a flatbed company I'm interested in that will pay, after my training phase, a percentage of the load. Is that better than by the mile? How difficult is it to learn load securement for a flatbed? Is flatbed better than a van? Anyone ... I'm all ears .
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Post by truckertom on Jul 7, 2004 18:34:30 GMT -5
You might look into KTL flatbedders. I know alot of fladbed companies have had new drivers turn and walk away when they found out that the driver has to tarp and secure the load.
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Post by skyraider on Jul 10, 2004 10:39:57 GMT -5
:oWOW!!! Not one response I need help. Any flatbed drivers willing to offer help??? I have a flatbed company I'm interested in that will pay, after my training phase, a percentage of the load. Is that better than by the mile? How difficult is it to learn load securement for a flatbed? Is flatbed better than a van? Anyone ... I'm all ears . hey,,,check out how many van drivers u see on the road and how many flatbedders,,,,numbers dont lie,,Sky......
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Post by doubleclutch on Jul 20, 2004 18:05:10 GMT -5
Thanx for the responses, but I have a few more questions to ask. Would a reefer be better than going flatbed? I've read in "Driver's ABC's" that you run harder with a reefer, is that so? I do realize that I would be responsible for securing and tarping the load on a flatbed. (but I have no idea how difficult it is) Any opinions as to which is better or is it just a trade-off? I have to make a choice soon, so I'm looking for the pros and cons so I can weigh the options. :(Sorry for always asking question and never giving any advice. Hopefully, once I get on the road, I'll be of some help to others.
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Post by Pelicn on Jul 20, 2004 20:10:24 GMT -5
Double.... Don't ever apologize for asking questions. that's how we learn.
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Post by bigkid on Sept 12, 2004 11:53:39 GMT -5
There are positive and negative things for all-flat beds, dry vans and reefers. As far as securing a load on a flat bed, it's not hard to figure out how to keep a load from shifting, but you can go to a local truck stop and I'm sure that the drivers would be more than happy to give you some pointers. One of them would probably be glad to let you tarp his load. ;D . I never had any problem with securing a load of coil steel, but plywood and waferboard are prone to shifting, learned that from personal experience. Watch your speed in curves. I never seemed to get hung up unloading or loading a flatbed and always seemed to get more miles with one than with a van or reefer. However, tarping a load in the rain, wind and freezing weather was not one of my most favorite things to do. Dry vans are ok, I have driven for companies that had good loads and didn't get layed over a whole lot, but with some companies you will. If it's a company that has 65% or more drop and hook- that's where I'd be. One disadvantage is cities with a lot of low bridges. If you get good delivery instructions this isn't a problem. Reefers are probably my least favorite, but I pulled one for two and half years and it wasn't bad. The disadvantages are having to go to food store warehouses and when going to a truck stop always park by other reefer units(usually at the back of the parking lot). Dry van and flatbedders aren't used to listening to a reefer unit running while they sleep. They tend to get a little irritated when you wake them up. Another problem is the weight of a reefer trailer. It's heavier than a dry van and some companies will put a dry van load on it without really looking at the over all weight of the load. A load that is close the maximum legal on a dry van might be over weight for a reefer. Something I learned a long time ago from personal experience. Question the load if you know it's going to be close. Unless the company is going to pick up the weight tab.
I hope this answers your questions. I drove OTR for 6 years and have been out of it since 1996. Been looking at going back to it. It's a good life and I have missed it. Good luck and always think safety first.
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