Flatbed
Posted by Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 46 comments
Can you get into flatbed doing the cdl training program at prime?
My options are slimmer than I imagined, i have long hair and tattoos. A longer beard but i can trim that, maybe.
I didn’t imagine getting into trucking was so appearance based lmfao. When all the interactions with truckers I’ve had recently they cant even speak english.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
Long story short i dont want to waste me time makeing 55k . Im looking into flatbed cause it pays more. I dont have a cdl but i also dont mind working it off instead of dropping 6k upfront. I want to make 80k a year right now.
nuget102@reddit
I'm doing flatbed - it's my first year doing it. I'm on track to make somewhere in the range of 40-50k. Any company that pays for your CDL also tends to pay you less than competitors - so it may be worth it to pay for your CDL upfront in order to get a better paying job.
All that to say - you're not going to make 80k year one doing flatbed.
Emergency_Ad1152@reddit
80k a year off the bat? You gotta go into labor intensive jobs like a dollar account, food or beverage service. Flatbed pays better than dry van but it's not $30k more imo
MegaDuck71@reddit
I think it’s fair to set expectations. I started with Prime. I made bank during the COVID years. That experience is unlikely to happen again soon. Based on my last quarter I am projected to make 84k this year hauling chickens and being home on weekends and half the week.
I am just not sure if OTR is for OP based on having a wife. If he wants to keep her I’d recommend getting the CDL independent and pounding on doors for 2 months to find a local gig. Probably not 80k in the south starting.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I don’t have kids. If she ends up leaving whats it to me? Why would i want her around if she doesnt want to be here? I need to save around 100k more to retire. I cant do that working all day everyday with 4 days off a month only to make 55k. Thats slave wages. I need to make at least 80k for the amount of dead time im responsible for someones truck and the personal expenses accumulated being on the road hauling or not. If im in the truck responsible for it the amount of time im seeing is the standard, i need to be making 80k or more.
MegaDuck71@reddit
I can’t give you relationship advice. That is out of my ability.
You can make 80k OTR. It’s just a bad life. I would look at a different skill based profession.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
Im giving you advice, not the other way around
MegaDuck71@reddit
Thank you, sir! 🫡
SlothyTendecies@reddit
I get wanting to make more money, but you have to be realistic. If you owned a trucking company would you just walk outside and hire the first person you see with no experience and just let them drive off with your equipment for 80k right off the bat? The money comes with experience. There is no trucking job that is going to pay that right out of the gate. After a year? Yeah, maybe you can find a job like that, but you have to keep your expectations grounded.
itsmysecondaryblog@reddit
Idk about their appearance policy, but I spoke with a recruiter from Maverick. He said yes, they hire straight out of CDL school, and if you go with them as first job they have tuition reimbursement up to $7k.
SexyWampa@reddit
If you want to get into flatbed, apply at Melton. They're a good starter company and don't care what you look like for the most part.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
Im contemplating getting my cdl 1st. I see people recommend that a lot. But i think i dont mind working it off instead of dropping 6k for school.
Cringey_NPC-574@reddit
Any government assistance? They’re willing to pay 5k out of the 6k total for school where I’m at.
I think a good upside of schooling on the job is your employment length. From when you get hired on til reciving your CDL, it counts towards your “experience”. My goal is to get to Walmart for that “$190k+” lol after 3 years of driving
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
My wife makes too much. The threshold for income is very very low. I have the money but i think id rather pay it off as i go.
Yea im at the point in life where ill work my ass off for money but the effort has to be valued.
threeglude@reddit
If you're willing to work your ass off, then why not consider car hauling? There's a few starter companies who are new driver friendly. After a year or two, you could be home nightly or weekly and still make bank. Or, be out 2 to 3 weeks like I am and pull 3-4k/wk
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
Thanks ill look into that. Didnt realize they hired no experience.
threeglude@reddit
Yw. Most don't train for you to get a cdl, but depending on the market conditions, will hire someone fresh out of school. Hansen and Adkins along with carmax are typically new driver friendly and both have a pretty decent training program. I think both carmax and Hansen is like 2-3 weeks just for classes and loading configurations on the truck itself.
The first 1-1.5 years is a PIA. Depending on your passion for it, you may be asking yourself why you chose to haul cars, but if you stick it out, it gets easier by a wide margin. And the exercise is nice too!
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
That why i wanted to do flat bed to get some exercise and tarp fees. I didnt even think about car hauling definitely looking into that
threeglude@reddit
You bet. I love it. The go go go part is great. There's never any waiting when you get to your pick or drop site, it's load or unload soon as you set the brakes and start the PTO. There's many challenges to this, which I love, and the instant self gratification of putting the "puzzle" together. Most start off doing OEMs, aka new car delivery and runs are anywhere from a 20 min to 3hr+ drive. I was logging 10-15 miles of steps when I did OEM. Now I'm doing more specialized car hauling, runs are longer so I don't load/unload as much, but days are more relaxed so I make the time for exercise.
SexyWampa@reddit
Got a couple names? I'd be interested.
threeglude@reddit
Hansen and Adkins is one, just don't buy into the hype that if you're doing 10k+ gross to the truck/wk it's not legal (had one of their drivers tell me that bs when I was new and asking around to find the next company). But also, fuck being legal all the time 🤣, rules are meant for suckers anyway.
Car hauling and livestock are the only two industries where you can be a little bit of an outlaw from time to time. Risks are great sometimes, sure, but so too are the rewards!
If you pm me your location I could possibly give out a few more new driver friendly companies based on the area you live.
bmf1989@reddit
Melton(and most other flatbed companies) will reimburse you for cdl training. Think it was $150 a month up to 10k when I was there.
Mechanik_J@reddit
If you do get a cdl on your own, some places actually reimburse you for it. If it's your first trucking job out of school. It's a couple hundred dollars paid over a couple years.
Since turnover is so bad, it's part of a companies retention program.
astro_skull@reddit
Swift sucks but their flatbed division sucks a bit less. I also recommend Melton.
brandmonkey@reddit
What makes you think it's appearance based? I have tattoos from my neck down. I just try to dress appropriately.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
The written policys
Baconated-Coffee@reddit
I showed up to orientation at Werner with a long beard. It hasn't hurt me a single time in trucking and definitely hasn't been an issue in construction which transitioned to after coming off the road.
Environmental-Pear40@reddit
I mean, I have hand tattoos and have never had that be an issue for trucking companies, that's weird.
I think Melton is still considered the best place to start for flatbed. They have the whole school for it. Whole week or so and it's paid. Idk if they still do CDL training though. I thought they did.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I think maybe they do reimbursement.
Environmental-Pear40@reddit
Maybe, I just know them as a starter company so. I went through their little school thing and you learn a lot about securement. But I was too lazy to do flatbed.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I got on with tmc but they have a strict appearance policy. I didn’t realize before i read the getting ready for orientation pamphlet. It’s illegal to discriminate based on hair in my state.
Environmental-Pear40@reddit
Ah, I am personally against TMC and Montgomery transport. They've done their best to try and kill me over the last few years.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I hope you got paid appropriately
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
Im goin to look into melton. I think ill feel better with whoever i choose doing my due diligence.
External_Result_8560@reddit
I got my cdl through a local school and “moved” so I can be in area to be hired by prime. I was given the option of tanker or flatbed before I started with them without any experience
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I was looking through their website and im the south region but im not seeing anything about flatbed. Im trying to figure my best route. Driver training programs or independent cdl.
External_Result_8560@reddit
Just call a recruiter and ask if you can apply as flatbed from your location
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
That’s the plan.
Cooldude075@reddit
As a trucker, why does it matter what we look like? We have 30 second interactions with shippers/recievers and then don't see anyone for awhile. As long as you're not unkempt I don't see why it would matter lol
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I’ve had many jobs more customer facing than trucking. Then go to start applying and there are written policy about men with pony tails, dreadlocks, tattoos, ect….. while the whole industry is under scrutiny right now for malice to America.
Cooldude075@reddit
I can sort of understand it because they want someone that looks "professional" but I've got a ponytail (as a dude) and the only trouble I've gotten is other drivers going "hahaha you look like a girl with that hair". Most dudes i meet with a bunch of tattoos or dreadlocks are hard workers, it just seems like a weird thing to focus on when you could just judge them based on their employment history and vehicle record.
LoicenseToGirth@reddit
I have tattoos, don't shave as much as I should (can't grow a bushy beard anyway, but look unkempt when I leave it for a month), and rarely get haircuts, just wear a hat most of the time.
Trucking is a trade, and customer facing job. You will be expected to fit somewhat a "traditional" appearance to fit that, unless you go into logging or something where no one gives a fuck, and even then still sometimes.
Tattoos are fine, maybe trim the beard down, just wear a hat for the hair. My classmate that had 2ft long hair, earrings, tats, etc just got hired no issue.
Maybe it's just the places you're applying to?
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
I have dreadlocks tattoos and a long beard. I own a house and three cars and a truck and live on acreage. Lmfao. Some of these companies have written policy about pony tails and facial tattoos
LoicenseToGirth@reddit
Yeah face tattoos are a different matter, but my arms and legs and hands are tatted up
We have a guy at the company I'm with, mcelroy, that has dreads, another guy has a footlomg beard, and both got hired.
The guy with dreads has a hat/cover for his, the beard guy just keeps it groomed/combed well. Neither are "hippie out of the woods/hermit" kind of look.
To get away with that you'd prob have to be at a small company that doesn't deal with contracts to corporations, log to sawmill, scrapyard hauling, etc type companies, and tbh many prob aren't looking RN cause those companies aren't large enough to get good fuel contracts and this diesel price hike is hurting em
robertoj29@reddit
What does appearance have to do with someone's ability to speak English? I think I can translate but I'm not sure. I'm reading "I should be given a job even though I don't meet professional standards of grooming because I'm white." Just say the quiet part out loud, it's 2026 and nobody has time to fool around. It's better when the racists just come out and say the racist thing.
Odd_Explanation_9776@reddit (OP)
Im mexican dumb ass. Racist