Switching to flatbed was the best decision I ever made.

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Tots989135@reddit

For anyone trying to get into flatbed, Melton is a great company to work for. I worked there up until a couple weeks ago, only reason I left is because I've got old back injuries and the tarps were making it flare up more often.

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

Do they pay percentage or by the mile ?

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Tots989135@reddit

By the mile

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

Money is not everything a good work environment can make up for the pay. Just my preference with flat bed that I get a percent pay because sometimes I will take a load 100-300 miles and it will pay like 1000 bucks just to get closer to a better lane. You get short changed on shorter runs when shorter runs under 1000 miles usually pay 3-5 $ a mile. Just my opinion.

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ShoeStunning@reddit

what did you switch over from? i. doing ltl p&d but have been strongly considering going otr flatbed.

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

I was driving teams doing LTL dedicated route. Was bringing home like 1800$ a week that was my first gig. Switched to flatbed with pretty much zero experience. I like it because you always get something different and rarely do I have to sit for hours waiting to get loaded or unloaded.

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Freight-N-Wait@reddit

How was ltl, over all? I got my cdl through tmc and so plan to stick with them for a while atleast. I dont mind flatbedding, even if some days suck lol, but would love to get home more often than for about a dat and a half or so (eventually) and people seem to talk well of ltl

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

I was doing ltl with a team so we were running back a fourth from cali to Illinois 3 x a week. Honestly it wasn’t bad if you like the idea of steady income. But earnings are limited. I would never go back to cpm. Percentage pay is where it’s at.

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Casperuis495@reddit

Well... you're still there for a couple hours, just different reasons. Loading, securement, and sometimes tarps

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

I rarely have been anywhere for more than 45 mins and out of twenty loads I’ll maybe tarp 2.

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JalocTheGreat@reddit

Wow is that W-2 or 10-99 pay?

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

1099 I put 33% in a separate account for taxes. So take home was a little north of 3k

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threeglude@reddit

Setup an S Corp. Have your business receive the money, then pay yourself on the lower side of the average pay for flatbed. The rest can then be disbursed to you as profit sharing to you, the sole owner this will save you 13% in FICA taxes on everything above your "salary". Warning, you must make at least $20k above and beyond your salary to make the extra accounting costs worth it. Consult a few accountants, and have them manage your quarterly tax payments and etc.

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threeglude@reddit

I personally chose to do this for car hauling and save approximately $12k in taxes/yr, minus accounting costs.

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

You get it bro. Already done that got the solo 401k as well you can contribute as an employee and as the employer for max tax savings

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threeglude@reddit

Any night you're not in the sleeper, use the biz debit card for meals, and claim per diem for days your in the sleeper.

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

Definitely doing the per diem didn’t think about the days when I’m not good idea. Check out fidelity for the 401k

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threeglude@reddit

Damn, I can't believe my accountant didn't mention this. I need to start looking for a new accountant. Mine sucks!

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JalocTheGreat@reddit

Imagine making that and not paying any taxes like some of our foreign drivers do and just go home after a couple of years.

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forkystabbyveggie@reddit

You could if were fine with calling a different country home. Plenty of countries give free or cheap permanent visas to Americans.

The IRS isn't known to extradite over unpaid taxes and remember: it's not illegal to fail to pay taxes. It is illegal not to file.

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

That would be sweet

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No-Obligation2925@reddit

Hotshot probably wouldn’t be so bad either

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

I took a load from Virginia to Holloman nm paid 6k. The hotshot guy who took almost an identical load only got 3600. I think he money in hotshot is when you can fit multiple loads on one trailer

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Few-Efficiency-4562@reddit (OP)

It was 2 stops 1 in salt lake 1 in Las Vegas. This was an above avg week it’s normally 12-13k.

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trucksarekewl@reddit

Alrighty then lol