Question:
Just throughing numbers out here on the board.
Lets say both a Van and a Flat driver have a year in at Roehl.
Lets say the Van driver Avg. 2700 miles out of 6 days each week.
Van: 2700 X .34 = 918.00 X 4wks = 3,672.00 before tax.
Lets say the Flat driver Avg. 2500 miles out of 6 days each week.
Flat: 2500 X .36 = 900.00 X 4wks = 3,600.00 before taxs.
Know lets take tarp pay at 13.00 each time. I'm guessing you would avg around 5 traps a week.
13.00 X 5 = 65.00 X 4 = 260.00 added to 3,600.00 = 3,860.00 avg ea month.
188.00 higher pulling a Flat.
Plus, don't both Vans and Flats get the same exter pay aside from tarp pay?
Are you paid for each load you cover as well as uncover or just tarp pay for that dispatch?
Well I'm still trying to decide wether to go Flats or Vans. One might say I could go Flats for six months then change over to Vans but the way Buzzdog was sounding that night be hard to do.
What are your opions on this?
Stay safe and Thanks.

Answer:
My opinion?
Spellcheck is a wonderful tool!
Oh yeah, and I'll still go with vans!

Answer:
Wooops, whats sepll Cehck.
I'm thinking Van after seeing all this weather the last few weeks. Roehl called me this morning and asked if I wanted them to go ahead and do a credit check for school. So I should hear some thing in a day or two. Thanks for all your time with all my questions.
Be safe.

Answer:
The difference is .02 cents per mile more for flats plus tarping pay, $6 for small (steel tarps) and $13 for large (lumber tarps). All the other addional pay (detention, stop off pay, breakdown pay) is the same, whether it's flats or van. I drove National van for Roehl. Your right about the weather though. I just couldn't see trying to tarp a load in zero degree weather in 20+ mph winds. YUK! Most places MAY have indoor areas for you to tarp a load, plus you will never have a driver unload. Most of the time they will schedule a crane to unload, depending on what your hauling. Plus you will have to secure the load first before you tarp it, plus it's not always a "steady" place to stand on when your trying to tarp a load. How many more flatbedders get hurt than van guys?
Heard of a driver who had to tarp a load even though the delivery point was one mile down the road. Customer would not receive it if it wasn't tarped. Go figure.

Answer:
A mile down the road, thats crazy.
Roehl called again and I was approved for their school so know I just have to get my family set up after our move then head off to school. Thanks again for the info you sent me.

Answer:
I pull curtainside for Roehl, and it;'s been real fun opening/closing curtains in sub zero weather too. But I'd still rather do that than pull a van/flat. IMHO, curtainside freight is usually more driver friendly. Including the recieving/shipping people. Get on up to Marshfield to school mandrtruck, and get out there rolling. Also check into Roehl's Life Outside the Truck. Deals with family issues and gives some ideas/advice. See ya round Marshfield
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Answer:
Originally posted by Razz:
See ya round Marshfield
Yeah, probably frozen to the ground up there.
You do get an advantage going to Roehls school... They say you aren't garanteed a job but you sure do have a leg up on the road test since your school and orientation test are basically the same thing.

Answer:
some places you cant leave without being tearped i did some locale steele hauling for awhile a few years back we picked up in granite city il just drive across the river even if sunny and no clouds no load was allowed to leave without tarps we drove thoses loads a whole 12 miles so be prepared to tard if you go flatbed I for one would rather go to food lion than drive a flat bed.
Answer:
I prefer the flatbed..yes its a little more work, yes tarping in subzero weather sucks. On the up side it's only crappy weather for a few months out of the year. Upside is I get at least a little excersize almost every day so I'm less likely to develop "huge trucker butt syndrome".
Good luck with whichever you choose.
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