Question:
have read alot of bad stuff about the van part of swift but what about the the flatbed drivers ? would it be wise for a greenback to get into there trainning in the flatbed part of the company ?

Answer:
Get your doubles/triples endorsement if you're going Swift flatbed. You'll be more useful to them in the West (doubles drywall).
Don't accept less than seven weeks flatbed training because even with that amount of time, you'll still not know everything. The most important thing about flatting is, you should expect to learn something every day. And ALWAYS use one more tie-down than you think you'll need. BOL

Answer:
Swift are the ones that taught me to pull a skateboard. I think I got some really good training......fortunately I had an absolute superstar as a trainer
When I was with "Jerry's Kids" the flatbeds were a pretty small group compared to the rest of the company,and we got treated a bit better IMHO
probably had a lot to do with there being only a 100 or so trux being dispatched by by 4 people -vs- 10,000 being dispatched by ?????
I think SWIFT requires the double/triple endorsement regardless of what division.
If you hire out of Phoenix.....your gonna run ALOT of L.A.-Las Vegas-Phx turns
Good Luckrecovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
well im from michigan and they (SWIFT) says that if i go into flatbed that i would be out of Gary Indiana. so all in all they seem to be not that bad in the flatbed part. just trying to decide on schneider or swift....and i really want to do flatbed and not even drive van other then in school...schneider has no open spot in flatbed (glass)..Thanks for the info......

Answer:
There are a number of flatbed companies which hire newbies out of Michigan including Roehl, Werner and TMC.
You'll do well to avoid Schneider's glass hauling division.

Answer:

You mean there are drivers who actually want to haul that stuff ON PURPOSE?!?!?!


Answer:
Actually revvasago there are lots of drivers that haul that stuff. Hence the "great pumpkin" having no open slots(also has alot to do with no newbies hauling very high value/high liability freight) I live near a big PPG plant that makes "float" glass(really big sheets....like skyscraper big) and most the ppl I know that haul it it really like it(I think what they really like is the$$$,although that really is not a factor as a company driver with SNI or Combined)
truckster I did my share of GARY operations with Swift as well,and you will be spending alot of time at the steel mills in the area(which can be quite taxing) mostly running to Va. S.C. Ky. and then return trips back into Chicago area......If it were me,I would choose someone else to get some flatbed instruction if I was in your location.
What about "Tandem Transport" out of Michigan City,In.??? They used to stick to mostly construction supplies and not alot of steel.....which also translates to shorter runs and possibly getting by the house more often recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
well i need company sponserd trainning as i have no $$$ for the better trucking schools. im unemployed so i have few options as to getting started.

Answer:

How much better does it pay a company driver? Do the drivers have the liability floating over their head, or does the company pick up the tab for damage?

Why is it that so many unemployed (or poorly employed) people turn to truck driving - a career that puts you away from home and has high expenses attatched to it?

Answer:

Hey chuckster, I remember you asked me about working for Roehl. Are you still considering them? You live in a sweet spot as far as their freight lanes go.
They will finance your tuition if you're hard-up for dough. It's not a bad deal I know a few guys that financed and didn't have any problems.
Answer:
yeah its me i did send them a application and thinking about them. they did call me back and im just trying to decide on a company..i will call and see about the loan.

Answer:
Why do you say to avoid the Glass division. I'm curious is all.
The drivers I have talked with love the job and most don't plan on quitting. As stated thats why there are rarely any openings. They also claim to make fair money for the work. Not much waiting on either end and easy loading proceedures.
I will say one draw back i was told and to answer a question above. I was told that the company will take responsibilty for the first piece of glass on each side. Any others and they will put it on the driver for poor load securement. That didn't make sense but it's what I was told by a couple drivers. They also said they didn't have any claims in over a year. but who really knows.
Other than that the division seemed to offer some better opportunities for experience and possibly future jobs.

Answer:
well i did not have to call Roehl they called me,,,hmmm could be a good thing. they going to send me a packet of info for the loan...I have to call Schneider this thursday, should i call them and tell them what im doing ? Im sure they want me to get a physical but i dont want to do that if im going to get to go out with Roehl. I guess i could just tell Schneider to put me on hold for a week and let me decide. question i have on Roehl is that i have my Michigan permits as my chauffeur license and my CDL trainning permits and even got my hazmat,I guess what im asking is do i have to change or retake them test in wisconsin or will they honnor them permits for there class ? will i need to get a wisconsin driver license when i go for their trainning ? or just when i get my CDL from Roehl i just need to transfer it over to a michigan CDL when i get back home ?

Answer:
Ask Roehl if their CDL examiners are third party examiners for Wisconsin and ask if Wisconsin and Michigan have reciprocity.
When I got my CDL the school I attended was in Louisiana and they had reciprocity with Florida. I had to carry a sealed envelope with all the paperwork to a Florida DMV office where a clerk unsealed it, dug all the paperwork out and issued the CDL. BOL

Answer:
sure will do that...i just dont really want to go through the same stuff i already did to get my learners permit as i have paid for them. 60 bucks that i paid. and im not going to throw them out.