Question:
I am thinking of applying at Maverick when I graduate from a truck driver training course I will be taking in July. Any information about Maverick I should know about? Or how about any other flatbed companies? TMC, Boyd, Roehl, etc., etc. Thanks.

Answer:
See blog by "Skills" here. BOL

Answer:
See my posts. Flats and steps are a specialized operation and best left to owner operators or experienced drivers. As a company driver you can make more money and be better satisified driving a dry van.***Patience is the hardest thing to learn..

Answer:

Thanks for the reply simstick, but I didn't ask for opinions about flatbeds vs. dry van. I already know the differences. I am just asking for any information about the said companies from anyone who is currently driving for them.

Answer:

BOL is right!
He hasn't even started with them yet!

Answer:
steveoh1 "Darmichar" is a driver for maverick. Go to classadrivers.com click on "message board" and send him a pm with any questions you may have.
Maverick has an excellent reputation. Your going to start out at 34-35 cents per mile...and be home most weekends. If you choose regional you'll start at 34 cents per mile, and be home weekends. If you choose long haul...every other weekend..pay is 35 cents per mile..not counting tarp pay.
Regional, you're going to average 2400 - 2900 miles per week and be home most weekends. Longhaul 2800-3000 miles per week.Pay is 35 cents per mile. Home every other weekend.
Your average van or reefer company is going to start you out at about 27 cents per mile. Most pay less. A few pay a little more. Your going to be out 2-6 weeks at a time. Say goodbye to hometime. And your going to do it for less money Now, lets have some fun and crunch some numbers.
Lets say you choose to run regional for maverick. Training pay is $500 per week. Van pays $350.00 per week, or reefer. Take your pick. Your going to make $150 more per week while in training with maverick, than with reefer or van.
Training pay Maverick - $500
Training Pay Van $ 350
$150 more per week training pay with maverick
Training time on average is 6 weeks
6 X $150 = Maverick is going to pay you $900 more for training than the average van or reefer company. In other words your already $900 ahead by going with maverick. Now it only gets worse for the van. Lets do the simple math
Any second grader can figure this out with a calculator.
Lets say you choose to run regional for maverick. You'll be home most weekends and average 2400-2900 miles per week at 34 cents per mile.
Lets take the low end of the mileage at 2400 miles per week at 34 cents per mile.
2400 X 34 cents = $816 < Not including tarp pay. Home most weekends
Now lets have some fun with the van or reefer pay. Lets give the van 3000 miles per week. They won't average that..but let's do it just for fun
3000 X 27 cents = $810 !!!!!! The van drove 600 miles farther and made $6.00 less money
Now then..is the van or reffer driver going to be home most weekends? NO!!!!!! Not if your a newbie. What about maverick? Yep home most weekends. More money with maverick and more hometime.
I would go with maverick.
Now for a reality check. There's a lot of complaining among van drivers that they aren't getting many miles. It's the slow time of year. Lots of 1500-2000 miles per week right now. Now do the math on those miles. You would be better off financially delivering pizzas. I would choose maverick. Your also going to get a 4cent raise at 6 months, and another cent raise at 1 year. That would put you about 39 cents per mile at 1 year regional. 40 cents per mile 1 year long haul.
Did I say I would go with Maverick?

Answer:

Yes you did! Thanks for the reply. I think I can feel comfortable now putting Maverick on the top of my list for employment. I just hope there is not a waiting list for orientation after I graduate school. Now I just need a backup plan!
Thanks Solo for your info.

Answer:

No doubt.
Answer:
Wow, looks like it's a perect world for Maverick.
Home weekends as explained on their Web Site is through the house on weekends. Don't go there expecting to have weekends off like a regular job. That won't happen.
Do you have some experience?

http://www.maverickusa.com/drive/#quals
You might want to find out what their tarp pay is.
I've always leaned a little toward Melton for Flatbeds if I had been interested in it. Their tarp pay is $40.00 and mileage pay is about the same as Maverick. Benefits look to be very reasonable for the driver and family.
http://216.15.188.219/pages/compDrivers.asp
I know, you didn't ask.
If you need training TMC might be a good idea.
http://www.tmctrans.com/driverOpps.asp

Answer:

No experience needed. At the top of the "drive with us" webpage it says "Now Hiring Students". I talked to them yesterday and tarp pay is $30.00. I am also looking at TMC.

Answer:

No experience needed. At the top of the "drive with us" webpage it says "Now Hiring Students". I talked to them yesterday and tarp pay is $30.00. I am also looking at TMC. Good luck steveoh1. Have you saw flatbed freds website ? He's going with TMC. Here's the link. click here Just click on "daily diarie" when you get there.

Answer:
Maverick would be my first choice if I was gonna be starting out in flatbeds.
They indeed do get you home most weekends if you are on one of their regional fleets(now this could be getting in late friday night and have to roll sunday evening) but alas that is just how it works in medium haul flatbed
Maverick hauls bunches of building materials if you are in their SW region and lots of steel if you are in their midwest region. Their training is top-notch.
Melton on the other hand does not even attempt to get you home on weekends as they are not a medium haul carrier,but more of a border thru carrier(50% or better of their business is with mexico or companies that deal with mexico)......Not that that's a bad thing,but to be able to get home regularly,you have to live in a specific lane . Oh yea and you really gotta like being in Laredo!!!
That $40 tarp pay may sound like bunches of cash,but you will earn every penny(especially the first time you gotta wrap those 8 ft drops around a 20k coil) Melton only issues 8ft lumber tarps to each truck.
I never worked for Maverick...........................I spent 11 agonizing months driving for Melton. Have several friends and aquaintances running for Maverick on their SW fleet and dont hear hardly any complaints.
My vote is for Maverick......................................if I ever have to get back into a truck,it will be a maroon fruitshaker w/Arkansas tags recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division

Answer:
Thanks guys for all of your info and support. I have found out alot in the past few weeks about trucking. I am just ready to get started now, but have to wait until July when class starts for my driver training. I am just ready to get out of what I am doing and get on down the road!!

Answer:
There's a small FB company in Tulsa where you could drive a much better truck and make alot more money.
I wouldn't work for a large company again. But, you have more choices when you have experience.
Good luck steveoh1

Answer:
Pray tell what would the name of that "small company " be??!!
Notice I said "IF" and trust me that is a really big "IF"
BEST OF LUCK to ya Steveoh.......................whatever direction you choose
P.S. Hey Stuffs hows the wind out there in W.Texas??? you cant have much dirt on the ground,cuz it has all been blown over here to N. Texas!!!!! recovering dweller..........oilfield trash division