Question:
I made it! Six weeks of fun and hell and I justed finished training as a flatbed driver for Werner. I been assigned my own tractor and have completed four pickups and deliveries before taking my first hometime.
Tarping was the hardest part, but you get use to it and it does get you in shape and helps burn off that truck stop chow. I like pipe loads, they are the easiest, just strap and go. Molding and cable are the worst. Load is always shifing around and the straps will never stay tight.
The road test was a hoot! Werner had me test in a Century with a dry van. After dragging that split axle trailer around shippers, consigees, truck stops and corners for six weeks that van was a breeze. They track alot better then a split axle does.
There weren't any worst parts or best parts of the whole program. I did what they wanted me to do as a student, liking it or not. I suggest any new student going to Werner that it is all in the attitude. It will make or break ya.
I been home five days now and will log back in tomorrow morning and go back to work. See ya on the road.

Answer:
Congrats on your training.....looks like your over the hump. When you signed on with Werner, did you just request flatbed or did you luck into it?

Answer:
I asked for it. Driving dry vans just didn't seem to trip my trigger. Wanted something that would get me out of the truck and into some exercise.

Answer:
CONGRATULATIONS!!! Some drivers don't realize what it takes to run a skateboard. I've run flats and vans for CL. I switched back to vans just to keep running. Flats were fun when the weather was good but in the winter or rain it can be tricky. A lot of our flat loads require tarps so be prepared for winter.
I wish you much success with Werner and in your career. They have both served me VERY well over the years.
Keep the shiny side up and enjoy the view.
Drive Safe, Be Safe - The life you save may be your own

Answer:
Congrats Grinch, I will be starting orientation with Werner on the 29th of this month maybe we will cross paths one of these Days
Drafter
Keep the wheels rolling

Answer:
congrats! You sound like flatbed is a good match. Flatbed drivers seem to be happier than van drivers overall --- a big generalization, but they really are two different jobs and you're going to get D-I-R-T-Y
Nice job. Sounds like you've figured out how to get along and do well at Werner. Now don't forget to wave at us van drivers. We may only drive vans -- out-classed by the flatbed club -- but give us a wave once in a while, ok?

Answer:
Keep your wheels turning ,and fuel burning! enjoy skateboarding

Answer:
Good luck to you. Now that you are finished training, the REAL learning begins, and never ends. Trucking is one of those careers where what you did yesterday and the day before does not matter. Each day is a totally new experience.
Great you kept an open mind and were successful in training. My hat's off to you as you strap and tarp a load in Wisconsin on a cold January morning.

Answer:
Grinch,
Congratulations on your job at Werner!
I think you`ve made a good choice for a number of reasons.
I too am supposed to have my orientation the first part of January. First have to get my wife moved back to west Texas to be closer to family while I`m away.
Anyway, I have a question about those split-axle trailers.
Also like you, I have requested the flatbed division but am curious about why these trailers are more difficult to corner than others.
I have heard this in other threads.
As a "sidenote", a statement one driver made in one thread was that some of these split-axles are controlled by air, in that, the driver is actually able to make one of these axles lose contact with the surface so it would corner better.
Hee. Sounds like BS to me but..Hey...! I am an old, and I mean OLD driver and had never Seen a split-axle trailer `til I started thinking about getting back into this Wonderful life.
Stay safe out there and for God`s sake watch out for the "dummies"!

Answer:
Glad to hear you made it. I'll think of you real men(flatbedders) when I get out and close my doors. HA HA.
9 ball, the difference is the axles have a mind of their own. sometimes the front axle bites and sometimes the back axle does. THEN it really gets crazy and each axle takes turns while you're backing up. Yes there are "dump" valves on some trailers, but I doubt if Werner has any. Some of the trailer mfgs will void the warranty if they find one on the trailer. They say it causes undue stress on the trailer frame.
Good luck to both of you.

Answer:
With the axles set 10 feet apart the trailer does not track like a trailer with tandem axles. These split axles trailers will track more inside on turns. I learn real quick to take the turns as wide as possible. You don't pull one of these trailers around corners, you dragg it around the corner. Avoid getting the trailer 90 degrees when making u-turns in or backing at a truck stop or at yards with a heavy load, you could blow a tire or pop it off the wheel. I done it once. A split axle leaves rubber on the road every time you make a turn, the tighter the turn the more rubber it leaves.
That driver who told you about the air thing must be blowing wind. There is no such adjustment on a Werner trailer.
I like driving flatbed for Werner. Lots of miles and they take good care of the equipment. Only thing I don't like is I never gotten home on time once so far. Plus tarping is a pain in the butt, but you get use to it. Some loads are easy to tarp and some are a real pain. Just be careful walking around on the load (get a ladder), that is the most dangerous part of the job, and use enough straps and chains to secure the load. I picked up split loads that just had enough to keep the load in place long enough to get it to the terminal.
Good luck

Answer:
I hear that all the time from the van drivers when I'm at a truck stop or terminal. All they do is close the doors and then the next thing they do is complain to me about sitting on their butts waiting for a load all week or weekend and then start complaining about having to close those doors at 3am after sitting all day to get unloaded at some distribution center. I must have see dozen drivers quit in the last six months because they aren't getting the miles,or the hours suck, they complain there are too many van drivers out there.
Flatbed is a dirty job, but the miles are great and I sleep at night every night and I always have a load, never had one weekend yet without one.
Originally posted by magicman:
Glad to hear you made it. I'll think of you real men(flatbedders) when I get out and close my doors. HA HA.
9 ball, the difference is the axles have a mind of their own. sometimes the front axle bites and sometimes the back axle does. THEN it really gets crazy and each axle takes turns while you're backing up. Yes there are "dump" valves on some trailers, but I doubt if Werner has any. Some of the trailer mfgs will void the warranty if they find one on the trailer. They say it causes undue stress on the trailer frame.
Good luck to both of you.

Answer:
Grinch:
What you refer to as a "split axle" is more commonly known as a "spread".
Some manufacturers do offer a spread axle trailer, usually a drop-deck, with the ability to lift one of the axles. Werner may not use them but they are available.

Answer:
The benefit of a spread axle is the weight that you can cary on the back. With a 10'2" spread you can scale 40,000 lbs on the rear. It makes it easier when you load, you will load from the back forward with the heavier items in the rear.
There are trailors that have dump valves, some are manual and some are electric. You do not see alot of company trailors with them, most that I have seen are O/O's. I have seen them in action, it makes it alot easier to get that trailor into a tight spot with it only pivoting on a single axle. I have also seen flatbed trailors with a sliding front axle. This seems like it would be really nice, if you need to have the weight in the back you can slide the front axle up to run as a spread. If you dont need it you can slide it back and run it as a regular tandom. You can also slide it back if you need to make a tight back.
You will also see alot of reefers running a spread axle.
DRIVER BY CHOICE
Buzzdog