My brother in Christ!! Good video. I teach Adult Ed. now but drove tanker a number of years for a great petroleum company. Growing up in Chicago steel haulers, ever since the 50's, made a good living running in the Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-STL-Chicago circle.
This is good news to me because I’m considering getting back out there OTR with CRST lease purchase to get my own business started.. I live in Southeast Missouri. These money lanes you’re telling us to stay in will keep me close to the house! I’ve been a company driver for the last five years so I’m trying to learn as much as I can before I go to work for myself. Thank you!
You literally hit it spot on ! I’ve learned over the past 8 months that everything you’re saying is true . Anything west of Houston is Garbage ! I live in Houston. Florida is trash. East coast is trash. Midwest is the best thing shaking right now. I’ll be heading from Pennsylvania to Blytheville tomorrow . Running steel pipe out of leetsdale, PA
thanks man i was at 4.70$ mile when i got my self into cali from PA and i live in DE so the shipping from pa was my closest customer but looks like i have to deadhead all the way out of ca to anywhere have work unless DAT have something to cover my fuel at least and it's my fault after all your map did helped me a lot.
I’m enjoying your videos a lot of helpful knowledge. Got a question I’m looking into buying my own truck is crst flatbed a good company to lease into as a owner operator and would you do a video on what it takes to get started to become a owner operator thanks for the content to put out
Best company there is to lease onto as an owner operator, pulling a flatbed in my opinion, and I have several step by step videos on becoming an owner operator , go to my homepage and click on videos, scroll back 2 years or so, and watch the ones you want to watch🤙
Trucking is a lot like taxi driving, in the sense that you got to know where the good pickups and destinations are. Once in a blue moon those bad rides ended up connecting me with a great one - got to pray though. I'm based in California. Hopefully I figure something out on the west coast....or maybe those lotto freights that take me back home will just be nice runs. Good info thanks.
If you buy your own truck lease on with Systems, of course you will have to move just outside of California because of the new Ab5 ruling but if you are set on running flatbed freight on the west coast that will be your best option…
@@sturgelltruckingllc4074 The vehicle rules in CA are also horrible. 2010 or newer. Was thinking of overhauling an old truck myself so I can get in on the cheap....might do that and just leave it parked in another state.
yup that was awesome...loved the arrow and homeschool map approach :) now, as a business owner, how the heck do you keep on top of it......as an aside, what would be a backup plan to flatbed...food grade tanker?
Things are constantly changing and markets heat up and cool down, in this video I basically put the markets that stay solid as the good ones but that can change from time to time and it is a job to keep up with it… And yes I probably would look to go to a food grade tanker if the bottom falls completely out of flatbed for a while…
@@nicholaswhitaker146 Good for all Flatbed but there are some big carriers out west that you can lease on to and stay busy because they have all the West Coast flatbed stuff tied up
Since I work in Colorado, Texas and Florida... going against the flow might actually be good for me. Would you recommend CRST over Cypress trucking? I also just discovered those conestoga trailers.
I use my phone (google maps) and the Garmin trucker GPS you can get at any truckstop. The one that cost about $350 I don’t remember the model number but they have several different ones some are Less $$ some are much more $$
There are no dispatchers on the flatbed side, new lease purchase drivers are required to have a driver manager for 90 days, owner operators are not… Most of my loads come directly from agents calling me but I do the loads. I want to do, but once in a while I still get on the load board.
I usually tell guys they need to be driving for about five years before they try and become an owner operator, loading /unloading and driving. The truck need to be second nature before you put anything else on your plate. Once you become an owner operator, loading unloading, and driving, is the easy part
You have to have a login to get on which you don’t get until you’re employed, if you want you can get a hold of the recruiters and get my phone number and I can look things up for you to help you decide if you’d like But remember the load board is only the leftovers on everything. You need to get to know the agents and have a good relationship with them and you will be fed loads before they ever hit the board As far as other load boards, the DAT Board or 123, but that’s for the spot market and I would never recommend looking for loads on the spot market unless there’s no other options
My brother in Christ!! Good video. I teach Adult Ed. now but drove tanker a number of years for a great petroleum company. Growing up in Chicago steel haulers, ever since the 50's, made a good living running in the Chicago-Cleveland-Pittsburgh-STL-Chicago circle.
This is good news to me because I’m considering getting back out there OTR with CRST lease purchase to get my own business started.. I live in Southeast Missouri. These money lanes you’re telling us to stay in will keep me close to the house! I’ve been a company driver for the last five years so I’m trying to learn as much as I can before I go to work for myself. Thank you!
I live in Poplar Bluff and do great
Thanks for making this video. Learned a ton
You literally hit it spot on ! I’ve learned over the past 8 months that everything you’re saying is true . Anything west of Houston is Garbage ! I live in Houston. Florida is trash. East coast is trash. Midwest is the best thing shaking right now. I’ll be heading from Pennsylvania to Blytheville tomorrow . Running steel pipe out of leetsdale, PA
Team drive with me since I travel back and forth between Austin and Tampa for my regular job.
thanks man i was at 4.70$ mile when i got my self into cali from PA and i live in DE so the shipping from pa was my closest customer but looks like i have to deadhead all the way out of ca to anywhere have work unless DAT have something to cover my fuel at least and it's my fault after all your map did helped me a lot.
Great video...and thank you. God bless you.
I’m enjoying your videos a lot of helpful knowledge. Got a question I’m looking into buying my own truck is crst flatbed a good company to lease into as a owner operator and would you do a video on what it takes to get started to become a owner operator thanks for the content to put out
Best company there is to lease onto as an owner operator, pulling a flatbed in my opinion, and I have several step by step videos on becoming an owner operator , go to my homepage and click on videos, scroll back 2 years or so, and watch the ones you want to watch🤙
Thanks for this explanation.
I just picked up some boats at BRP in sturtevant, wi going to Detroit area paying phenomenal and super light
that's why i like going to WI to pickup this boats and they pay very good even the florida ones i'm able to find loads out of it to north east
Trucking is a lot like taxi driving, in the sense that you got to know where the good pickups and destinations are. Once in a blue moon those bad rides ended up connecting me with a great one - got to pray though. I'm based in California. Hopefully I figure something out on the west coast....or maybe those lotto freights that take me back home will just be nice runs. Good info thanks.
If you buy your own truck lease on with Systems, of course you will have to move just outside of California because of the new Ab5 ruling but if you are set on running flatbed freight on the west coast that will be your best option…
@@sturgelltruckingllc4074 The vehicle rules in CA are also horrible. 2010 or newer. Was thinking of overhauling an old truck myself so I can get in on the cheap....might do that and just leave it parked in another state.
There is a lot power equip. Coming out WI.
yup that was awesome...loved the arrow and homeschool map approach :) now, as a business owner, how the heck do you keep on top of it......as an aside, what would be a backup plan to flatbed...food grade tanker?
Things are constantly changing and markets heat up and cool down, in this video I basically put the markets that stay solid as the good ones but that can change from time to time and it is a job to keep up with it…
And yes I probably would look to go to a food grade tanker if the bottom falls completely out of flatbed for a while…
Great video
Thank you!
Very intersting.
Question is this only for CRST lease drivers??? Or is this a flatbed driver rule of thumb for lanes? I’m O/O still learning the ropes
@@nicholaswhitaker146 Good for all Flatbed but there are some big carriers out west that you can lease on to and stay busy because they have all the West Coast flatbed stuff tied up
Since I work in Colorado, Texas and Florida... going against the flow might actually be good for me. Would you recommend CRST over Cypress trucking? I also just discovered those conestoga trailers.
I wouldn’t recommend any company for pulling a flatbed in those states
I run dedicated out of Blytheville and it’s good money, even though I lease through a mega carrier.
Thank you
Hey Matt, not to be nosey but what gps are you using? I'm just getting into trucking and looking for a good gps.
I use my phone (google maps) and the Garmin trucker GPS you can get at any truckstop. The one that cost about $350 I don’t remember the model number but they have several different ones some are Less $$ some are much more $$
Huntington, Blytheville, Columbia city , Detroit, Pittsboro, my little loopy loop..
Perfect ❤
Do you use their load boards or they assign you a dispatcher?
There are no dispatchers on the flatbed side, new lease purchase drivers are required to have a driver manager for 90 days, owner operators are not…
Most of my loads come directly from agents calling me but I do the loads. I want to do, but once in a while I still get on the load board.
Good question!
A set of bolsters and the south is good place to come out of most loads that are pole pays 4$ a mile
Facts
Good Info
Thank u for ur video I am new owner operator I want ur advice how I can start ? Some driver said need at less 7 months experience ,,
I usually tell guys they need to be driving for about five years before they try and become an owner operator, loading /unloading and driving. The truck need to be second nature before you put anything else on your plate. Once you become an owner operator, loading unloading, and driving, is the easy part
I just got my CDL I’m in Los Angeles CA anybody have any advice for this area what should I think of pulling ? After I get my experience.
You’ll have to figure out what fits you best and go from there…
What did you end up deciding to Haul?
@@Nofacenocase1619 got local work so I took it while market is down
I work for system in the west. Sounds like I need to move to the Midwest on my own authority.
I would highly recommend against running under your own authority anywhere unless you’re gonna have multiple trucks and customer direct freight
Thanks again Matt you the man. I left CRST but still a flatbedder at a different company your knowledge helps us all out. You are a Real Expert lol
Are you doing lease purchase at the other company?
Quick question for the crst load board is there a app or website I can see it on? Also what other load boards would u recommend?
You have to have a login to get on which you don’t get until you’re employed, if you want you can get a hold of the recruiters and get my phone number and I can look things up for you to help you decide if you’d like
But remember the load board is only the leftovers on everything. You need to get to know the agents and have a good relationship with them and you will be fed loads before they ever hit the board
As far as other load boards, the DAT Board or 123, but that’s for the spot market and I would never recommend looking for loads on the spot market unless there’s no other options
Why not texas?
Did you watch the video? I’m sure I answered that.🤷♂️
Are you still in flatbed right now?
Yes ma’am
@@sturgelltruckingllc4074 that's good news for my flatbed man out on the road right now 👍
What about Mobile ?! Fine flatbed city
There’s freight down there I usually don’t end up running that far south because the further south you go the cheaper the rates on average