Transitioning Dry Van to Flatbed: What Drivers Should Know

While dry van trucking is one of the most common modes of transport on the road, there are several different types of trucking that provide unique challenges and rewarding opportunities for drivers. One such type is flatbed trucking, the perfect fit for drivers who want a more hands-on trucking career. If you’re driving dry van and are ready to change things up, here’s what you need to know about transitioning from dry van to flatbed trucking.

Dry Van vs Flatbed: What’s the Difference?

Dry van trucking consists of moving freight inside of an enclosed trailer. This can accommodate a wide variety of freight types and load sizes, and ensures that non-perishable freight arrives to its destination protected from the elements. Because of their versatility, dry van trucking is the most common mode of freight transport today.

As a dry van truck driver, most loads will require minimum involvement on the driver’s end. When you’re picking up a load, you’ll likely either have to wait on the shipper to load your trailer, or hook a pre-loaded trailer onto your semi-truck cab. Then, you’ll move the freight to its destination, rinse and repeat.

Flatbed trucking involves moving freight on an open-deck trailer that has no walls or roof. Like dry van, flatbed can be extremely versatile and accommodate freight that either doesn’t require the protection of a dry van trailer, or is too large or oddly shaped to fit in a standard trailer. This includes loads like heavy machinery, steel beams, construction equipment, lumber, and more.

Flatbed freight is much more interactive than dry van transportation. The main additional task flatbed drivers have to do is load securement. Whenever cargo is loaded onto your trailer, it’s your job to use securement gear like straps, chains, and tarps to make sure the load is safe during the drive.

Advantages of Flatbed Trucking

• Higher Average Salary: Since flatbed trucking involves more driver input than dry van, the earning potential is significantly higher. The average truck driver makes about $57,000 yearly according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, while OTR flatbed drivers at Melton average between $65,000 and $75,000 based on prior experience, tenure, and bonuses.
• Staying Active on the Road: Truck drivers are very susceptible to becoming overweight and obese due to the nature of their job. The majority of truckers are significantly overweight, which can lead to potentially deadly complications like Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, certain cancers, and more. With flatbed, the load securement process requires drivers to leave their cab and utilize their strength for securement tasks, allowing flatbed drivers to stay in shape easier and mitigate dangerous health risks.
• More Interactive Career: Dry van trucking can get monotonous with the same types of freight each day. When you’re not on a break, your time is mainly spent behind the wheel or waiting for your next load. With flatbed shipping, each load comes with its own securement protocols, and requires figuring out the safest way to protect the load. This keeps your mind active, and breaks up the hours spent driving the truck.

Skills Required for Flatbed Drivers

• Load Securement: Becoming a flatbed driver will require you to undergo securement training, in order to ensure you know the proper techniques to protect your freight. At Melton, we provide an in-depth pre-hire evaluation course to show our flatbed drivers how to properly secure all types of loads. Our Safety department is also available to help drivers whenever they need.
• Adaptability: As a flatbed driver, you’ll need to be able to adapt to all types of loads and situations. If you’re tasked with a load you’ve never seen before, it’s up to you to use your prior knowledge and the resources you’re provided with to secure it. The weather can also introduce additional challenges to the securement process, like extreme temperatures and precipitation. Figuring out how to adapt and complete your job in any condition is the key to success with flatbed trucking!
• Time Management: Since truck driving is such an independent position, you’ll need to make sure your time management skills are up to par. It’s your responsibility to get your load to its destination on time while adhering to hours-of-service regulations, as well as all time it takes to secure and check your load.

If you’re ready for a career change, it’s the perfect time to switch to flatbed trucking. At Melton, we welcome all levels of flatbed and OTR experience, and offer a comprehensive 8-day pre-hire evaluation program to ensure you have all the knowledge you need to succeed in your flatbed career.

Ready to take your trucking career to the next level? Explore flatbed trucking opportunities with Melton Truck Lines today!