Willie and Elvira had already moved on to a flatbed company and were telling us all about it. We were making good money, and were hesitant to make that move, at first. The first thing that got us to consider it was the free time they were getting together. Flatbed is much more of operation conducted during business hours. At this company, it is also a self employed operation and paid by the load.

Freckles and I were starting to feel like zombies. Dropping empty trailers and reconnecting to the next loaded trailer was 24/7 at most places. It seemed like with one of us driving and the other having 10 hours to sleep, we shouldn’t have been so tired all the time. But believe me, we were. We were running 6k miles a week most weeks and it was a challenge to take showers, eat, use the bathroom, etc. All the things we used to take for granted were all of a sudden difficult to have.

The owner of our truck and our fleet manager set up a dedicated run for us. It was to run back and forth from Santa Maria CA to Minneapolis MN. We had our loads pre-planned three and four loads out at a time, and we were finally able to have a little time to plan hygiene, meals, and feel like humans. It was great for about two weeks. Then, they started shortening the time between loads more and more. The next thing you know, we had less than an hour leeway and were right back to being zombies. I was very clear that we didn’t want that, and nobody would listen. The other big challenge was that this route at no time put us near Florida where we lived. I finally had to tell the owner we need a change, whether they give it to us or we find it on our own- it’s inevitable. That’s when it was revealed to me that they had been looking for a team to run Atlanta to Denver the whole time. I discovered the philosophy for the people in control was to keep drivers away from home so they would stay out longer.

We went home for Christmas and decided we wanted to follow Willie and Elvira into flat-bedding. I think it was a shock to the owner as he believed running us like that was the only thing that mattered. I’m not one to do a bunch of whining or idle threats but I was very clear in explaining quality of life is as important to an old married couple as money is. We took a run back to that company’s terminal and turned our truck in.

I’m not going to bash that company or that owner, I sincerely appreciate a lot of the things we took away from there. I truly wish them all the best and I hope they succeed in their program. We just realized it wasn’t for us.

We went to our new company, attended orientation and decided we would lease our truck. We applied for and received an LLC (Limited Liability Company) as we were in business for ourselves, but not owners of a truck. It was scary, especially as I read many horror stories about leasing a truck.

I can tell you now, at least with this company, those stories do not apply here. They have never lied to us, and every single thing I have ever needed, the person in charge of that department is always professional, and responsive.

When we were approved to have our LLC, I received a certificate (business license) with my name, and the name of our LLC on it. Our accountant handled everything. The LLC name is based on our three daughters and seeing it like that, knowing that I was a business owner, after all the mistakes I have made in my life- after all the things Freckles and I had lost and all the things we have been through… I went into a bathroom stall and cried. It was a great moment for us, and I am not ashamed of the pride I felt right then.

The adventures we have had for the last few years flat-bedding have been amazing. It’s hard work, and I’m honestly not exactly sure why I have come to love it. I will share many stories with anybody who wants to read them in the coming days, and who knows? Maybe I will figure it out by sharing with you.