Options for people to hire truckers?

I'm doing some research about buying a dry van trailer for storage. I live near a major highway (I-20) in east Texas. I was thinking about purchasing a dry van trailer and having it driven to my property. If I bought one from the local truck stop(which I have seen advertising trailers online) the haul would be under 10-20 miles. If I found a better deal in Dallas or a farther city, it could be 150 miles or more. What is the best way for an ordinary person to move a trailer? I was thinking of posting ads for O/O truckers in the local truck stop, but I'm sure there's a better way. Should I go through a company, or just try to find an independent trucker?

Also, any tips on purchasing a trailer itself? Let me tell you a big about what I want it for- I'm looking into building a workshop inside one. I've always wanted a decent shop for my projects with a mill, lathe, welders, and all sorts of equipment that's difficult to move. I had the idea to build the whole thing in a 40' ISO container, so it'd be mobile. Then I decided that a dry van would be easier to move, and give more space if I got a 53' one. The idea is that I haven't settled into a career yet, and might be moving frequently. By building my shop inside, I can have the luxury of a decent shop even though I'm not 'settled down' with a house and such. I even thought of fitting a trailer out like an apartment, but.. eh, I'm not sure I want to go that far.

Do you have any tips on the best place to look for a good deal on a trailer? I was thinking I could go for the cheapest junker I could find, since it's not going to be on the road much. However, it does need to be in good shape the few times it does hit the road, so I'm not sure what I should be looking for when I buy. What sort of maintenance things should I keep track of while it's off the road? Should I build a stand for it and take the weight off of the tires? I was already planning on pouring a concrete pad for the forward legs to stand on, so that they don't sink into the ground.

Back to my original question. If I find a decent trailer and want to have it moved a fairly short distance, what is my best option?


Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

What about keeping it roadworthy? I want to be as inexpensive as possible, naturally, but I don't think buying a junker is a good idea because it will still have to go on the road, even if it's not very often.

 

Thanks for all the great info! What kind of pressure do I need to cycle the brakes? Also, how should I go about finding local LTL companies/depots of LTL companies? Will I just have to look up the major ones and search on their site?