6 months before first load?

Progressive only covers you in a 500mi radius and they don't do cargo insurance you'd have to get a separate policy for that. Progressive insurance = NO OTR. lol you can have Progressive insurance but you are not allowed to progress your way across the country.




Ok, so it's totally not that funny, but it's freaking 5am and I got 4hrs of sleep, I'll laugh at whatever I wanna laugh at.

 

JasonThe Rock, I've been following your story since you've started. Sounds like its been working out so far, would you still have gone with flatbed vs. van. knowing what you know now. I'm also located n.cali and weighing my options.

 

That is only if you have NO expierence.

Cargo is cheap, 100$ month for $100,000.

The prurple hippo has a 500 mile radius restriction. Ask him if he goes over it. Progressive doesnt check, and neither do brokers.

 

Rates are a little better, 99.9% of the time its in and out pretty fast. Do a lot of dead heading, but that is only because I dont have an apportioned plate. Getting one within the month. California lets you pay monthly on a CA only plate, need full amount for apportioned plate. Thought I could just buy permits, DO NOT do this they are super expensive, then add on the permit company charge it is a racket!!!!

It all depends on whether or not you a flatbed guy or a van guy. I had ZERO flatbed experience before starting so it is not a big deal, its all common sense. The biggest issue I had with flatbed was figuring out were to put the excess strap after tightening down!!!
It all comes down to the Working Load Limit of the tie downs.

 

I was also curious as to how often you made it home? and what do you do with the excess strap?

 

The excess Strap should be placed inbetween the rub rail and strap, or folded and placed between the load and strap making it like a softner or I always fold it nicely and put a bungee strap around it and secure it to the main strap just above the ratchet ( so I can tighten when needed) I've also used zip ties but that add a real cost to the load.

 

More than I would like, problem is I dont have an Apportioned plate so I dont leave CA that much (state trip permits are a rip-off). Will be getting it soon.

Good thing is you can route yourself back towards your house or near it. Thats What I like about have my own authority, I can go when and wherever i want. I will have many more choices as soon as I get the Apportioned plate.

I feed the strap down into the winch, the back up through between the trailer and the winch. After hand tightening about a foot of slack in to the winch, I fold the excess into about a 1.5 - 2 foot section, hand tighten the winch again, then put the section inside between the winch and the trailer, then fold it again, putting the top end (not both ends of the section) down in the were the strap feeds in, then tighten the winch it down all the way. Works real well. Folding the top end over into the wench holds the bottom end in place.

Sorry if this is confusing, its hard to describe, Ill post a picture if you want me to.

Never had a problem with damage to the strap or loosening of loads. The ends of the straps have crease marks from were the are folded, but they are not damaged.

 

Unless it's changed in the last 4mths, they told me they don't cover OTR trucks period, regardless of experience.

 

progressive told me you can get any mileage you want. unless you have no experience. I priced an unlimited mileage policy but I found them to be expensive

 

I had Progressive with the 500 mile radius when I was hauling cars,...They were easy enough to deal with,.........