Hi there I’m new to the forum and need advice on starting to haul sea containers and flatbed loads of steel sheets. So here’s the deal;First off I have 20 years experience driving Dumptrucks and a bobtail with a 5th wheel tilt deck equipment trailer locally in southern California. I have had my class A and medical for 20 years. That’s the extent of my trucking experience. I have an opportunity to haul steel for a local company and would like to give it a try but have no knowledge of container “chassis” trailers or flatbed trailers. I also am out of the loop on what trucks have this emissions deal worked out and are not going to be a lemon. I want to start as cheap as possible but don’t want a turd of a truck either. Can anyone offer advice on this? I know there’s some gray knowledge on this form, thanks in advance for any help!
New to containers and need advice as to what truck and chassis trailers are best for this.
Discussion in 'Intermodal Trucking Forum' started by Kyle H., Nov 19, 2020.
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If you want to haul containers, you need to find a local container company and start off with them to get a feel for it. Do you want to haul domestic containers? Ocean containers? 20 ft? 40ft? 45ft? 53ft? Regular weight, heavy hauls, are you running out of a rail yard or the ports? If the west coast ports, you'll want a 2012 or newer truck, even some of the inland rail heads, local emissions rules are going to start cracking down. You won't buy a 53' chassis, the railroads own those, but you'll need chassis for the others, you'll need appropriate insurance, you'll need to join IANA, you'll need the appropriate insurance for the chassis pools, for the railroads, for the brokers, if you're planning to access the ports you'll need to comply with their rules and requirements. You'll need brokers and forwarders to work with, a billing setup, most of them now do electronic billing, and in some cases you have to use their proprietary software.
It's 100x easier to buy a flatbed and haul steel, you'll still have hassles, but I suspect the guys on here in other portions of this forum will tell you it's a lot easier.supergreatguy Thanks this. -
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