I have a few questions about step decks

What’s the purpose of a 53ft spread? Are there that many light loads that you need the deck space or are there a lot of areas where you can’t have anything hanging over the ends of the trailer without a permit? I’ve only pulled flatbed in the Northwest and everyone that wasn’t a maxi truck just pulled 45 and 48ft spreads and hung stuff off the ends if they were hauling long material.

 

I sure never wanna hear you say that cheap carriers are ruining it for everybody.

 

I have 53 sliding Axle all aluminum.
Don't go west of i35 99% of the time because rates don't make sense to go out that way so can't say anything about that market.
There's simply many loads where 53 flat is requested and even in postings it say no stepdeck.

Back when the market didn't suck there used to be a lot of farm equipment, machinery and tractors etc that needed a step deck. Those paid a lot and usually always had space left for a partial too.
All that started to dry up and it made less sense to keep stepdeck and I was seeing I was missing out of way more available volume on the flatbed side.
Where as the market took a dump on everything it was even worse hauling stepdeck vs flatbed.

 

Why do so many people think buying a step deck is the cure all? Anyone know?

 

As for 48 vs 53 flat… I call on loads that say 53 flat and not one time have I ever been rejected a load because of my 48’ trailer. Plus it’s lighter.

 

Cause you guys make the big bucks….. with that easy drive on / drive off freight

 

But you’re cool with a 38” deck?