How to become lowboy owner operator?

Volvo 880
pete 379/389/379x/379exhd
kenworthw900l/w900

 

Not to assume or be an ##### but it seems like you've never pulled a lowboy before and ur gonna go buy one.... Is this correct??

 

Most drivers who pull lowboys don't start out pulling them. They may start with flats, move to step decks and then go with a double drop or RGN. From there they move to more axles. It usually takes several years. Pulling a lowboy usually means that you will mostly be pulling permitted freight. It is not cheap to own a lowboy. They are much more expensive than a flat bed. You also need to be a good planner. When you pull over size freight you need to plan where you will stop each night. There are several carriers who do a lot of lowboy freight. ATS, Keene, Daily are a few based on the east coast or Midwest. Texas has several carriers who pull lowboys. I believe that ATS will let you work your way up to pulling lowboys. I am not sure about the other two that I mentioned. If you don't like to sit you won't like pulling a lowboy. Most who pull them will do more sitting than those pulling flats. You are more limited in what you can haul with a lowboy. But, the money can be better. I say CAN be better. There is no guarantee. Some companies who pull lowboys don't pay their drivers much more for that type of freight than they do flats. Some do pay a premium for the added responsibility and experience.

 

I worked for a construction company that had a few lowboys. I was still wet behind the ears. One day the company was in a pinch for a driver and I was the lucky one standing around. Had to take a track hoe to a jobsite. Didn't know what I was doing but I got the job done. From that day on I was a highly skilled lowboy operator. When I bought my rig a few years later, I was a big time oversize hauling Billy big rigger. We only used 1 chain back then and didn't use it all the time. Laws are different these days.

 

You could use any make of truck as long as is speced the right way. You can use a light speced truck, but it probably wont last long.

 

Doesn't the tractor have to be set up to accept the RGN ramps?

 

Depends on the brand of Lowboy. i used to pull a Rodgers 'Croucher' and just needed 3' of 4x4 across the rear frame rails to hold the gooseneck when I pulled things apart.

 

Some carriers who pull RGN's and hire owner operators have their own trailers. Before you go out and buy a lowboy, I would suggest that you either rent one or lease to a carrier who has their own trailers and see how you like pulling an RGN. ATS, Daily, Landstar are a few who have trailers. RGN's are expensive. Besides, most carriers will want to see some experience pulling an RGN before turning you loose. I think that ATS will move you up from one level to another until you are pulling an RGN. You may want to start with a step deck and get experience pulling over sized loads before going direct from a flat to an RGN.