Some numbers for new O/O

I seem to recall better rates in 2014-2015. But, fuel was also over $4 gal.

I don't think last year was "once in a lifetime"... more like an indication of a stronger economy and a reaction to ELD's.

Give it time. Trucking is seasonal and mid-Jan to early April is always the slowest point. Flatbeds get back to work, as do specialty trailers. Dump work kicks into gear with road construction...and with oil prices up, they are opening more wells and fracking is profitable once again.

 

Yea these rates suck. 3 bucks a mile on legal light freight out of miami. How will i ever survive?

 

Ha! That's not your a-typical $1.25 mi load out of Fla! You can do that consistently your doing way better than the avg beast.

I don't truck that far...but, more power to you!

 

Well i got to tarp it. And we just got hit with an early heat wave. I almost declined it due to that, but i got plans that will keep me home from next Tuesday through the following Tuesday so i guess I'm gonna just have to suck it up and sweat it out and do a quick round.

 

Ah...you neglected to mention throwing tarps over the load.

I used to do that but, in my senior yrs opted for a Conestoga instead.

 

A Conestoga would work for this load. I keep thinking about buying one, but i do to much oversized freight that pays good enough i don't want to give it up. Plus all the gravy loads of plastic pipe and insulation i do.

 

insulation sheets you can't do, but, your oversized you still can.

Check out the Fastrak II with optional "run open" feature.

I had that on my old Conestoga. I didn't use it much, it's a lengthy process to drop and fold in, but, if you were doing a long haul, it makes it very flexible.

I am having a new Conestoga built, should take delivery tomorrow.

 

Wouldn't it be possible to set up a Conestoga with an under-bed rack? The ribs are removable, yes? The cover can normally also be replaced in parts, right?

I have also seen Connie wagons where the ribs and cover are movable along the bed like a shower curtain. Couldn't that also work for most oversized loads?

 

The "Save every penny" approach is the only way in my opinion.

That doesn't mean pinch, it means save.

This is also why I started the Go Fund Me account for myself, care of TTR, so I could get that new ZL1 Camaro.

You guys aren't being very generous though.

 

As said above, some manufacturers make a run open option where you slide it all the way forward and strap it to the bulkhead. I've looked at a couple of those a couple problems imo with that option: you lose about 2 feet on the deck so pipe and insulating that requires the full deck (and then some) is out. This could be managed by getting a longer trailer but I'm already over 72' ft long with a 48 and several states have an overall length limit of 75', including my home state of Florida, sure they will permit it but that's just more added aggravation and expense. More importantly, i dont trust therm to hold up. Those covers are several thousand dollars, it would chaffe my ### of that cover only held up a year from the wind beating the crap out of it when open. Now if i knew a guy real well that regularly ran his open for 4 or 5 years and said they held up good i might write that 15k dollar check, but im not taking a salesman word on it, especially when they don't warranty the cover.


Edit to add: no they do not come apart in sections, it's one big piece.