Flatbed or Step Deck with ramps which is better $$$

Yep, most of the time, the trucking companies have that lock on local shippers that have that kind of freight, and they service them, so there's barely ever loads that make it to the boards. The boards might mention, either is good, but you need to make sure they know exactly what they can put on you. Went to get a simple step load one time. Found out it was oversize, and late in the day, so had to have the company scramble to get me permits. Luckily, Texas is a big state, so I mostly needed just to get Texas's for the day.

 

Owning a step deck with ramps myself I would buy regular flatbed if I was buying again. Way more freight, if you have to ask the broker if they will load a step deck when it’s posted as a flatbed load, you loose negotiating power right there, because they are already “making you a favor”.
It’s also a heavier trailer, so you have less payload and missing on some freight.
It’s also more work, more pita, lots of machinery that they will always want tarped (10ft tall - good luck). Paying less money on average than a simple flatbed load.
Loads requiring ramps rarely pay good rates, unless they are trying to get you to load a steel tracked excavator or a tank using your ramps (RGN loads that, if taken, will rip off the rear of your trailer).
To me flatbed seems to be a better choice.

 

I might be doing it wrong, but I always thought load boards were for losing your over-books and any cheap #### you get saddled with. I don’t use them myself. I have enough shipper direct stuff to keep my trucks busy most of the time. When I need some LTL to fill something out or a load to get a truck back from a weird place for me I call other carriers. Some I deal with I’ve known 40 yrs already. To make money with your trucks you have to skate around the freight pimps. Trust me, if you draw the line at shipper direct freight or from the originating carrier, even a single truck operator can afford to grow on the difference between that and load board #### if they want. Boards are where you find the stuff that 1 or 2 freight pimps that don’t own trucks had their hands in already. Another carrier always leaves you more money. They might be the one calling you next time right. I’ll run my trucks up the road empty before I’ll deal with pimps. Got a bit of a ‘tude that way.

 

I like your 'tude

 

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Stepdeck with ramps is the way to go. Step freight has really picked up lately as well, especially if you’re hauling equipment. I have 4 ramps, with two extenders as well as 2 levelers and container pins. Really not much I can’t haul. I also don’t carry tarps.