I have a few questions about step decks

I looked at a step deck heavily before I bought my trailer, a MAC 48 flat for many reasons.

1. Tires typically last longer because you don’t need ultra small tires. This depends on the brand and how low of a deck you’re after.
2. Easier to load long freight which ended up being my bread and butter. Yes you can use ramps as load levelers but it takes more time, which is money.
3. A 48’ flat weighs less than a step deck and if you can’t haul 48,000 lbs you’re limited on a lot of loads.
4. Heavy single items, such as coils, is something I would not haul on a step deck. Unless it’s more than one coil.
5. Your rates probably won’t be any better than a 48’ flat except in rare instances. There’s not much only step deck freight out there.
6. A full aluminum step deck specced the same as my MAC with the ramps is over $20k difference. You really need the ramps also for some freight and as load levelers, ramps and the mounting kit is like $9k.

 

If you think rates are good in the south east you must be on some magical load board. The rates are horrible, volume is horrible, loads are moving at rates I can’t believe and offers that are truly bottom of the barrel. A load doesn’t sit on the board longer than 5 mins, even going to New England and northeast. I ate it bad the last week. Booked a load with a broker I work for $4 a mile on 1100 miles(light I know, I was hopeful I could make a $3 plus all miles round out of it though, ha was I wrong) out of GA figured I had 3 days to get it I could put somehting together getting me there at least $3.50 or maybe $4/$5 a mile into Florida then bounce up, yeah no luck and didn’t want to bail on her, she’s a good contact, bounced down. Then sat in NH half the day Monday looking for somehting decent, finally said screw it and pointed it towards the house. Rather bounce then take some of the offers I got and things being posted. Devens to fort dix ramps, $900 full load. Lol whoever does that must of never been to the ####hole known as fort dix, wouldn’t do that for less then $2000. They moved em though. In the rain no less. Nothing like setting your ramps up for $3 a mile on 300 miles in the rain. True idiots

 

Yes, you and 50,000 more idiots have the same outlook, that have done the same thing in the last year.

 

Well said partner
Well said..
I run paid for equipment with pretty low operating expenses imo, & can't fathom how some can run for numbers like what we're seeing..

And with summertime volume like it is, I'm not optimistic for what the winter is going to look like..

 

IMO, the best bet is running the most needed equipment, at most times. For me, straight flat can't be beat.

Yes, there are loads that'll beat a flat for RPM. Not always though. In the area you're looking, may be.

I don't run SE, so that market may be different. During a downturn in econonmics, a step may be tough to load.

Economy in the positive, i bet you'll outearn my flat.

I like versatlity, and my flat excludes less than a step gains, for my general running area anyway.

I've had a few drinks, sorry. I know you weren't asking for the viability of one vs another

 

I use to run stepdeck. Can tell you that you'd have way more options just running a 53 flatbed.

 

How about just don't go to Florida lol