Questions on flatbedding

As good a time as any if you ask me, but if you don't know what you're doing save your money, because there must be thousands of threads on here that start like this..

I've never seen a "buisness plan" like what are often discussed on here, but if banking on load boards and what you've read on the internet then you haven't got a clue..

 

Flat bed rates are up right now! Most are paying over $3.00 per mile, alot of drop deck loads are paying over $6.00 per mile atm. Just talked to a broker paying $3100.00 for a load going 600 miles, only thing its going str8 into jersey and its oversize.

 

I have not seen $3.00 a mile for any flatbed load. not typical anyway, specialized, oversized, e.t.c. maybe, but lumber, steel, the only thing paying anywhere close to $3.00 a mile is short runs, like 150 miles or less. most are paying OVER 3.00 mile? not here, any way. coming or going.

 

Flatbed rates are up, but nothing like puregrain describes...... I think he's been sipping the puregrain just a little too much..... And in fact, I just pulled a load of lumber out of North Carolina for $2.94 a mile. But it was a North East load, so they made it attractable with the rate.

 

At least you have some good experience working around cranes and such. You can get crippled or dead real quick w/ a lot of FB loads. I never trust anyone loading me. Keep one eye on the trailer and one on load. Got to be ready to move if something should screw up. Rarely does, but all it takes is once. I like OD freight up to 12' wide. Don't need escorts most places and pays better. Start getting too wide or tall and then you have to listen to some idiot yap non stop for as long as you're stuck w/ them. Used to get a lot of $3-5 mile frgt in TX when Barnett Shale drilling began. Now lots of them are hauling for wages. Good luck!

 

Just my two cents. I do flats and get paid percentage. The rates are up due to demand. If you really want to get into flatbed whatever you do make the move at the beginning of Feburary. It will start to slow down around Labor day then get real slow through the winter. Then come Feb everyone wants to order a flatbed all at once. If your going to have your own contracts with different companies you may stay very busy in the winter. I personally would wait until the first of the year. As far as load securement you could probably find a load securement book through JJ Kelly or something company of that nature.

 

I haul lumber 5 days a week dedicated for 1.47 a mile loaded and empty.....