Thinking of loosing the reefer

Flatbed freight isn't all tarping... I did have to quit when my right shoulder got so bad I couldn't throw a strap or lift a chain but overall I may have tarped perhaps 20% of my loads. I pulled flatbed freight a little back in the early 70's... but I signed on with Mercer at age 51 and I didn't have any problems doing the job...I was just a little slower than the young guys.

Some carriers like TMC seem to tarp almost everything they haul...I did lots of wheeled machinery and military freight and seldom had to tarp. I also bought lightweight tarps... what a difference that made.

I couldn't do flatbed freight anymore...arthritis has taken it's toll and it's a little tougher getting around compared to just 5 years ago... but a younger guy can make some decent $$$ when the freight is moving. Too bad it's so quiet out there right now...

 

Reefer freight grew last year always will with population growth.

 

I think Gears is smart enough to pander this qaundry of switching wagons more from a revenue angle than one of a convienience of loading issue.

I see to many posts here of newbs trying to debate the merits of working for a reefer outfit (worried they have to listen to the unit run while they're on their break) vs a dry van company, since on the surface is it easier and less sensitive freight. But any O/O worth his salt will go with the money, whatever that is at the time and the trailer it takes. The question becomes is selling a reefer, likey at a loss, and buying a flat, and ifso is the flatbed freight going to be around for the duration with the money to justify said move.

To make the most informed decision on this, one needs to look at it from strictly a supply/demand point of view. Forget the cost of fuel per gallon, as this isnt factored into rates near as much as some would be led to believe, but having the right trailer in the right market at the right time makes the difference between $4.00/mile freight or .90/cents mile freight.

Rather than take a $10,000 loss on a reefer, it might make more sense to spend that on a second trailer (used flat) and work the markets to ones advatage. There plenty of guys who do this. Personaly I only have one trailer, a reefer, so I am not speaking from experience of having two wagons, I'm just throwing this out therre for thought.

Personaly I think a dryvan, even a 53, is the most useless piece of equipment a guy could own in todays economy. YMMV

 

Great post, great advise imo. I don't profess to know nearly as much about this industry as you folks,and i'm sure no 'expert adviser' but Winchester Magnum's post is right on IMHO. I personally haul mostly grain and feed ingredients,bulk freight stuff for ag.,but i also have a 48 ft. spread axle flat for when times are slower,my main contacts are on the 'bulk' side of things,but the flat has been a life saver at different times(like now). From what i have read from your posts Gears,you seem to be have the buisiness 'savy' it takes,plus you probably have some ''bread&butter''refer contacts that you would'nt want to let go,so i think you could probably suppliment the slower times with a flat and like Win Mag said,take the cash you might possibly sacrifice loosing on the refer unit,and put it into a good 5 or 6 year old flat,or 8 to 10 year old step-deck and without loosing the advantages of the 'spread',and be a tad more diverse in this ever changing trucking environment. I know that for me anyway,there have been quiet a few days in the past year that i have been low-balled on some of my grain and feed accounts and was sure happy to have the flat sitt'in in the driveway. one thing is for sure around my neck of the woods at least,its a buyers market out there,whether your buying a flat,or a refer unit, just my .02 and thats about all its really worth. Good luck to ya,whatever you decide. keep us posted

 

All we run is reefers. They really are the best of both worlds. We can still haul about 90% of dry loads and of course reefer loads. Plus we get options when the market changes. This week for us to run out to AZ our brokers only want to pay $2100 on a reefer load, so instead we haul furniture out there paying $2,600. But when produce season was in we were turning $7000 a week per truck turning only 2700 miles. Now one thing we are trying to do is switch to 50 footers. They'll save a little on weight, not much really, but we dont have to put skirts on our trailers to go to CA.

 

My son has two trucks...a '96 379 that he had parked for one month while he was getting it ready to sell it...and an older that he drives. He's pulling an insulated van right now hauling taters.

So now he gets an account hauling wood products on a step deck. So he hired a driver for the '06 who used to be on that same freight before his company went belly up. It pays $2.95/mile plus $200.00/drop and $$$ for tolls...the freight always goes to NYC. The back hauls are OK, too.

Plus he has a 45' hi-cube open top that is parked...he used to haul wood chips but that deal went south. He may be able to use that during the cranberry season this fall.

 

I've heard that if you park your lawnmower outside your window when your at home and leave it run you'll get used to the noise!

Hey now their great for portable storage! And to keep the overweight guys with sweatpants and flip flops employed.

 

gears do you want the number for my guy? we load 4's all the time. plus 3/4 the year we run back and forth across 80 aqnd if i remember right you live near there.

he's a small produce broker who also has their authority. hes looking to lease guys now but since hes a broker you can just run your own authority. we have year long contract rates so you may not get the $3mi loads during peak times but they are consistantly decent year round.i averaged $1.50 mi all last winter and right now im doing between $1.40 and $2.20mi im on a 90% lease.
this is the same guy i set dirk n amanda up with. one thing though is he does like to load ya both ways even when you have your authority.

 

better get some lotion for those soft hands.

 

i love pulling dry van been doing that for 12 yrs wont pull anything else