Enclosed Trailer vs open top trailer

Flat bed is not for sissies. But I find it to be more rewarding mentally and physically.

And if he is thinking of doing the owner op thing flatbed freight tends to pay a little better with getting better fuel mileage over all. I drive a 02 Pete with just under a million on it and averaged 6.4 mpg for all miles driven last quarter. And I always set the cruise at least 3 mph over the speed limit so I'm not poking around by no means.

That being said if your gonna flat bed you better know what your doing with load securement or you are setting yourself up to fail.

As far as finding loads it seems about the same as a box just pays a little better but is more physical.

And lastly a flat bed customer seems for the most part treat you a better. And run a more normal schedule than a box.

just my .02 cents

 

A nice reefer can run dry and reefer loads. So you're possibly doubling the potential of getting a load. Haul dry to Cali, get a reefer load out. Each style has good and bad pointes
Flat bed, like madbull mentioned. Box trucks, tend to have cranky customers, alot, especially at some DC's, reefer you have to deal with the cranky customers as well. Both, you get to wait quite a bit at shipper/recievers, but the physical aspect is less.
I've never known skateboarders to have to deal with lumpers either, lucky them.

 

What does he have experience pulling? Does thinking about going into the business mean driving or owning?

 

I've noticed, for the most part, flatbeds are a little more welcome at receivers. They're "happier" to see you, VS van freight.

Just my observation.....

 

Freight Volume and Capacity is a bit tighter in flatbed than van, and the rates usually reflect that. Though you can always get dollar-a-mile crap out of Laredo and Houston.
As a previous poster remarked, load securement is extremely important, knowing not only how many straps/chains to secure the load, but where to put them requires some trailing and experience.
As to manouverabitily, the usual flatbed setup is a 48' trailer with a 10'1" spread axle, compared to van or reefer with a 53' van and a close tandem set-up. The 53' with close tandem as easier to back up, the long spread on the flatdeck has one set of duels turning while the other set is scraping the ground. Just like securement, takes experience and practice to back them up.

As for cargo theft - I haul tubular steel, and if you want to steal it, bring a crane or heavy duty forklift, you sure aren't going to be running away with a 4000lb 40' length of steel on your shoulder.

If flatdeck is what he wants to do, then sign on with Maverick out of Little Rock AR, or TMC out of Nebraska (I think). They both have schools and you can read about their training programs on other threads in this forum.

Good luck.

 

I drive for tmc pulling a flatbed. Load securement is key to flatbedding. The last thing you want ia something falling off. As far as recievers, i usually never have problems with them and have never even meet a lumper the spread axle takes a little getting used too but with a dump valve it can turn very well. Cargo theft isnt as much of an issue except with high $ metals like aluminum billet or things like that. Also, like old tom said, your not gonna carry a 40,000lb coil off the truck. Oh, tmc is outta des moines, ia. Boyd bros in the southeast also does flatbed.

 

With all due respect, I'm going to address the things I believe you should be asking instead of what you asked.

First, if you want to go this route, he needs at least a year or two of OTR tractor-trailer experience before doing this. It will be vital to success.

Second, Florida is not a great place for trucking as rates are horrible and insurance is high. If you are below I-4 it is worse as far as finding trucking jobs.

Third, if he gets his Class A CDL on his own with out school and no OTR experience almost no company will hire him as a driver.

Fourth, he won't be able to lease his own truck on to a company without OTR experience either.

Fifth, this leaves you with purchasing your own truck and trailer and getting your authority. Few realize the costs and risks involved in this. Since you have a new CDL, progressive will probably be your only insurance choice and will impose a 500 - 700 air mile radius on your operations. Because of the new CDL and your location, your insurance will probably be between $10,000 and $12,000 a year. With a down payment of $1,700 to $3,000 you can probably get this financed for a monthly payment of $830 - $900. This is almost double what it costs an experienced driver in another location. If he has much on his MVR, it could be more.

If you could make this work, you need from $8,000 to $10,000 to start with a truck and lease and will have $800 - $1,000 in monthly payments. You need from $18,000 to $25,000 to start with your own authority and should expect to have $2,600 - $3,000 per month in payments. You might get lower payments if you stretch the loan term. You might start with less cash if you are willing to risk losing it all on one bad decision, mistake or break down.

IMHO, what kind of trailer to pull is a question that is pretty far down the list and may be answered with what you need in revenue or what kind of freight is available in your area. Just be aware that few who live in Florida make money running to and from Florida. They take what they can get to get out of there and then stay out for awhile and make some money before returning.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just make sure you can get over the hurdles before you spend a lot of time looking into this or buy a truck you can't lease and can't afford to run. Good luck!

 

Your first questoon should be do I know enough about the industry to start this business. Hell there are more types of trailers than simply van vs. Flat. Tanker(about ten different types) dumps(frame-frameless, end or side maybe belly dump), live floor(walking, belt)) well you see the possibilities are endless.

Hell even flat bed (step deck, double drop, RGN, beaver tail).



Like John said these are questions for the time you have already developed a business model, done some homework that does not involve an internet message board(like talking to potential customers, insurance agents, brokers face to face).