Flatbed Freight Help

You can run a few demo searches at ITS. http://www.truckstop.com/DemoSearches.aspx

One thing regarding a radius limit per insurance requirements-

A 300 mile radius encompasses a circle with a 600 mile diameter. So you should be searching for loads out on the edge of your limit. This will double your range.

 

You'll find that you have to call for rates on 99% of the loads. Out of that area is mainly going to be lumber. You'll be pressing it to get $2 because of competition. If you are a local, try sniffing around the mills to get a direct account. Have you called OOIDA to see if you can get insurance without a radius?
If you're planning on going to New Jersey, there is a $550 corporate tax you must pay every year, but sole proprietors are exempt.

It sounds to me like you'd be better off pulling for someone that pays percentage first, that way you can get an idea of rates and such. Have you looked into Grayson Mitchell down in Emporia? Landstar? Mercer? Bennett? In my opinion, it sounds like you'd be far more successful pulling for a company like that, and then moving to your own authority if you like.

After having my own authority for almost 7 years, I feel you can make more money and have less stress by leasing to a quality percentage carrier, UNLESS you have direct contracts or lucrative broker contacts already set up.

 

I don't believe he has the experience to lease to anyone.

 

Out of that area, you'll be lucky to get $2 mile on runs over 300 miles. Under 300 miles you can get little more but hard to make much gross running short runs all week and then the deadhead miles gets a lot higher.
I have my own authority but I beleive it is as profitable and less headache to run for a good carrier if possible. If your operating cost is 1.75 mile, it's going to be hard to stay afloat or ahead of the game.
I run step deck and my cost per mile is $1.07 but my truck and trailer is paid off, which really helps. Just 11 years old.

 

I know plenty of guys that have tried what your trying to do. My advice.....DON'T. There is plenty of lumber loads going north to NY,NJ,MA from Richmond and northern va but most outbounds are around $1.60-$2.00. Its never a consistant rate and if you haul those lumber loads, its up to you to get your backhauls. I had 2 friends that tried to run north one day, reload and come back the next .....do 2 rt's a week to ny/nj , 1 lasted 3 months and the other lastest 6 months. 1 had a truck payment and one didn't, can you guess which was which? PM if you want, I still have connections out of that area and Baltimore (steel) but those loads generally go towards ga/al and to tx. If you can't run but 300 miles, you haven't been licensed long or have any experience in flatbed...however...if you can get insured for 1,500 miles or so, you can run va/md to tx/la/ok and back usually between mon-fri. I did that route for a couple months and you'll be pressed for time 90% of the time and I would never tell anyone to start out on the wrong side of the law