Flat or Step?

Very good post!!!!

I own both step/flat and pull the flat 80% of the time I have levelers for my step and many places won't load on them anymore I have been turned around and refuse to load a 20ft section of pipe because they wanted a flat....
There is 5 x 1 flatbed loads over steps and another problem is weight I can only scale 46,000 on the step and can go 48,000 on the flat both are combos, you call it what you want but flatbed loads are easy 90% of the flatbed loads you use straps not chains. I even get better fuel economy pulling my flat.

id 100% go with a flat unless you have some work lined up for a step

 

Flatbed. Stepdeck freight is not as popular as flat and the extra money isn't really all that much extra . Compair any loadboard prices of stepdeck to flatbed.

 

What I like about the step deck is that I have a wider variety of loads to choose from. I can load most flatbed freight, and haven't yet come across a shipper that wouldn't put a flatbed load on the step deck. It's easier to secure and tarp a load on the lower deck. The only drawback is that I can't scale more than 47K. But who wants to haul heavy anyway?

 

I was turned away from a load last week the broker was pissed i didnt tell her i had a step

 

Customer Base? What do they need? You will never have a trailer that can haul absolutely every load. Too many ######### ruined load levelers by not chaining them.

My customers need Step decks. I just have to live with the fact that I'm too heavy for lumber and other heavy freight.

But I also have to deal with tall wind dragging freight.

Basically know what your customer needs

 

There was talk about increasing the load weights to 100,000.lbs and requiring those trailers to have 3 axles. Just another way for the industry to cram more stuff for you to haul and not pay that much extra for it. Stepdeck is a great example, along with the 53' flatbed.

 

If you're not getting paid for every piece on the trailer then you're getting screwed

 

Flatbed with a conestoga