Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Flatbed vs. Dry Van vs. Reefer

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013.

  1. Oct 27, 2013 #1
    Wildcat74

    Wildcat74 Medium Load Member

    354
    128
    Jul 15, 2008
    Omaha, NE
    0
    So obviously each of these different trailers allow a person to haul different kinds of freight. I am curious as to whether anyone has done any kind of work on figuring the periods for return on investment with the different kinds of trailers based upon an "average rate", at least as well as someone would be able to figure such things. It seems like a person can get a serviceable dry van for pretty cheap, but obviously the rates are low. Flatbeds seem to be a middle ground with decent to good freight rates but a bit higher investment in the equipment needed to haul, and a greater amount of physical work to do so. Reefer stuff seems to be hit or miss, feast or famine. It seems like there are times and places where great rates are to be had but there is also a decent sized investment required to get in and the potential for problems with the addition of a reefer unit seems to be higher than the other two kinds of trailers.

    Would those of you truckers who are more experienced in O/O say that this is a fair breakdown of it all? Generally speaking, consensus seems to be that flatbed is the way to go for best ROI, is this the case? I've got experience with all of these types of trailer and would really like to start saving to make a purchase of a new trailer. I would be hauling brokered loads generally speaking and trying to find a broker that I could trust running for with a decent rate. Thank you all in advance!
     
    Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013
    Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013
    #1
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Oct 27, 2013 #2
    Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

    12,246
    28,113
    May 19, 2011
    0
    So of the three that you listed, and have pulled in the past, which one did you enjoy the most? Because in the end that is the one you will make the most with.
     
    Oscar the KW, Oct 27, 2013
    Oscar the KW, Oct 27, 2013
    #2
    GITRDUN45 and 281ric Thank this.
  4. Oct 27, 2013 #3
    Wildcat74

    Wildcat74 Medium Load Member

    354
    128
    Jul 15, 2008
    Omaha, NE
    0
    I get what you're hinting at Oscar but if I was counting on the things that I enjoyed the most to pay my bills for me I'd be traveling the world being promiscuous with supermodels. There are things about each that I enjoy and things about each that I dislike. I know that money isn't everything but it is definitely SOMETHING, the ROI has to be there for it all to be worth it.
     
    Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013
    Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013
    #3
    GITRDUN45 Thanks this.
  5. Oct 27, 2013 #4
    Oscar the KW

    Oscar the KW Going Tarpless

    12,246
    28,113
    May 19, 2011
    0
    Flatbed freight has more ups and downs than a roller coaster, especially when there is a slow economy, like we have now. When the economy recovers that is the market to be in.

    Dry van freight remains fairly consistent year long, trailers are cheap, the average rate is probably not all that great. But there are niches in that market that do very well, and stay well above the "going rate."

    Refer freight is typically fairly steady all year, living in CA if I where you this is what I would be doing. When the produce is moving out of CA, there are some real good rates to go with it, and you can often times put dry freight on one when you need to.
     
    Oscar the KW, Oct 27, 2013
    Oscar the KW, Oct 27, 2013
    #4
    100 Percent Thanks this.
  7. Oct 27, 2013 #5
    Wildcat74

    Wildcat74 Medium Load Member

    354
    128
    Jul 15, 2008
    Omaha, NE
    0
    I am in CA for the time being but the ball and chain and I are looking at moving to the Boise area in the spring. Time to get out of this state has come!
     
    Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013
    Wildcat74, Oct 27, 2013
    #5
    YukonMark, Cetane+, 281ric and 2 others Thank this.
  8. Oct 29, 2013 #6
    areelius

    areelius Light Load Member

    270
    119
    Nov 9, 2012
    Temecula Ca
    0
    I too am moving my business out of Calif. It is a matter of principle. The govt has gone too far with this CARB law. I have an old truck and like it, so I wont be ruining it by spending 15K grand on a DPF. If enough of us do this, they will choke on this decision and the people will finally win one against this kind of law.
    I run a dry van and am switching to a flatbed next year. The rates are too low to make decent money with a van. I did some refer work and found it more stressfull than it was worth. I think flatbed will be just right for me.
     
    areelius, Oct 29, 2013
    areelius, Oct 29, 2013
    #6
  9. Mar 25, 2014 #7
    greenemporium

    greenemporium Bobtail Member

    47
    1
    Aug 13, 2012
    0
    plz save this thread for future new o/o.
    and what are you driving now? why?
     
    greenemporium, Mar 25, 2014
    greenemporium, Mar 25, 2014
    #7
  10. Mar 26, 2014 #8
    YukonMark

    YukonMark Bobtail Member

    28
    12
    Oct 2, 2012
    Houston, Tx
    0
    Flatbed for me too, after pulling reefer for Stevens Transport out of Dallas, just a better job in skateboards. I have more control of my load, tie downs, chains etc. no lumpers to worry about. Also, seems I am loaded/unloaded quicker. My 2cents worth.
     
    YukonMark, Mar 26, 2014
    YukonMark, Mar 26, 2014
    #8
  11. Mar 26, 2014 #9
    lovesthedrive

    lovesthedrive R.I.P.

    15,953
    54,481
    Nov 11, 2008
    Sorrento Maine
    0
    Only real value I see with a skateboard over a van is that the skate board wont be likely to be unloaded by hand. Yet then again if your hauling shingles and the load shifts, you will have to restack that on your own.
     
    lovesthedrive, Mar 26, 2014
    lovesthedrive, Mar 26, 2014
    #9
  12. Mar 27, 2014 #10
    greenemporium

    greenemporium Bobtail Member

    47
    1
    Aug 13, 2012
    0
    more weight on Flatbed. is that make more breakdown? i m talking about turbo, filter, belts and alignments not like fuse , glad handle and lights.
    can anybody make lists which can fix on the road>?
    i m a company driver for now.
    I wanna buy a freightliner 2009 and looking all youtube videos about fixing.
    step by step.
     
    greenemporium, Mar 27, 2014
    greenemporium, Mar 27, 2014
    #10
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.