O/O running a day cab.

I can scale over 50 with my w9 and my high flat. While I've only once been able to use that as a reason for a better rate (I'll get to that in a minute) I wouldn't be looking for lightest truck to make it a regular thing.

i had one of my larger customers request a quote for FTL loads nj back to ct, I was $28 more than the next closest bidder. Asked to match the price as they'd prefer to use me, I asked if it was 'apples to apples' and was told all loads were 45k and a little change. I said give me my rate, I'll load 49k (1 more pallet) and at that point it will be $0.14 per unit cheaper than the closest competing carrier.

the places that load to gross dont usually give a premium for the extra. Next tractor I buy will be a daycab or a coffin bunk, not a ton of weight savings but there is some. I don't expect it will make or break me weight wise. Not a bad thing to have a little bunk/place to sleep when folks take too long to load or you just get tired and need a nap.

 

I could have gotten away with a day cab for the work I have been doing the last month or so but it's nice to have a sleeper just in case, even if it is a small flattop. The other day I got stuck on the back burner when I showed up to the receiver after running all night long in the heavy fog and I was beat. Nice to be able to lay right down for an hour.

 

I have only ran day cabs, sometimes I wish I did have a small sleeper. But like the other guys said if your not getting paid by the ton then get what is going to work best for you. I have a friend that pulls a hopper bottom with a sleeper and wishes it was a day cab because he get get a 2 tons more on the load. Also if you know your going to get home every night then go for the day cab.

 

....sleepers dont weigh 4,000 lbs FYI

I haven't slept in the truck in months, cept for a couple weeks back I got to my trailer drop yard climbed in the bunk and passed out for 1/2 hr.

Talk to a lot more than one shipper OP. You'll be needing a lot more rope to tie any knots.

 

Not a good deal if you haul insulation then huh? Lol

seriously tho, some places pay by weight (tend to be steel plants, but mostly places loading to gross that don't want to pay well) but consider that everything isn't heavy. I can get more money for a single steel bar (1300lbs) going the same distance as a 48k load of ice melt. Just depends on who is paying and what kind of service they want

 

Steel bar is 13'x6"x6" on e a month. Put it on my 48' with anything else that will fit.

i hauled insulation for years on a flat-some if the best money per mile (at 70%) on 250 miles I ever made.

your plan sounds good on paper; and it can be done. I'd be hesitant to do it out of the gate without a ton of local work lined up.

 

Back in the 80's when I drove for Machinery Hauling, I got stuck on the road in a 1975 359 Daycab. I'm 6'-2" and a coffin sleeper would have been nice, at least it was summer and I could hang my legs out the window.