How old is too old to do flatbed?

With a stepdeck if you do fall of it's only about 3' so it's not as big of a deal.

Everyone has their preferences and the reasons for them. As I stated earlier, my preference is stepdeck so you can work at "slinging chains" from waist level while standing on solid ground. Rarely did I ever have to climb up except for climbing the steps of a piece of equipment to cover the exhaust.

If you have a choice in what you load you can pick & choose what works best for you & what you're comfortable with.

For tall stuff I would usually throw straps across so I didn't have to climb up on the load. If it has to be a chain instead of a strap, throw a strap first then hook the chain to it and pull the chain over without getting up on it. Remove your strap & repeat.

 

My father in law just turned 65 today and plans at least another 10 years hauling steel on a flat with a side kit. Out works most younger guys everyday.

 

Get a step only 40 inches to fall to the ground,,too old? heck I am 63 and use only 1/2 in and 5/8 in chains as well as tarp OD load when they want to pay my high dollar tarping fees , I start at $300 to tarp and get it..

 

is there still money to be made for O/O without tarping? I been running flatbed now for 3 yrs for a shoring company (company driver, no tarping needed) but I'm thinking of becoming an O/O. To be honest I never tarped a single load, don't even know how to tarp (I'm sure its not that difficult) I'm just not interested in tarping when it's 5 degrees outside as I live in the North east.

 

OF COURSE!!!!!!!!!!! I only tarp a few loads a year and only because they are just steel tarps and easy.

 

Would leasing on with a company be harder if I only wanted to run loads that didn't have to be tarped?

 

Lease onto Landstar. You can do all the non tarp loads you want forever!

 

Thanks for the advice, I'll be looking into it..

 

Skate-Board, are you with LS? I've researched lots of companies but keep coming back to LS as my best fit for when I make the jump to O/O. Now, after getting started doing heavy haul I've got to decide if I'll do step deck or heavy haul when I make the move over there.