Equipment ready. Need advice to start.

We do just fine and I can only scale 46k.
You don't have to haul that heavy stuff to be successful. It seems that heavy to often equals cheap.

If you're just going to run around pulling brokered freight not being able to scale 48k would probably be tough I'm guessing?

 

In my limited experience between 46k and 50k is the lowest rate for a full truckload. The further north of 50k you go the more the rate (usually) goes up unless your ATS then you'll bid 120k at a rate 10% below 48k all in. Same with the other direction, below 46k and the rate will generally be better. Now if you can get light enough freight you can do like @Cluck Cluck and keep putting on more bills of lading (on the trailer, deck plate, in the bunk, passenger seat, on top of the bunk, under the trailer) till your making $15 a mile.

 

@Cluck Cluck 's idea of an almost full load.

 

Great post. Most of us indies just LOVE to load the wagon......but loaded does NOT have to mean "at max gross".

 

I would go with aluminium flatbed

 

All depends on the size of your checkbook. The newer combos are so close in weight that it's a tough call to spend the extra for all aluminum.

 

Ok what the heck I am I missing here flat bed freight is paid several different ways
1. flat rate
2. 100wt (paid by weight)
3.130-140wt (premium for any thing over 30-40k)

I do agree that most of the heavy loads are cheap but if you are in a bad freight area and need to get out most of the loads are going to be heavy. If you have hauled a coil out of Butler, In at 50,000lbs you are well paid for the weight.
But most Mercer drivers haul like one pallet for like $3.00 a mile.

 

What are you missing???? Nevermind. Throw out options 2 and 3. They don't exist in the "average" run of the mill world of flatdeck freight.

As for 50k coils, steel guys that do them are a fairly specialized group..........no average joe is gonna spec a truck and trailer with big coils as a distant glimmer in the back of his mind. That's freight you are either all in for or not.

This surely is NOT about Mercer. There's a special thread all their own....

 

I haul at least one load every two weeks or so that is 130-140wt and we often get 48000-50000lbs coils. The guys with heavy trucks cannot take them. I have several agents that ask how much can you scale as the opening line. Yes Mercer both the Company and the O/O's are SPECIAL just talk to one of them! About two weeks ago I was in Bricks truck stop in Motley, MN with about 10 Mercer guys looked like a truck show with all the huge sleeper trucks.

 

I go to west a lot, cause I live in Vegas and needed a light trailer to get some loads out of there. My Revolution cost me 37.200 out of the door with 2 boxes and 8 aluminum wheels. Not a bad deal, with 0 down and 7 % financing.