Dually with a flatbed trailer pay per mile?

Flatbed carrier and MP-ctek are completely correct. Once you have been at this awhile you know where to go where there are lots of light loads that pay well. I know most will not believe this but in 2015 I never loaded more than 10,000 pounds on my trailer, averaged close to $1.70 for ALL miles. But I have been running open freight for over 30 years from hotshot to 13 axle, and know that hotshotting is the best moneymaker. You can gross a lot more in an 18 wheeler, but I am talking take home. Right now with the slowdown in the oilpatch, all the heavy haul guys are fighting for the few loads, and rates have dropped terribly. If a person is just starting out, I would lease on to a good company for 6 months and learn where the good areas are and where not to go. I have always been leased to good companies and do well with them. Right now I am the only hotshot with my current flatbed company, and have been happy doing it for the most part. But again, it has been a learning experience over the years.

 

I concur with badbob, flatbedcarrier and Mp-Ctek. Although I have only been doing this since 2008 these guys have a ton of insight.

 

Been awhile RL been keeping me away from here.
No I wouldn't take no 1.80 @ mile crap like that. Turned stuff like that down many times before, odds are greater you won't find nothing to return with, so your 1.80 has turned into 90 cents a mile.
And that load building crap waste more time than it's worth.
Get your money going out,that way you can go back home empty like I do most of the time.
Just like those low trailers with fenders lots of shippers here won't load them.
Had a good paying shipping start refusing hotshots due to them fender type trailers.
If someone wants to really know all they have to do is google up, Gary's truck service, dispatcher, California,
Hotshot hauling and they will find some interesting information. Or they can just ask and will probably find some of the victims that fell for the fairy tales.
This was my load for the same day you posted your big 1.80, mine paid 2.95 a mile 6500# if in doubt I have the paid rate handy. I went home empty with no worries.

 

Haha, like I told you before, we don't roll back empty from anywhere. We reload most of the time within a 25 to 50 mile radius of where we unload.

 

Would you and others care to mention the "good companies" you are referring to?

I currently drive OTR (company driver) hauling specialized flatbed freight. My original thought was to use my 1 ton and gooseneck and go independent. However, after researching for a while I decided it made more sense to learn more about the business on someone else's dime. I have only been doing it about 4 months, and I have certainly learned a lot. Unfortunately, I haven't learned much about independent hauling because what we haul is a very narrow niche within the larger industry, and it requires semis. We pull steps, double drops, and customized spread-axle flats.

I am still very inclined to do something where I have more control and flexibility. How much experience will I need OTR driving a semi in order to 1) have good options (for companies to lease to) on the hotshot/independent side and 2) bring my insurance costs down? Thx

 

First off, not here long, you said you got $2.95 mile, ran home empty, average $1.48 a mile. lots less than Garys $1.80 a mile. It sounds like you hate Gary, from what I have heard of him, he does a great job for those that really want to work, and are not a prima donna. Never worked for him, but talked to him on the phone a couple times, seems ok. . Farmboy, to answer you, there are several good companies, I have friends at some of them--American Eagle seems to do good if guys run, Landstar takes hotshots, know a couple guys there, one does ok, other runs very hard and makes bank. Not a fan of Acme, but some guys do well, Hazels expedited guys I talked to like it. I keep quiet where I am leased to, as I said mine is the only hotshot there, the only reason they leased to me is I had a big truck there before, and proved I knew how and where to go. Just do not lease on to a company hauling only to one industry, like oilfield, we all know how that went . Saying that, my friends there are getting really busy now, company drivers, lots of overtime, as much as they want, flatbed and tanker, as well as certain hotshot owner-ops. Just do not listen to the nay-sayers, but if you do get your own authority, put money away, because this is a business where you have to learn the hard way. You could get someone like Gary, or one of the clones who do the same as him around the country, at least to keep busy and learn. It sounds like you have the experience, good luck.

 

With the your low number of post, you could just be a multi account for gary?
You seem to overlook the obvious also with garys big 1.80 a mile piece you more than likely will get where you're going and have nothing coming back or sit days waiting for something. At 2.95 a mile after deducting my .85 CPM I still have 63 cents a mile both ways for my pay, Like I said before if you look you will find the truth about gary he sells his "pie in the sky" fantasies to the unknowing. Time they have invested 40-60K they are stuck like chuck, the only one making anything is gary with his dispatch fee. Go to some of the other forums and ask about him.
I really don;t think you have a clue with the oil patch dead there's hotshot trucks every where east trying to find something and hauling dirt cheap. Only about 10% of loads will work on a hotshot truck so this is a very limited market and most don't last over eighteen months and you probably won't either unless of course this is garys alter ego?

 

Hahaha, Multi accounts, alter ego. You're spun buddy. I don't sell anyone on anything here, or anywhere else, never have. If anything I scare people away when they call me. Haha, I lay it all on the table and tell them exactly what to expect in this line of work

You go on spewing your anti Gary rhetoric. Most people have you figured out as soon as you start talking.