Maybe Going Skateboarding (to do?)

I went to Mercer and decided on pulling a flat. For me, it was about the challenge of securing a different load every day and the little bit extra physical labor involved.

If I were looking at dollars only, knowing what I know now, I'd probably opt for pulling a van. It seems the van rates are not too awful bad. But flatbed rates pretty much suck unless you like 200 mile runs paying $500 that load at 8am and deliver at 2pm the next afternoon. Its not all that bad though. Just have to really know your lanes and plan accordingly. I'm still doing better than at the last company I pulled for and have more freedom too.

 

I heard mercer flat division wasn't doing so hot. Bad rates and slow freight. That's all second hand info. So take it with a grain of salt.

 

1) You will need it all. Regarding starting out and securement equipment... good quality 5/16 chain is fine for general flatbed work. 9 times out of 10 you won't have securement points rated high enough for 3/8 to do you any good.
2) Start taking care of yourself. Just because; not because flatbedding is THAT hard!! Anyone who rants and raves about how hard it is has likely never done any actual hard work.
3) Starting out and on a budget look for any 48' x 102" combo. Look for cracks, welds, suspension updates. Don't get all hung up on brand.... at this price point it's irrelavent.
4)No help here. Never been leased to a carrier.

 

@spyder7723

 

I'd have to agree with most of what's already posted. While I'm still a rookie I'm picking up odds and ends things along the way. A good headache rack is essential. An extra box to hold securement nice is on the passenger side. I'll second the ladder. Have a side box on the trailer if you buy one that doesn't have one installed. Toss all your mats, coil racks, angle cut wood etc etc in it.

The thread with tips and tricks of flat bedding has tons of good info in it with pictures. Really enjoyed seeing the organization of the trailer side boxes. Wish my company would do something like it. My first mentor pretty much laughed at me when I brought up the idea. To me it just makes sense to have dividers in the boxes.

If you get a step deck and haul any large equipment you'll need J-Hooks. John Deere equipment has spots to use them with anchor points. Also short cheater chains with a triangle at the end. (cant recall the actual name for these) They come in handy for odds and ends large equipment loads.

I posted a picture of a tool I made to help place edge protectors on the load/ grab them , feed chain/straps around loads etc etc. (For us short people with no ladders who are at shippers/receivers with a no one on the bed policy) It came in handy just the other day as I did local work bringing an oversized load back to the yard. Had to fish 3 red flags that slid through the hole in the side compartment underneath the bunk. I was sweating for awhile thinking I didn't have enough knowing #### well I did.

 

LS will require you to run E-logs. I know a guy who recently leased on a 92 Peterbilt, and had to change out the ECM to a later version (DDEC I to DDEC IV ? ) in order for the elog to work.

Pine dunnage is a bit too soft - heavy steel or machines will crush into it. Try a local hardwood mill.

LS's securement class when I did it in Dallas consisted of 4 hours in the classroom with videos and material, then we went out to a trailer that had 4 examples of freight on it to hands on practice securing it, then tarp and un-tarp it. I found it very helpful.

Another guy I know is 6'4" - and is pulling a step. He says he will buy a flat because the height of the step has him on his knees most of the time securing - the deck is just too low for his big frame.

Agreed on the 8% - If you pull $150k/year, you generate $12,500 to the trailer, easily pay it off in 3 years. I bought a 53' Utility flat spread combo with 2 boxes for $30,500 - we paid it off in 18 months and bought another one.

 

Just for the record I'm 5' 7" and weigh 120. and I can manage. I'm not saying it's easy and cold is starting to really set in freight is going to dwindle pretty quick may be better to wait till April to start

 

As far as Trailer weight, go combo, unless you can afford an all aluminum. All steel are fairly heavy @ 15k or so. Combo @12k and aluminum @ 9k