Flatbed or Step Deck??

I have pulled both and still not quite sure what is better. If you think step deck, definitely go with 53' AND loading ramps/load levelers (without it I'd go with regular flatbed).

Good thing about step deck is that it gives you more options, also less tarping but when you get a 10' high load that needs to be tarped it's crazy difficult (usually those are peaces of equipment with uneven and sharp edges). One more bad thing about stepdeck is proper distribution of weight on your drive/rear axles. Few times I had to pay overweight penalties because sometimes it's hard to distribute weight properly.

On the other hand, flatbed makes steady incomes. Right now, my owner operators (I run a small company) are generating $8-9k gross per week. With stepdeck, you could probably do even more but, as I said, downside is tarping high loads and proper distribution of weight.

 

Did you pick a trailer and if so, which one did you choose and why? In looking at the load boards in my area Flatbed loads are more plentiful but occasionally the choices are limited to having a step deck trailer.

 

Which area is that?

Step deck definitely gives you more options (I would recommend installing load levelers) but part of being successful is to have a good dispatchers who would use this advantage.

My experience (few years only) says that it might not be worth of trouble dealing with step deck i.e. the reward difference wouldn’t be significant.