o/o switching to flatbed in Indiana

Kaplan is a reasonable company. Know a few people who leased with them. From what they have said, money was good, fuel program was fair. One of the people did tell me they can be quick to threaten or drop your lease if they don’t like what your doing. The he liked to work for a few weeks, then take several days at the house.

Mawson is also a steel hauling company. Do a lot of work in your area. Known a number of people there. As a leased operator, you can do well. They pull covers wagons, so easy tarp work.

 

That I do not know about. Best to always have your own equipment, and plates is my motto.

 

I live in Indy and am leased to Fraley and schilling. Get home often with the run I am on.

 

Don’t laugh
I live in southern Indiana and have leased to CRST Malone for several years now and have no complaints.
Good Company with decent rates and a lot of freight.
You should have no issue being home every weekend and making a good living.
They have good lanes in and around Indiana the biggest plus is being with a Company that lets you run your own business you do what you want. Plus you are backed by a big Company that will fight for you in dispute over a load they pay you and go after the shipper.
Several years ago I broke down in KC bill was about $9500 I had about $7500 in my maintenance account. I was going to put the rest on my credit card Malone covered it no issues.
That kind of loyalty goes along way with me.

I live down south and know many drivers leased to Kaplan it seems to be a good company as well.
Mawson and Mawson is also a good option as well they kinda have a limited area but demand high rates.

Nothing against PGT or F and S I know several guys that work for them they have Company trucks that need fed first. Not bad Companies just a Company operation with a few O/O

BTW
You need a covered wagon the highest rates go to the wagons when it comes to metal.

 

I would talk to some of the steel haulers, hauling out of the mill s you will be loading at. I hope your steel experience will be better that I had, it only took a very few loads to strike steel mills off of my list when I was running my own numbers.

 

Not sure why, but my area PGT trucks all look like garbage trucks, about as nice as the guys pulling cans out of rail yard if the tells you anything.

 

The Nucor mill in Crawfordsville does not have great rates no matter the carrier $2.00 ish would be the norm. Steel Technologies across the street has much better rates. The mill in Pittsboro has better rates and we also have lots of good paying short loads out of Terre Haute that stay in Indiana I have bounced around the state before and loaded, unloaded reloaded in the same day. Never leaving the state all week.
Steel rates have a lot to do with contract rates it depends on what the carriers have bid on the RPM or lane. Some mills are handled by a logistic company like Ryder and offer the same rate to all the carriers like AK steel does.
We often have 100 wt or 140 wt on contacts so you get more $ for a heavy coil.
IMO the money is in finished metal typically $3.00 and up I use $2.00 ish coils as a means to reposition a truck vs deadheading. I attempt a 5 load goal per truck a week most loads are under 500 miles so it can be completed in 11 hours of drive time and try to have the truck preplanned one load ahead. It helps if you go home loaded or load on Sunday.