Flatbed straight truck

I don't mean to beat a dead horse with this comment(question) but I am actually looking to purchase a truck almost like the red curtain side pictured. I would possibly forgo the curtain though I am undecided(cost benefit). I am looking at a 38' to 40' straight truck, flatbed, with a 43"/48" sleeper. The main purpose of the purchase is for private use.
My question is, should the day come, could this be of use for expedite loads as an O/O? If so, would a double axle be more ideal or could a pusher suffice? If this is an option, I might search for something more reliable than I would otherwise.

Any word of advise would be appreciated.
Thanks,

 

Without having the work already set up, you’d likely find yourself consistently not having the space or weight capacity of many loads. Curtain or not.
OAL laws are different state to state, idk the area you run, some states (NY for example) have a 40’ limit from end to end including any rear overhang; even with a short nose truck, having a 4’ bunk means more often than not you’d be limited on bed length to ~24’ unless you had a small bore engine truck with a really short nose, or a cabover. @Mattflat362 care to add your experience?
Lot easier to fit a 30’ load on a 48’ trailer than a 28’ truck.
I go over this time n time again, mostly bc I know I could setup a really sharp straight truck...but I can tell you from owning one, the fuel economy and toll savings are almost completely negated by insurance cost (couple grand a year more) as straight trucks cost more to insure than a tractor in my experience, under ones own authority.
Unless you have regular dedicate work for such a piece of equipment, it would likely hold you back more than help you business wise.

Can it be done? Yes. Are you the one to do it? Only you can determine that.

 

It is tougher to find loads for sure. I could not support my family by myself with this truck alone. My wife works too.

That being said I do pretty good....but I am ready to go 5th wheel and 48' soon. I get 10 calls a day for loads I can not run.

Insurance for me has been really fair IMO......$3600 per year if paid in full.

My guy needed my IFTA to confirm that I am not some 120k miles per year super trucker....66943 miles is my best year yet.....that really lowered my rates!

 

Thanks. It sounds like I will be keeping the straight truck for myself, and will just drive company or maybe one day venture into o/o with a tractor. Would have been nice to fill two needs with one truck though

CXJ